filmcritic.com— What films had the most outstanding finales? Some old favorites and some surprises can be found in this top 50 list.
Jul 28, 2006View in Crawl 4
definitely Arlington Road, a great ending that made you think about whether or not some terrorists acts were like that - some very subtle brain f**king
I am very suprised only two people have mentioned this movie that greatly deserves to be on this list. One word: OldboyThe entire movie is built around finding out the truth in the ending to why the main character is imprisoned for 15 years...and if you haven't seen this movie, the ending is by far one of the most f**ked up things conceived in a movie, and its completely and utterly brilliant!
I went to see Clerks 2 last week and this couple brought their baby. The baby actually only cried twice but there was this group of 4 people sitting in front of me who were all using their cell phones during various parts of the movie. Some of them were even talking on the phone. From now on I'm going to get popcorn just to throw at people.
I assume none of you have seen a little film called "The Third Man"? Easily one of the best endings of ALL TIME. Hell, one of the best ending SHOTS of all time. I won't ruin it for all the film illiterati out there, but it doesn't get more honest than that last shot.
A few others, not sure if they have been mentioned yet.Apocalypse Now Redux - I always felt that the ending to this version of the film was much better than the original "airstrike" ending. After all of the violence in the last act, we are left with rainfall and "the horror, the horror" as Martin Sheen leaves Brando's compound. A quiet and chilling end.This is Spinal Tap - the band reunites and the drummer spontaneously combusts. Fantastic.Mean Streets - the first line of the film says it all about the end of the film. You don't make up for your sins in church, you do it on the streets. Tom Horn - an uneven movie, but the final scene is gut-wrenching.Gimme Shelter - I know this a documentary, but the ending deserves to be included. I always try to imagine what exactly Mick Jagger is thinking about during the final freeze frame of his face after the viewing the Altamont murder on film. What does one think or say immediately after viewing something like that?So, now that the 50 greatest movie endings have been discussed, how about the 50 greatest movie openings?
**WARNING: This comment contains lots of spoilers to lots of movies***I'm sorry but I honestly think that the ending in "Lucky Number Slevin" was pretty tight not to mention when you find out Slevin (Josh Hartnett) was actually the little boy getting revenge on all the guys that killed his parents and ruined his lifeI also liked the endings of:Clue - This movie's ending rocks because it has three different endings that are all possible and fun to watch because it pretty much explains the entire movie's reason/plotIdentity - Each character at the motel represented fragmentations of personalities that were created inside of Malcolm (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Timmy (Bret Loehr) was the personality that killed each one off as retribution to his mother and the atrocities that he encountered at the age of nine; the reason this ending is shocking is because one, it makes it seem as though Timmy died and Paris (Amanda Peet) was the personality that won but NO and two, since Timmy was the last personality left, that caused Malcolm to become a psychopath [like Timmy] and kill the guards that were driving him at the timeSixth Sense - Dr. Malcom Crowe (Bruce Willis) is actually a ghostMonsters Inc. - The ending was so cute, how could you not love it.....except that it left you wanting more but still, come on....Sulley (John Goodman) opens the door to Boo's (Mary Gibbs) room for the first time in a long time and we hear a voice say "Kitty?"....very touchingCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - The final battle with Master Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow) using the Blade of Destiny and Jade Fox (Pei-pei Cheng) trying to kill Li with lots of poison darts and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) not doing much while Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) watches very sickly because she was poisoned by Jade Fox; this is an amazing scene and then Li comes to terms with death and dies, Fox is killed with her own poison darts, Yu Shu Lien comes to terms that her love [Li] dies, and finally Jen grows out of her immaturity and tries saving Li's life but cannot and witnesses his death and she grows up and finally sees herself as part of society, then casts herself off of a cliff {since the youth in her must metaphorically die for her to come into adulthood, she casts herself over the cliff, a physical realization of that metaphor. Although there is no body or funeral and therefore no closure, it is just a metaphor for the coming-of-age}Devil's Advocate - John Milton (Al Pacino) is Satan and Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is in fact one of Satan's many sons. Milton reveals to Kevin that he needs Kevin to father the anti-christ. Kevin's wife committs suicide after she is raped by Milton. Kevin voluntarily commits suicide at the end, greatly despairing his unholy father, but gets brought back to life at the decision he made near the beginning of the movie, giving Kevin (but also Milton/Satan) a second chance. Even if Kevin escapes the temptation to win the case by turning away from his guilty client school teacher Lloyd Gettys (Chris Bauer), he still gives in to vanity when he agrees to have his story written by Larry (Neal Jones), a reporter from Florida who actually turns into Milton after Kevin walk away. The Devil can get to Kevin any way he wants; he just has to appeal to his self-love and vanity. Secret Window - Finding out that Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) is the same person as stalker/killer John Shooter (John Turturro) was quite enthrallingThe Others - The entire plot revolves around the final discovery that the three characters are ghosts, and the presence they felt in the house (The Others )is that of the living, not of the dead; unexpected, fun, shockingInside Man - The ending of the movie shows how they did it and that is always cool.....living behind a wall for a few days and then coming out later when nobody is paying attention, pure genius.....except they shoulda stole more lootFinal Destination - When the bully Carter (Kerr Smith) saves Alex's (Devon Sawa) life and then is killed by the swinging electric sign, that was an exciting endingPootie Tang - The entire movie was a movie trailer that Pootie Tang was showing to a talkshow host (I'm not sure who) and you totally remember that at the end...plus this film is by far one of the funniest things I've ever seen!!Donnie Darko - Donnie deciding to accept his fate and laughing while the 747 plane engine hits....very cool ending!Cast Away - Not really the end but towards the end when Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) escaped the island, loses Wilson, is rescued, and then gets his heart broken by his ex-fiancee Kelly Frears (Hellen Hunt) who got married and had a child while he was gone....the movie ends with Chuck dropping the unopened FedEx package off at the owner's house and then comes to some cross-roads where a woman passes him in a truck that has the wings [that were on the package] painted on it and he just stares as it continues down the roadThe Village - The ending where it's revealed that the village is part of the 21st century and has been built by people wanting to escape the violence of modern day America is pretty shockingThe World According to Garp - Main character Garp (Robin Williams),the lovable bastard son of famous writer and feminist Jenny Fields (Glenn Close), gets shot at the end of the movie in the wrestling room by Pooh (Brenda Currin), an old childhood enemie who is a bit crazy...this ending was SO sadWizard of Oz - The entire movie was a dreamMillion Dollar Baby- When all hope seems lost and everybody is sad, Danger (Jay Baruchel) comes back with his goofieness and lightens the mood a bitClick- Although not the best movie, I liked how it was a "dream" and Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) gets a second chanceFriday - Just a plain and simple good ending with Smokey (Chris Tucker) talking on the phone and ending it with "Well, I'm going into rehab. I'm through with this s**t. [Hangs up phone and tokes joint in his mouth.] I was just bulls**ttin'! And you know this, man!"Half Baked - Good ending line..... Thurgood Jenkins (dave Chappelle) says "Don't get me wrong, I love weed. I LOVE IT! But not as much as I love p*s*y. The end." Shawshank Redemption - When Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red (morgan Freeman) meet on the beachMIB II - When Kay (tommy Lee Jones) kicks open the locker door to reveal this kind of "larger" universeJoy Ride - This movie has four different endings and all of them are interesting, esecially after the way they built up the storySaw - nobody would have expected the "dead" guy on the floor the entire time was actually alive AND the killerSnatch - someone, someway.....everything turns out GOOD...a must seeFight Club - The ending was awesome with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt actually being Tyler Durden....unexpected!!Anger Management - Did not expect that at all....the whole thing was a set up!The Wedding Singer - When we find out Robbie (Adam Sandler) is on the same plane as Julia (Drew Barrymore) and he sings to herRequiem of a Dream - Makes you think twice about stuff in your life because the ending shows how bad s**t gotLittle Miss Sunshine - After all the craziness that happens, they become closer as a familyOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) has a frontal labotomy and Chief Bromden (Will Sampson) euthanizes him with a pillow and then proceeds to escape by throwing a heavy marble thing through the gated windowHappy Gilmore - Happy (AdamSandler) gets the girl, the house, is happy, and waves to Chubbs (Carl Weathers)Lord of the Flies - Ralph (Balthazar Getty) is being chased through the forrest [at this point in the movie, all hope is lost of being rescued] and he runs into a rescuer that just got off the helicopter and the remaining boys are savedMenace II Society - Caine (Tyrin Turner) and his friend Sharif (Vonte Sweet) are shot down and Caine, while being wounded and still being shot at, manages to make it over to the little boy Anthony (Jullian Roy Doster) to cover and protect himMy Cousin Vinny - Vincent (Joe Pesci) wins the case and even gets away with lying to the judge because his wife Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei) helped himRounders - When Mike (Matt Damon) beats Teddy KGB (John Malkovich) for the exact amount he owes him, begins to leave, is pressured into playing more, and goes on to win a lot of money from Teddy KGBPay It Forward - Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) is stabbed to death after influencing the world for the better.....unexpected and heartwrenching8-Mile - This ending was good because B-Rabbit (Eminem) wins the battles against his rivals with phat rymes that are clever, funny, and leave you wanting moreHero - After all that happened, the famous fighter who remained nameless (Jet Li) is killed by a wave of arrows....what's shocking is that he just stands there and takes it like a true man/warriorKill Bill: Volume 2 - The ending to this movie rocked with Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) using the five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique on Bill (David Carradine) and then their conversationTommy Boy - A great ending because Tommy (Chris Farley) saves his dad's company, gets Michelle Brock (Julie Warner) as his girlfriend, catches Paul (Rob Lowe) and has him arrested, and then it finally ends with Tommy being stuck out on a lake in a sailboat with no wind but then begins to talk out loud to his dead father and then the wind picks up, signifying that his father "heard" TommyWar of the Worlds - the aliens died from bacteria and Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), daughter Rachel Ferrier (Dakota Fanning), and son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) all survive the attack.....they make it appear as if Robbie died but HE DIDN'TBeauty and the Beast - The curse is lifted and everything is back to normal, how sweetRudy - The crowd cheering "Rudy" and then Rudy going on the field and making a sack and then being carried off the field...classicTerminator 3 - Realizing they couldn't do anything to prevent it...aww shucksI think that's it for now......
Too many of you guys are confusing "ending" with "climax" or "reveal." The list this guy wrote is talking about the last two seconds to one minute of the flicks.
cryonixJul 28, 2006
dude, elephant was... oh man that movie just disturbed me almost as much as Vulgar, if you've seen Vulgar you know why (Dante from Clerks gets raped)
saturnringJul 29, 2006
Has to be Fight Club. Check out this poll on the same topic <a class="user" href="http://www.tezaa.com/view/which_of_these_movies_has_the_best_movie_ending">http://www.tezaa.com/view/which_of_these_movies_has_the_best_movie_ending</a>
ilikedgingerJul 29, 2006
Edles-A loud woman ruined your Scary Movie 4 experience? Are you sure it wasn't the fact you were watching... Scary Movie 4?
the6threplicantJul 30, 2006
definitely Arlington Road, a great ending that made you think about whether or not some terrorists acts were like that - some very subtle brain f**king
mabuseJul 31, 2006
293 comments and no one has even bothered to mention Psycho? Hitchc**k is officially irrelevant.
mike23132Jul 31, 2006
I am very suprised only two people have mentioned this movie that greatly deserves to be on this list. One word: OldboyThe entire movie is built around finding out the truth in the ending to why the main character is imprisoned for 15 years...and if you haven't seen this movie, the ending is by far one of the most f**ked up things conceived in a movie, and its completely and utterly brilliant!
atroxodisseAug 1, 2006
I went to see Clerks 2 last week and this couple brought their baby. The baby actually only cried twice but there was this group of 4 people sitting in front of me who were all using their cell phones during various parts of the movie. Some of them were even talking on the phone. From now on I'm going to get popcorn just to throw at people.
seymour42Aug 2, 2006
I assume none of you have seen a little film called "The Third Man"? Easily one of the best endings of ALL TIME. Hell, one of the best ending SHOTS of all time. I won't ruin it for all the film illiterati out there, but it doesn't get more honest than that last shot.
kw6567Aug 9, 2006
A few others, not sure if they have been mentioned yet.Apocalypse Now Redux - I always felt that the ending to this version of the film was much better than the original "airstrike" ending. After all of the violence in the last act, we are left with rainfall and "the horror, the horror" as Martin Sheen leaves Brando's compound. A quiet and chilling end.This is Spinal Tap - the band reunites and the drummer spontaneously combusts. Fantastic.Mean Streets - the first line of the film says it all about the end of the film. You don't make up for your sins in church, you do it on the streets. Tom Horn - an uneven movie, but the final scene is gut-wrenching.Gimme Shelter - I know this a documentary, but the ending deserves to be included. I always try to imagine what exactly Mick Jagger is thinking about during the final freeze frame of his face after the viewing the Altamont murder on film. What does one think or say immediately after viewing something like that?So, now that the 50 greatest movie endings have been discussed, how about the 50 greatest movie openings?
whoopinass2005Aug 12, 2006
What about the ending to SEVEN? Gweneth Paltros head in a box, does it get any better?
ash1138Oct 20, 2006
Magnolia makes the list but Sixth Sense doesn't. Hmmm....
thurgoodOct 20, 2006
**WARNING: This comment contains lots of spoilers to lots of movies***I'm sorry but I honestly think that the ending in "Lucky Number Slevin" was pretty tight not to mention when you find out Slevin (Josh Hartnett) was actually the little boy getting revenge on all the guys that killed his parents and ruined his lifeI also liked the endings of:Clue - This movie's ending rocks because it has three different endings that are all possible and fun to watch because it pretty much explains the entire movie's reason/plotIdentity - Each character at the motel represented fragmentations of personalities that were created inside of Malcolm (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Timmy (Bret Loehr) was the personality that killed each one off as retribution to his mother and the atrocities that he encountered at the age of nine; the reason this ending is shocking is because one, it makes it seem as though Timmy died and Paris (Amanda Peet) was the personality that won but NO and two, since Timmy was the last personality left, that caused Malcolm to become a psychopath [like Timmy] and kill the guards that were driving him at the timeSixth Sense - Dr. Malcom Crowe (Bruce Willis) is actually a ghostMonsters Inc. - The ending was so cute, how could you not love it.....except that it left you wanting more but still, come on....Sulley (John Goodman) opens the door to Boo's (Mary Gibbs) room for the first time in a long time and we hear a voice say "Kitty?"....very touchingCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - The final battle with Master Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow) using the Blade of Destiny and Jade Fox (Pei-pei Cheng) trying to kill Li with lots of poison darts and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) not doing much while Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) watches very sickly because she was poisoned by Jade Fox; this is an amazing scene and then Li comes to terms with death and dies, Fox is killed with her own poison darts, Yu Shu Lien comes to terms that her love [Li] dies, and finally Jen grows out of her immaturity and tries saving Li's life but cannot and witnesses his death and she grows up and finally sees herself as part of society, then casts herself off of a cliff {since the youth in her must metaphorically die for her to come into adulthood, she casts herself over the cliff, a physical realization of that metaphor. Although there is no body or funeral and therefore no closure, it is just a metaphor for the coming-of-age}Devil's Advocate - John Milton (Al Pacino) is Satan and Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is in fact one of Satan's many sons. Milton reveals to Kevin that he needs Kevin to father the anti-christ. Kevin's wife committs suicide after she is raped by Milton. Kevin voluntarily commits suicide at the end, greatly despairing his unholy father, but gets brought back to life at the decision he made near the beginning of the movie, giving Kevin (but also Milton/Satan) a second chance. Even if Kevin escapes the temptation to win the case by turning away from his guilty client school teacher Lloyd Gettys (Chris Bauer), he still gives in to vanity when he agrees to have his story written by Larry (Neal Jones), a reporter from Florida who actually turns into Milton after Kevin walk away. The Devil can get to Kevin any way he wants; he just has to appeal to his self-love and vanity. Secret Window - Finding out that Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) is the same person as stalker/killer John Shooter (John Turturro) was quite enthrallingThe Others - The entire plot revolves around the final discovery that the three characters are ghosts, and the presence they felt in the house (The Others )is that of the living, not of the dead; unexpected, fun, shockingInside Man - The ending of the movie shows how they did it and that is always cool.....living behind a wall for a few days and then coming out later when nobody is paying attention, pure genius.....except they shoulda stole more lootFinal Destination - When the bully Carter (Kerr Smith) saves Alex's (Devon Sawa) life and then is killed by the swinging electric sign, that was an exciting endingPootie Tang - The entire movie was a movie trailer that Pootie Tang was showing to a talkshow host (I'm not sure who) and you totally remember that at the end...plus this film is by far one of the funniest things I've ever seen!!Donnie Darko - Donnie deciding to accept his fate and laughing while the 747 plane engine hits....very cool ending!Cast Away - Not really the end but towards the end when Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) escaped the island, loses Wilson, is rescued, and then gets his heart broken by his ex-fiancee Kelly Frears (Hellen Hunt) who got married and had a child while he was gone....the movie ends with Chuck dropping the unopened FedEx package off at the owner's house and then comes to some cross-roads where a woman passes him in a truck that has the wings [that were on the package] painted on it and he just stares as it continues down the roadThe Village - The ending where it's revealed that the village is part of the 21st century and has been built by people wanting to escape the violence of modern day America is pretty shockingThe World According to Garp - Main character Garp (Robin Williams),the lovable bastard son of famous writer and feminist Jenny Fields (Glenn Close), gets shot at the end of the movie in the wrestling room by Pooh (Brenda Currin), an old childhood enemie who is a bit crazy...this ending was SO sadWizard of Oz - The entire movie was a dreamMillion Dollar Baby- When all hope seems lost and everybody is sad, Danger (Jay Baruchel) comes back with his goofieness and lightens the mood a bitClick- Although not the best movie, I liked how it was a "dream" and Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) gets a second chanceFriday - Just a plain and simple good ending with Smokey (Chris Tucker) talking on the phone and ending it with "Well, I'm going into rehab. I'm through with this s**t. [Hangs up phone and tokes joint in his mouth.] I was just bulls**ttin'! And you know this, man!"Half Baked - Good ending line..... Thurgood Jenkins (dave Chappelle) says "Don't get me wrong, I love weed. I LOVE IT! But not as much as I love p*s*y. The end." Shawshank Redemption - When Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Red (morgan Freeman) meet on the beachMIB II - When Kay (tommy Lee Jones) kicks open the locker door to reveal this kind of "larger" universeJoy Ride - This movie has four different endings and all of them are interesting, esecially after the way they built up the storySaw - nobody would have expected the "dead" guy on the floor the entire time was actually alive AND the killerSnatch - someone, someway.....everything turns out GOOD...a must seeFight Club - The ending was awesome with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt actually being Tyler Durden....unexpected!!Anger Management - Did not expect that at all....the whole thing was a set up!The Wedding Singer - When we find out Robbie (Adam Sandler) is on the same plane as Julia (Drew Barrymore) and he sings to herRequiem of a Dream - Makes you think twice about stuff in your life because the ending shows how bad s**t gotLittle Miss Sunshine - After all the craziness that happens, they become closer as a familyOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) has a frontal labotomy and Chief Bromden (Will Sampson) euthanizes him with a pillow and then proceeds to escape by throwing a heavy marble thing through the gated windowHappy Gilmore - Happy (AdamSandler) gets the girl, the house, is happy, and waves to Chubbs (Carl Weathers)Lord of the Flies - Ralph (Balthazar Getty) is being chased through the forrest [at this point in the movie, all hope is lost of being rescued] and he runs into a rescuer that just got off the helicopter and the remaining boys are savedMenace II Society - Caine (Tyrin Turner) and his friend Sharif (Vonte Sweet) are shot down and Caine, while being wounded and still being shot at, manages to make it over to the little boy Anthony (Jullian Roy Doster) to cover and protect himMy Cousin Vinny - Vincent (Joe Pesci) wins the case and even gets away with lying to the judge because his wife Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei) helped himRounders - When Mike (Matt Damon) beats Teddy KGB (John Malkovich) for the exact amount he owes him, begins to leave, is pressured into playing more, and goes on to win a lot of money from Teddy KGBPay It Forward - Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) is stabbed to death after influencing the world for the better.....unexpected and heartwrenching8-Mile - This ending was good because B-Rabbit (Eminem) wins the battles against his rivals with phat rymes that are clever, funny, and leave you wanting moreHero - After all that happened, the famous fighter who remained nameless (Jet Li) is killed by a wave of arrows....what's shocking is that he just stands there and takes it like a true man/warriorKill Bill: Volume 2 - The ending to this movie rocked with Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) using the five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique on Bill (David Carradine) and then their conversationTommy Boy - A great ending because Tommy (Chris Farley) saves his dad's company, gets Michelle Brock (Julie Warner) as his girlfriend, catches Paul (Rob Lowe) and has him arrested, and then it finally ends with Tommy being stuck out on a lake in a sailboat with no wind but then begins to talk out loud to his dead father and then the wind picks up, signifying that his father "heard" TommyWar of the Worlds - the aliens died from bacteria and Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), daughter Rachel Ferrier (Dakota Fanning), and son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) all survive the attack.....they make it appear as if Robbie died but HE DIDN'TBeauty and the Beast - The curse is lifted and everything is back to normal, how sweetRudy - The crowd cheering "Rudy" and then Rudy going on the field and making a sack and then being carried off the field...classicTerminator 3 - Realizing they couldn't do anything to prevent it...aww shucksI think that's it for now......
smokewaterNov 26, 2006
Shawshank ftw! Its not much of a list if shawshank is mentioned once.
revoltpuppyApr 23, 2007
Too many of you guys are confusing "ending" with "climax" or "reveal." The list this guy wrote is talking about the last two seconds to one minute of the flicks.