# Best closing scenes in movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917 "2015-06-30T23:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/101 "2015-07-07T01:05:32Z")
Gone Baby Gone. Just sad. 2nd vote for Memento Sixth Sense hit me hard, didn’t see it coming ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/102 "2015-07-07T01:39:31Z")
_The Conversation._ I dare not say more. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/103 "2015-07-07T01:43:46Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > _The Conversation._ I dare not say more. Beautiful scene – and music. Check it out on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/104 "2015-07-07T15:48:09Z")
From The Bridge over the River Kwai: “Madness!” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/105 "2015-07-07T16:21:44Z")
_The Attic_ (Carrie Snodgress, 1980) Sorry, can’t find a link to the final scene anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/106 "2015-07-07T16:44:05Z")
Sixth sense. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/107 "2015-07-07T18:19:55Z")
Even after numerous viewings, the ending of [Local Hero](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPuj9_94TBQ) still evokes melancholy in me. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/108 "2015-07-07T20:09:56Z")
Final scene in [Blazing Saddles.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4VO9DMfhL0) ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/109 "2015-07-07T21:08:03Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Final scene in [Blazing Saddles.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4VO9DMfhL0) Also known as “the way every Western ended, they just weren’t honest enough to show it.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Haldurson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Haldurson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haldurson)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/110 "2015-07-08T20:31:45Z")
It’s not quite the last scene of the movie, but it’s close: I love the rooftop scene in “Blade Runner” with Rutger Hauer’s final speech. I think that it’s perfect. What’s unbelievable is that parts of that were improvised. “Being There” also has a great final scene. ---
**Author:** ![Haldurson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Haldurson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haldurson)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/111 "2015-07-08T20:32:50Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > From The Bridge over the River Kwai: “Madness!” Definitely a great scene – I totally agree. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/112 "2015-07-08T21:15:32Z")
The final scene in the musical version of Les Miserables is pure genius. ---
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/113 "2015-07-09T01:47:33Z")
Also, _Au Hasard Balthazar_. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/114 "2015-07-09T03:43:45Z")
The Shining. Even if it’s not exactly clear what the photograph is supposed to mean. And speaking of Kubrick. 2001: A Space Odyssey ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/115 "2015-07-09T10:32:09Z")
“The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it, for the first time, with a sense of hope. Because if a machine, a Terminator, can learn the value of human life…maybe we can, too.” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/116 "2015-07-09T13:43:06Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > The Shining. > > Even if it’s not exactly clear what the photograph is supposed to mean. > > And speaking of Kubrick. > > 2001: A Space Odyssey Oh, good one re _The Shining_. After having seen it so many times I’m now pretty sure what it’s supposed to convey but the first time I saw it, whoo boy did that stay with me for a long time. Along those same lines, the last shot in Polanski’s _Repulsion_ is a long closeup of a photo showing the main character (Catherine Deneuve) as a child with a look on her face that is just . . . disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/117 "2015-07-09T14:11:28Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Oh, good one re _The Shining_. After having seen it so many times I’m now pretty sure what it’s supposed to convey but the first time I saw it, whoo boy did that stay with me for a long time. The takeaway I had from that closing shot was that Jack was now a permanent resident (ahem… ghost) of the Overlook. It fits with the book as well since he was obsessed with the history of the hotel. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/118 "2015-07-09T14:15:33Z")
Maybe not “Best”, but worth an honorable mention. _The Grey_ You did see the actual ending, right? The one AFTER the credits? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/119 "2015-07-09T14:22:04Z")
[Hair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvaWwyA-s3Q) Let the sunshine in. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917/120 "2015-07-09T14:31:11Z")
How about the text at the end of American Graffiti? It alludes to the future of the four lads. One was [killed by a drunk driver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Graffiti#Plot) in December 1964. Another was missing in action. ISTR some eerie atmospheric sound (music?) during this finale. This was the first firm with a “what happened to them over the years” blurb, was it not? * * * Of course, there was a sequel, [More American Graffiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_American_Graffiti). ETA: Turns out Terry “The Toad” actually faked his own death. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-closing-scenes-in-movies/723917.md?page=7)