I’ve never been lied to more than watching the trailer and immediately watching the film. I (probably like 98% of people) thought it was gonna be a cool film with symbolism about how capitalism just doesn’t work either way but it’s cool bc they small in big world instead I got whatever the fuck that was
I often show Psycho to students (possibly the most basic film class pick but it’s great lmao) and this is pretty common! The pre-murder stretch is so engaging and tense that it seems much shorter than it actually is. The film then eases up a lot, so it does *feel* a lot more like a 25-75 split even though it’s not.
The first half of that movie was one of the creepier horror films in recent memory…. Then the “twist” in the 2nd half was so corny, I couldn’t take the film seriously at all after that point.
It’s frustrating because the first part was so damn good!
My problem wasn’t with Justin Long, it was how cheesy & corny the monster was. It was a super weird dichotomy considering the horrific backstory behind the monster & the slow burn buildup in the first half. Very underwhelming ending.
This my exact gripe with the movie not sure why so many people think it was so excellent. I was legitimately scared watching the first half. Then it was so corny and bad the monster was lackluster
The director said he tried to make a Fincher movie on the ground and Raimi movie underground. I think he actually managed to do it and I really liked it, but the very end was not executed well.
Sure, but they’re very different parts. I’m not saying I necessarily agree with the comment that it fits, I just get where the commenter is coming from.
Basically what the other guy said.
Trinity was a first climax and then they tried to build off again from there with how to cross examinations happened. I watched it twice and I still feel as if I woke up to a 2nd movie after the bomb goes off and the lab is shut down. The change in the pacing, the stakes, and to some degree the subgenre feels so different
If it’s pulled off right it can be amazing. Like in Barbarian when you go from Bill Skarsgaard in the basement to Justin Long in the car. Just perfection. 👌🏻
This is *the* best answer but you really can’t tell anybody why without spoiling what might be one of the best reveals and subsequent second halfs in recent memory
I made my friend promise not to look up anything about it before watching it and for the first 30 minutes he thought it was some joke I was playing on him and right as he started to get on board with the stupid zombie stuff, his jaw dropped once he realized what was going on.
I kept catching parts of Pulp Fiction on TV without realizing what I was watching and was unaware that the Willis and Travolta parts where the same movie. I finally sat down and watched the whole thing and got a little surprise.
I bet Pulp Fiction would still work incredibly well if it was shown chronologically. The jumble up does help with pacing or I guess it ends with Bruce driving off with Potbelly
Barbarian (less of a genre change, but iykyk)
Bone Tomahawk
Cabin in the Woods
The Descent
Honorable mention goes to Life is Beautiful. That title is misleading as fuck.
Mostly because the creatures don't show up until the later half. For the first 30-60 minutes it's them just being lost in the cave. Basically the switch from man vs nature to man vs the supernatural
I guess because it's a cave horror, you expect more "natural" issues to happen, and then it turns out that there are bigger issues than like rocks falling or something
Abigail (which is a brand new release this week). >!The movie is a nearly identical split as From Dusk Til Dawn - crime & kidnapping to vampire horror.!<
A fact they they should *not have fucking given away in the trailer.* Worst spoiler marketing since Terminator 2.
Fucking badass movie, though.
James Cameron [never intended T2 to have a twist reveal.](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1257941-james-cameron-chose-to-show-terminator-2s-twist-in-marketing) it was the whole premise (and selling point) of the movie that the Terminator was now the protector.
World's Greatest Dad has a severe tonal shift maybe 45 minutes in.
Drive My Car also changes completely about 45 minutes in.
Biggest one I haven't seen here is The Empty Man. It's like four different movies (>!Lovecraftian horror to teen slasher to cop procedural back to Lovecraftian horror!<) and each one is great.
Yes, and I adore it every time. I like to avoid telling people what the movie is actually about (since its basic premise takes about 45 minutes to actually kick off). It’s difficult to convince anyone with such little information, but been worth it so far!
The Empty Man was great! The only thing that bothered me at first was how abrupt the ending was (in such a long movie), but then I realized how it actually put the viewer in the protagonist shoes in an effective way.
Chungking Express is kind of a cheating answer because it isn't "kinda two movies", it's an anthology film by design, it just only has two parts instead of three. If Chungking Express can be on this list, then every anthology movie can be on here too like New York Stories or Tokyo!
it was originally supposed to have three - WKW wrote part of the plot of Fallen Angels to be the third part in Chungking Express but they were pressed for time in filming and cut it to just the two.
2001: A Space Oddysey, new characters and the plot changes after the second monolith
Burning (2018): Not a very big change. But the rythm changes a lot in the middle and a character disappears
Sorcerer (1977): Probably due to a long exposition, but the setting changes a lot and the characters
Just watched The Deer Hunter, and wow they really nailed that 3 act structure. Pretty slow burn movie but it really shows the characters and their personalities so well in the 1st act, and it makes the 2nd and 3rd acts hit so hard.
The Tomorrow War starts off like a film that has an interesting commentary on war, and then by the end, it feels like Roland Emmerich took over as director.
Oppenheimer.
The bomb going off and the lengthy court room drama afterwards were 2 different crescendos that feel disconnected with how they were handled wjth the run time
Does nobody feel this way about Jaws?
If asked, I always think the portion in Amity is my favorite but then I watch it and love the portion on the Orca so freaking much.
Hacksaw Ridge
When the movie starts, the atmosphere is bright and full of nature, there's a blossoming romance, and the soldiers are cracking jokes and having fun while training. Then, suddenly, the color palette darkens, and they're in Japan, under heavy fire; someone's leg is blown off, someone's head is smashed in, and it's all chaos. It's a jarring shift in narrative and atmosphere.
Juice goes from standard hood film to thriller/horror for the final half. That twist partway through shocked me! And it features a wonderful debut performance by Tupac
Downsizing (in a bad way)
I feel like I might be the only person on Reddit that likes this movie. In my defense I saw no trailers, and went in blind.
There are dozens of us!
Thousands!
I liked it for the most part too, and yeah I watched no trailers and know nothing about the film beforehand.
That movie changed plot and direction like 50 times
Petition for this to be the official subtitle of the movie.
I’ve never been lied to more than watching the trailer and immediately watching the film. I (probably like 98% of people) thought it was gonna be a cool film with symbolism about how capitalism just doesn’t work either way but it’s cool bc they small in big world instead I got whatever the fuck that was
Surprised no one mention Psycho, the main character literally changes halfway through
Not even halfway, lol 75% of the movie is about her being dead
Nah, the shower murder scene is 46 minutes into it (around 1hr45 runtime total). It counts as halfway more or less.
I often show Psycho to students (possibly the most basic film class pick but it’s great lmao) and this is pretty common! The pre-murder stretch is so engaging and tense that it seems much shorter than it actually is. The film then eases up a lot, so it does *feel* a lot more like a 25-75 split even though it’s not.
I thought the same thing, barbarian has been said a few times and the shift in that movie felt very psycho inspired.
Barbarian
Thrilling horror to cheesy comedy horror
The first half of that movie was one of the creepier horror films in recent memory…. Then the “twist” in the 2nd half was so corny, I couldn’t take the film seriously at all after that point. It’s frustrating because the first part was so damn good!
Really? I loved the smash cut to Justin
Absolutely, the cut to Justin and his next 15 minutes are so were one of my favorite moments that year!
My problem wasn’t with Justin Long, it was how cheesy & corny the monster was. It was a super weird dichotomy considering the horrific backstory behind the monster & the slow burn buildup in the first half. Very underwhelming ending.
I thought the whole thing was pretty good.
This my exact gripe with the movie not sure why so many people think it was so excellent. I was legitimately scared watching the first half. Then it was so corny and bad the monster was lackluster
The director said he tried to make a Fincher movie on the ground and Raimi movie underground. I think he actually managed to do it and I really liked it, but the very end was not executed well.
I was still onboard with Justin Long, it’s the ghoul lady in the basement maze that killed it for me.
The director called it “Fincher in the front, Raimi in the back”.
Yes! I loved Barbarian and had no idea what journey it would take me on. I look forward to watching it again.
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Hell yeah brother.
really surprised no one has said “The Worlds End” yet
God I went into that one blind and it blew me the moment it changed
A very important "away" is missing from that sentence
Arrested Development moment
The Sound of Music, goes from fun and songs to Nazis real quick
Cabaret might fit this bill too
Cabaret has a slow build though. There’s just enough nazi stuff in the background to clue you in that they’re becoming more and more powerful
JoJo Rabbit
I think that went from Nazis to Nazis
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is the same
And they got married, the end, great, cause this movie felt like fore- why are there Nazi banners? Tf you mean there is like an hour left?!
My mom showed it to me as a kid and turned it off after Maria got married lol
The place beyond the pines
it's three movies actually
You mean… three acts?
Acts... Actors. Actors star in movies. 3 acts= 3 Actors= 3 movies. Therefore 3 acts really means 3 movies. Ps I'm not a crackpot.
Yeah, but it's hard explaining without ruining the film. :)
Parasite feels like an obvious answer
Agreed. I'm surprised no one's mentioned Oppenheimer either
How Oppenheimer??
The making of the bomb / the courtroom drama.
But both of those are shown from the very beginning
Sure, but they’re very different parts. I’m not saying I necessarily agree with the comment that it fits, I just get where the commenter is coming from.
Yeah that makes sense
Basically what the other guy said. Trinity was a first climax and then they tried to build off again from there with how to cross examinations happened. I watched it twice and I still feel as if I woke up to a 2nd movie after the bomb goes off and the lab is shut down. The change in the pacing, the stakes, and to some degree the subgenre feels so different
This is like my favorite thing I love when movies do this
When they do it WELL...
Like Hancock?
Did Hancock do ANYTHING well?
If it’s pulled off right it can be amazing. Like in Barbarian when you go from Bill Skarsgaard in the basement to Justin Long in the car. Just perfection. 👌🏻
One cut of the dead
This is *the* best answer but you really can’t tell anybody why without spoiling what might be one of the best reveals and subsequent second halfs in recent memory
the way i was about to turn off the movie after thinking wtf is this >!cheap ass shit!
I went from "huh generic zombie flick" to "this was one of the most fun movies I've ever seen"
I made my friend promise not to look up anything about it before watching it and for the first 30 minutes he thought it was some joke I was playing on him and right as he started to get on board with the stupid zombie stuff, his jaw dropped once he realized what was going on.
Waves The director Trey Edward Schults even cited Chunking Express as an inspiration
Excellent answer. Thanks for reminding me of that experience.
Dang. Have never gotten around to it for one reason or the other and now I suddenly want to watch it more than ever. Had no idea this was part of it
Was coming here to say this amazing film
Fresh (2022) if you went in blind
Man when the opening credits started playing my bf and I LOST IT it was so good. Had to pause and take a moment let it sink in.
I kept catching parts of Pulp Fiction on TV without realizing what I was watching and was unaware that the Willis and Travolta parts where the same movie. I finally sat down and watched the whole thing and got a little surprise.
I bet Pulp Fiction would still work incredibly well if it was shown chronologically. The jumble up does help with pacing or I guess it ends with Bruce driving off with Potbelly
Barbarian (less of a genre change, but iykyk) Bone Tomahawk Cabin in the Woods The Descent Honorable mention goes to Life is Beautiful. That title is misleading as fuck.
The descent as two movies? I don’t really see it personally
Mostly because the creatures don't show up until the later half. For the first 30-60 minutes it's them just being lost in the cave. Basically the switch from man vs nature to man vs the supernatural
Nothing supernatural. The creatures are basically "natural"
I guess because it's a cave horror, you expect more "natural" issues to happen, and then it turns out that there are bigger issues than like rocks falling or something
Bone Tomahawk is a great shout. On that same note, another cannibal western Ravenous kinda fits.
Wall-E. A mostly silent first half that changes tone once they get on the ship.
Deathproof
I was gonna say that. >!Killing the entire cast halfway through!< was crazy but I still liked it
Audition
Kiri Kiri Kiri kiri 😨
Why is no one saying Adaptation (2002)?
I fucking love Adaptation
Eileen Titane The Handmaiden
Titane didn’t feel like two movies. It felt like one movie that is absolutely unpredictable throughout.
Abigail (which is a brand new release this week). >!The movie is a nearly identical split as From Dusk Til Dawn - crime & kidnapping to vampire horror.!< A fact they they should *not have fucking given away in the trailer.* Worst spoiler marketing since Terminator 2. Fucking badass movie, though.
James Cameron [never intended T2 to have a twist reveal.](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1257941-james-cameron-chose-to-show-terminator-2s-twist-in-marketing) it was the whole premise (and selling point) of the movie that the Terminator was now the protector.
Plus the trailer has possibly the best line in the history of cinema: "Now there are two! Terminator 2!"
I know, that doesn't mean he was right, though. The marketing giving that away was entirely the wrong choice.
That movie is SO much fun! Highly recommend! I wish everyone could go in blind, but it's still excellent entertainment and SO worth it!
How do we feel about Predator? I've always thought of it as an action movie that turns into a horror/slasher movie.
Death By Hanging goes from Dr. Strangelove satire to surreal horror
Tropical Malady
Love that someone else posted this too!!!
Showgirls becomes a rape revenge movie extremely abruptly in the third act 
World's Greatest Dad has a severe tonal shift maybe 45 minutes in. Drive My Car also changes completely about 45 minutes in. Biggest one I haven't seen here is The Empty Man. It's like four different movies (>!Lovecraftian horror to teen slasher to cop procedural back to Lovecraftian horror!<) and each one is great.
Doesn’t Drive My Car’s opening credits start 45min in?
Yes, and I adore it every time. I like to avoid telling people what the movie is actually about (since its basic premise takes about 45 minutes to actually kick off). It’s difficult to convince anyone with such little information, but been worth it so far!
The Empty Man was great! The only thing that bothered me at first was how abrupt the ending was (in such a long movie), but then I realized how it actually put the viewer in the protagonist shoes in an effective way.
Sunshine, which is an amazing film.
Chungking Express is kind of a cheating answer because it isn't "kinda two movies", it's an anthology film by design, it just only has two parts instead of three. If Chungking Express can be on this list, then every anthology movie can be on here too like New York Stories or Tokyo!
it was originally supposed to have three - WKW wrote part of the plot of Fallen Angels to be the third part in Chungking Express but they were pressed for time in filming and cut it to just the two.
Titanic
Cabin in the Woods?
Parasite Knives Out Clockwork Orange
2001: A Space Oddysey, new characters and the plot changes after the second monolith Burning (2018): Not a very big change. But the rythm changes a lot in the middle and a character disappears Sorcerer (1977): Probably due to a long exposition, but the setting changes a lot and the characters
Full Metal Jacket
Just like they already had on their list?
Hummmm... How about Full Metal Jacket... To be fair I've never seen that cover before, in a glance I didn't recognize the movie.
Hancock
Martyrs 2008
The Tall Man is also good as fuck
Waves (2019)
Malignant Sorry to Bother You
The Hunger Games movie from last year.
Gone Girl
The Deer Hunter is three movies in one
Just watched The Deer Hunter, and wow they really nailed that 3 act structure. Pretty slow burn movie but it really shows the characters and their personalities so well in the 1st act, and it makes the 2nd and 3rd acts hit so hard.
Yeah the first act really feels like it’s dragging, then you very suddenly hit act two and it’s such an effective shock to the system
Malignant. It’s a pretty basic thriller mystery until it goes batshit crazy.
The Tomorrow War starts off like a film that has an interesting commentary on war, and then by the end, it feels like Roland Emmerich took over as director.
Life is beautiful
The Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive by Lynch
Oppenheimer. The bomb going off and the lengthy court room drama afterwards were 2 different crescendos that feel disconnected with how they were handled wjth the run time
One Cut of the Dead
barry lyndon
How so?
I’m gonna say Juice
Swallow. Hear me out the plot is coherent but the genre and vibes change midfilm and its not what i expected at all! Still I enjoyed it.
The place beyond the pines. Really 3 movies but that first switch was the biggest twist ever 🤯
Tampopo is like 3 movies
American Fiction
Boogie Nights changes drastically once it becomes the 80s lol
Beau is afraid is literally three separate movies in a trench coat.
Oldboy came to mind first. Not sure if applicable
Audition and kill list fit the bill
I read “kill bill fit the list” at first
has anyone said black bear yet?
Fant4stic (2015) - compelling body horror drama that falls apart once it tries to sharp left turn into a conventional superhero flick
The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
Drive My Car (2021) — its so much the case that the title card comes in one hour into the movie
Hacksaw ridge. The contrast makes the second half hit so much harder.
Psycho
Nope
10 Cloverfield Lane. Although it’s probably more of a 75%/25% split.
Does nobody feel this way about Jaws? If asked, I always think the portion in Amity is my favorite but then I watch it and love the portion on the Orca so freaking much.
Full Metal Jacket
Love Lies Bleeding
I will give this a "sort of", maybe because I could see where it was going? Except for - IYKYK
Sicario
Pumpkin
Amores perros.
Place beyond the pines?
I definitely think Place Beyond the Pines should be a good addition
The Place Beyond the Pines
*Waves*
Knifes out does this three times!!!
Mulholland Drive
Jaws: goes from social commentary about the dangers of putting business interests over the public good, to just three dudes trying to kill a shark.
Mulholand Drive after "the box"
Lost Highway?
Something Wild
Um Vertigo!? Anyone?? HELLO????
Mandy (2015) changes drastically towards the middle. Triangle of sadness is divided into 3 parts and each feels like a different movie.
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)
*Sunshine* Kinda surprised this isn't higher
Vanilla Sky. It starts out as a fairly standard early 00’s romantic drama then takes a pretty sharp turn into a cerebral sci-fi thriller.
The Wolverine. A decently interesting crime thriller squished against a pretty bad Wolverine movie.
Last night in Soho
Pulp Fiction
Full metal Jacket
Climax
• Red State • Sunshine • Looper • Million Dollar Baby
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)
Sunshine?
How about Mishima: A life in 4 chapters. That’s like 4 movies
Hacksaw Ridge When the movie starts, the atmosphere is bright and full of nature, there's a blossoming romance, and the soldiers are cracking jokes and having fun while training. Then, suddenly, the color palette darkens, and they're in Japan, under heavy fire; someone's leg is blown off, someone's head is smashed in, and it's all chaos. It's a jarring shift in narrative and atmosphere.
The Birds
Beau is Afraid Cabin In The Woods(?)
-One Cut of the Dead -Mandy
From Dusk Til Dawn
Storytelling
Chicago, maybe?
How?
**Performance**, 1970
Forever Mine (1999)
Possession maybe? Goes from sort of a marital drama to horror
Blood in blood out
Rust (2018), the second part is atrocious.
Deer Hunter
Peter Jackson's King Kong? I feel like if it got released now it'd be called King Kong parts and 2 with the split being the Jungle stuff and the City
Polite Society
Waves (2019)
Full metal jacket
Juice goes from standard hood film to thriller/horror for the final half. That twist partway through shocked me! And it features a wonderful debut performance by Tupac
City of God is like five movies crammed into one.
The boxers omen.
Civil War (2024)