There are plenty of great and ground-breaking films that feature twin characters. Whilst oftentimes they showcase a light-hearted and fun dynamic between the pair, twins have also become valuable in horror films for scare tactics and building plot twists. Revealing a secret twin character has become a useful plot device to subvert audience expectations and create a simultaneously jarring and enjoyable moment on screen.
From casting actual twins, to having one actor play both characters, the films featured in this article are from a range of genres and filming styles. It is fair to say that this selection features twin characters to successfully advance both storyline and setting.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
10 Annie And Hallie - The Parent Trap
This film is an obvious choice. Both played by Lindsay Lohan, twins Annie and Hallie reunite with each other by accident at a summer camp. Having each lived with one of their parents after their separation, they decide to switch places so that they can experience living with the other parent. Deeply funny and a nostalgic trip into the 1990s, The Parent Trap is arguably Lindsay Lohan's most memorable performance in a film.
What makes this film unique is that, instead of casting twins, Lohan acted as both twins and would do two takes of each scene. A body double would stand in for each take and portray the 'other' twin facing away from the camera in each shot. Scenes where you can see both twins faces are edited together with a split screen.
9 June And Jennifer Gibbons - The Silent Twins
First premiering at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, The Silent Twins is a biographical drama about the twin sisters, June and Jennifer Gibbons, who were institutionalized at the well-known Broadmoor Hospital in the UK. Being from the only black family in a small South Wales town, their social isolation results in them rejecting communication from anyone else. Starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrence as the twins, this film places the deep connection between both twins at the center.
This film is an intriguing psychological interpretation of what the twins experienced from childhood to adulthood. Scenes are interspersed with stop-motion animation and highlight the wild imagination of both twins. It is a haunting and devastating retelling of the struggles that they faced.
8 The Kray Twins - Legend
Tom Hardy acts as both Reggie and Ronnie Kray in this retelling of the Kray Twins story and how their crimes across the East End of London finally landed them in prison. Legend is an intense yet entertaining drama and has all the markings of a typical gangster film.
The intense fraternal dynamic is palpable to the point where it is easy to forget that the brothers are being portrayed by one man. Hardy's performances are spectacular as he characterizes both men with equal amounts of humor and horror.
7 Viola And Justin - She's the Man
Amanda Bynes stars as Viola in this 2006 film, where she switches places with her twin brother and disguises herself as him at his new school so that she can play football. Inspired by William Shakespeare's infamous play Twelfth Night, the plot continually takes many comedic twists and turns that were ground-breaking for its time.
Although they are not in many scenes together, the hilarious dynamic between Viola and her twin brother Sebastian as they navigate the secret throughout the film is the best part of the film. Bynes' performance is unparalleled as she navigates her character to break gender stereotypes and ultimately follow her passion.
6 Emily (Hope) And Faith - A Simple Favor
A Simple Favor is a dark psychological thriller headlined by Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively portraying a fast-growing friendship between Stephanie and Emily, respectively. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie seeks to find her but instead uncovers far more secrets than she expected. Kendrick and Lively's chemistry remains powerful as the two of them excel in their performances as two mothers obsessively interacting with each other for personal gain.
One of the unexpected plot twists is that Emily is actually a twin and murdered her sister after her failed attempt at blackmail. Portrayed by real-life twins Nicole and Lauren Peters, the twin narrative propels the film in an entirely different direction. A sequel is in development, so it will be exciting to see how the story progresses further.
5 The Grady Twins - The Shining
One of many chilling reveal moments in The Shining sees young Danny face-to-face with two twin girls in the hotel corridor. The Grady Twins were played by actual twins Lisa and Louise Burns and are seen holding hands in the corridor looking for someone to play with. This moment ultimately creates a legacy for twin characters being used as a plot device in the horror/thriller genre.
The lead up to the scene sees the camera following behind Danny on his bike is unnerving as the viewer does not know what lurks behind the corner. It remains memorable as the atmosphere is damning and foreboding, ensuring that this remains one of Kubrick's best films.
4 Fred And George Weasley - The Harry Potter Series
Arguably some of the most famous on-screen twins, The Weasley Twins remain and iconic comedic duo making Harry Potter audiences laugh with their continued antics. They are notoriously known for providing light relief throughout the series with their jokes and wisecracks whilst helping Potter and the supporting cast take down Lord Voldemort. Their own family members famously cannot tell them apart sometimes due to them being so identical.
James and Oliver Phelps, the twins who portray the twins, had brilliant brotherly chemistry on screen with their banter and bravado as part of the Weasley family. Scenes featuring them are for the most part comedic as they introduce Potter to The Marauders Map, their joke shop products and the ability since the first film to prank and trick all those around them.
3 Nick And Margo - Gone Girl
The strong sibling love between Nick and his twin sister Margo may be an easily overlooked part of the overwhelming mystery thriller, Gone Girl, yet their support for each other is unwavering and one of the backbones of the film. Portrayed by Carrie Coon, Margo supports her twin brother without question when he is accused of murdering his wife, Amy.
With the many plot twists and horrific revelations revealed throughout the film, Margo is the character that is most insistent on Nick escaping the possessive clutches of his wife. Although he feels as though he cannot leave, Margo continues to stick by him.
2 Terry And Ruth - The Dark Mirror
Released in 1946, The Dark Mirror is a melodrama obsessed with Hollywood's 1940s trend of 'abnormal' psychology. After Terry's boyfriend is murdered, the plot surmises that nobody can uncover if she or her twin sister Ruth is the perpetrator. Both women are exactly alike and sometimes even pose as each other and each scene has all the trademarks of a classic psychological thriller film.
Director Robert Siodmak had roots in the German Expressionism era of cinema which certainly influenced his noir films such as this one. The camerawork and editing in The Dark Mirror are fantastic for its time as you can barely tell where the frame has been split during scenes where actress Olivia de Havilland is on-screen as both twins. A particular scene where the sisters are side-by-side and cheek-to-cheek is incredible for its time.
1 Addy And Red - Us
With a twin-like plot at the heart of its storyline, Jordan Peele's psychological action thriller film examines a family who are attacked by figures who look exactly like them. Twisted and traumatic of equal measure, this film is a masterpiece that ultimately plays around horrifically with the idea of a secret 'twin' character.
Multiple scenes of horror and gore fuel the film as the genetic clones are revealed to take control of those living above ground. Lupita Nyong'o excels in her complex and emotive performances as her two characters, Adelaide Wilson and Red.