Top 20 Most Shocking Teen Movie Reveals EVER
#20: Eleanor Is “Nosey Nora”
“Do Revenge” (2022) “Do Revenge” is one of the better teen films to come out over the past five years. Its colorful set and costume design make it a treat to watch, and Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes hold down the fort as the stars. But the most memorable thing about “Do Revenge” is its jaw-dropping twist. About halfway through the film, it’s revealed Eleanor isn’t who Drea thought she was at all. Eleanor is actually Nora, a girl who Drea spread a nasty rumor about when they were younger. By helping Drea get revenge, Nora was actually playing the long game and getting her own vengeance from years and years ago. You have to admire her patience.
#19: Kostas’s Wife
“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” (2008) In the first “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” film, Kostas was definitely our favorite love interest. Lena hit the jackpot on that one. But things took a turn for the worse in the series’s second installment. Sometime after their break up, Lena’s grandfather dies and she has to go back to Greece to attend his funeral. There, she sees Kostas again. But he’s not alone. Turns out, Kostas has gotten married and is expecting a baby with his new wife. Talk about shocking news for Lena. Luckily, these two make things work in the end, but this was definitely a roadblock on their path to love.
#18: Snape Loved Lily
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“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” (2011) Severus Snape almost took this secret to the grave. Throughout the “Harry Potter” series, Snape was horrible to Harry. We sort of learn why after the revelation that Harry’s father used to bully Snape, but that doesn’t seem like an especially strong argument for his behavior through the series. By the end, however, we finally get the full picture. After believing that Snape was on the side of the Death Eaters, Harry learns that the opposite is true. Snape’s death brings to light that he was actually in love with Lily and, feeling responsible for her death, he devoted his life to Dumbledore and the greater good. The subject of Snape’s morality was a huge talking point for fans, and this was a stunning reveal.
#17: Blue’s Identity
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“Love, Simon” (2018) Dating in the online age can be difficult. But you know what makes it more difficult? Dealing with blackmail and being in the closet at the same time. “Love, Simon” centers around Simon, a high schooler who is trying to figure out the identity of a classmate he’s fallen in love with virtually. At the end of the movie, Simon agrees to meet with the student, nicknamed Blue, on the ferris wheel. It turns out to be Bram, a classmate who Simon already has a bit of a crush on. Like Simon, we were given no indication that Bram even liked boys, so this was a pretty shocking one all around.
#16: Who Really Gave Micah the STI?
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“Easy A” (2010) When Lisa Kudrow shows up in a movie or television show, we’re pretty much primed to like her character from the very beginning. That’s what 10 years playing Phoebe Buffay will do for you. But her character in “Easy A” certainly threw us for a loop. She plays Mrs. Griffith, the school guidance counselor. When Olive is blamed for giving popular boy Micah an STI, she learns that it’s really Mrs. Griffith that Micah has been sleeping with. For pretty much the entire movie up until this point, Mrs. Griffith had been perfectly likable. The revelation that she’s not only been sleeping with a student, but gave him chlamydia, is jaw-dropping.
#15: Kat’s History with Joey
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“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) Kat Stratford is one of the most iconic female characters in the teen movie canon. She loves cool music, she doesn’t suffer fools, and she hates dumb jocks like Joey. Yeah, Joey is obviously insufferable. And yet, through most of “10 Things I Hate About You,” we’re left wondering why Kat hates Joey so much…you know, beyond hating him for his terrible personality. Considering the way Kat avoids Joey like the plague, it’s shocking for us to find out that they have a romantic past and that Joey pressured her into sleeping with him only to dump her shortly after. That’s the reason Kat is so fiercely individualistic. She knows the importance of following your own compass.
#14: Bee Sting
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“My Girl” (1991) We knew he was allergic to everything, but we still weren’t ready for this one. “My Girl” is one of the sweetest coming of age movies ever made, until it becomes one of the saddest. It centers on the friendship between Vada and Thomas J., a sickly boy without many friends. When Vada drops her ring near a beehive, Thomas J. goes back to look for it. He gets stung by bees, which for anyone else might not be a big deal. But, because of his allergies, Thomas J. ends up passing away. The moment is terrifying and shocking for audiences, but none more so than for Vada. Her reaction is absolutely gut wrenching.
#13: The Bus
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“Mean Girls” (2004) You know, someone getting hit by a bus usually isn’t something you’re preparing to see when you’re watching a teen movie. Thanks to “Mean Girls,” however, we’ll never be unprepared again! After one of the most iconic scenes in the 2004 film, when Janis tells Regina, along with the whole school, that Cady has been lying to Regina about being friends with her, Regina runs outside. Cady follows and tries to apologize, but Regina is having none of it. Her tirade is interrupted when she is rammed into by a big yellow school bus. Regina doesn’t die (despite Cady’s instant reaction), but the first time you see it, it’s definitely a bit of a jumpscare.
#12: Keith’s Cancer
“Keith” (2008) With the way Keith acts during this whole movie, the reason had to be something as serious as this. It begins as a pretty standard teen romance, centering on the relationship between high school students Natalie and Keith. The two grow closer and eventually end up striking up a romance of sorts. But then strange things start happening, like Keith disappearing for days on end and lying about where he lives. After the two have sex for the first time, Keith unceremoniously dumps Natalie, leaving her heartbroken. At the end of the film, however, we find out that he’s dying of cancer, and doesn’t have much time left. Not only does this account for his strange behavior, but it makes us weep.
#11: Scabbers
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004) Never trust a rat! At the time that the third installment of the “Harry Potter” franchise came out, Ron Weasley’s pet rat Scabbers had been a mainstay. But then, Harry finally comes face to face with Sirius Black, the man supposedly responsible for the death of his parents, and the truth comes out. Sirius was framed by his old pal, Peter Pettigrew, who has since been hiding in his Animagus form … a rat. That’s right! He’s been hiding in plain sight ever since… and there is so much wrong with it.
#10: It Was Just a Vision
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“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” (2012) To give them their due, the “Twilight” movies were faithful adaptations of Stephenie Meyer’s books. However, the ending took us all by surprise. For the finale of “Breaking Dawn”, the Cullens prepare to battle the Volturi. In the book, Bella saves the day with her protective shield and no one has to fight at all. In the movie, the battle goes ahead and beloved characters actually start dying. ‘This can’t be happening!’ cried the book fans. But actually, it wasn’t. The battle was all a vision, designed to persuade the Volturi leader that the odds wouldn’t be in his favor if he proceeded with his plans. A bit of an anti-climax? Maybe. But also a clever way to inject some action, without depriving the fans of their happy ending.
#9: The Men Behind the Mask
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“Scream” (1996) Although you might not remember who’s who from the original “Scream” movie, the infamous Ghostface mask is still a common sight on Halloween night. The film parodies the slasher genre while giving the audience genuine scares. One of the most frightening moments is the shocking revelation of the killer’s true identity. There’s no dramatic removal of the mask–no, instead the truth dawns on Sidney while she’s standing right in front of him. It’s her boyfriend, Billy Loomis, alongside his best friend Stu. The killer’s ability to be in two places at once completely threw us off their scents!
#8: Jace & Clary Find Out They’re Siblings (Though They Aren’t Really)
“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” (2013) The first novel in Cassandra Clare’s “Mortal Instruments” series was adapted into a 2013 movie, with the hope that sequels would follow. But we never did get that second installment. This meant that movie go-ers never got an answer to the crucial question: were Jace and Clary really brother and sister? They begin the story as your typical love interests. They flirt, they kiss, they fall in love. And then they find out they have the same dad. What is the audience supposed to do with that information? We can’t unsee the kissing. So we can’t understand the couple’s decision to totally ignore their new knowledge and ride off into the sunset together. At least the book fans knew the truth!
#7: Prim Doesn’t Make It
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” (2015) “The Hunger Games” began with Katniss’ sacrifice, entering the games to save her sister. But, while she was away, Prim grew up. She was no longer the helpless child who would be kept safe at home. In fact, she became a trained medic, and ended up on the front lines at the Capitol when two bombs were dropped by the rebels. The first incited the medics to help the injured. The second wreaked further devastation, but essentially ended the war. Prim was, unfortunately, caught in the calamity of the second bomb. The distress of losing her, right at the end, was a devastating blow for Katniss–and the viewers. It came as a shock and put a dampener on the otherwise happy ending.
#6: Jamie Tells Landon Her Secret
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“A Walk to Remember” (2002) In the grand tradition of Nicolas Sparks adaptations, “A Walk to Remember” begins as a love story, but tragedy is just around the corner. When bad boy Landon Carter is forced to participate in the school play as punishment, he forges a friendship with Jamie Sullivan. Jamie is the minister’s daughter and a social misfit, but she makes Landon promise he won’t fall in love with her. Naturally, he does fall for her, and it’s only then that he discovers the reason for her request. Jamie has leukemia and has stopped responding to treatment. It’s a real gut punch for the audience. Just like Landon, we’re about to have our happy ending cruelly snatched away.
#5: Aunt Helen
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) Movies aimed at teenagers have a reputation for being trivial, but they often tackle serious issues. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a coming-of-age drama about friendship, but also includes themes of mental illness, post-traumatic stress, and abuse. Charlie, portrayed by Logan Lerman, is a shy freshman who struggles with bouts of depression. We’re told that his Aunt Helen died in a car crash, but at the end of the movie, we discover that her death has had more of an effect on him than we formerly realized. Charlie was sexually abused by Helen as a child and has repressed the memories. The revelation is appalling but not gratuitous - once we know the truth, everything makes more sense.
#4: Maddy’s Not Really Sick
“Everything, Everything” (2017) “Everything, Everything” is a teen movie based on the book by Nicola Yoon. It follows Maddy, an eighteen year old who never leaves the house, due to an immunity disorder known as SCID. Her mother insists that she stay inside and doesn’t mix with people, purely for her own safety. But, when Maddy starts to fall for the boy next door, it becomes more difficult to follow her mom’s wishes. As it turns out however, she could have broken the rules a long time ago. At the end of the movie it is revealed that Maddy isn’t sick at all. Her mom has Munchhausen-by-proxy. Maddy’s only problems are caused by staying inside too much and being overmedicated.
#3: The Date on the Board
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“Remember Me” (2010) “Remember Me” is a gentle love story, a coming-of-age tale, and a family drama about grief. It also has one of the most intense endings ever committed to film. Viewers may have wondered why the movie appeared to be set in the recent past, rather than the present. This was revealed in the final scenes. Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson, waits for his father in his office, after mending their rocky relationship. Meanwhile, Tyler’s sister, Caroline, is in a classroom where we catch sight of the date on a blackboard. It’s September 11th, 2001. The camera then pans out from Pattinson and we realize that he’s in the World Trade Center. If the filmmakers were going for shock value, they definitely achieved it.
#2: Augustus’ Diagnosis
“The Fault in Our Stars” (2014) Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace Lancaster meet at a cancer support group. She’s getting worse, he’s in remission. This is Hazel’s story and Augustus is cast as the eccentric but charming love interest who will help her experience life before she has to face her death. This is what we expected from the premise of “A Fault in Our Stars”. What we didn’t bank on, was the return of Gus’s condition. We knew we were getting a tragedy, but we weren’t expecting Gus’ death! The moment where Augustus tells Hazel the truth is made all the more heartbreaking by two incredible acting turns from Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.
#1: The Maze Is an Experiment
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“The Maze Runner” (2014) “The Maze Runner” might not be the most memorable movie from the teen dystopia craze, but it does have the most dramatic final reveal. At the beginning of the movie, a boy named Thomas finds himself dropped into the world of the maze. He and the other ‘Gladers’ work together to defeat the trials thrown at them. In a final, shocking twist, we discover that the teens are part of an experiment. A deadly virus has devastated the planet and they are essentially lab rats. The maze is designed to test the subjects’ strength and provide humanity with hope for a cure. It’s an intriguing reveal and sets us up for the sequel.
