Best Plot Twist in History? You Can Find It in This 96%-Rated Crime Thriller, Ben Affleck Says

Creating a final twist that elevates a movie to legendary status without ruining it is one of the most difficult tasks in screenwriting.

Ben Affleck Names 'The Usual Suspects' a "Terrific" Movie & Praises Its Final Plot Twist

Ben Affleck, having starred in films with unexpected twists, knows this fine line well. In an interview with Alamo Drafthouse, the actor and director mentioned a movie whose final twist is, in his opinion, an example of cinematic greatness.

Affleck said:

“The Usual Suspects is a terrific movie. That's another one that's kind of a crime, antihero movie, except one where you're forced to re-evaluate the entire movie at the end of the film, which is kind of startling and magnificent, in terms of a cinematic feat.”

What Is 'The Usual Suspects' About?

The story begins with a massive explosion at the Port of Los Angeles, leaving only one man alive – a small-time, disabled con man named Roger "Verbal" Kint.

During interrogation by a detective, Kint recounts an incredible tale of how he and four criminals were accidentally brought together at a police lineup and then drawn into a deadly scheme by a mysterious crime boss named Keyser Söze.

Söze is a mythical figure, a ghost of the criminal underworld whose existence no one can confirm.

What Was 'The Usual Suspects' Plot Twist About?

The following text contains spoilers for the finale of The Usual Suspects!

The genius of the twist in The Usual Suspects lies in its reversal of the traditional role of the unreliable narrator. The entire movie, with its frenetic pace and classic noir atmosphere, is presented as a reconstruction of events as recounted by Kint.

At the climax, after Kint evades capture, the detective in charge of the case suddenly puts the pieces together. He realizes that the entire story was an impromptu legend that Kint concocted on the spot, using items he spotted on the bulletin board in his office.

In one of the most famous scenes in film history, the limping, pathetic "Verbal" straightens up and changes his gait before the audience's eyes, revealing himself as the all-powerful and merciless Keyser Söze.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Usual Suspects'?

• The Usual Suspects has 87% from critics and 96% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.5/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Usual Suspects scored 4.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Usual Suspects'?

The Usual Suspects is available to stream on Prime Video and Tubi.