Since there’s an interesting thread about what folks think are the worst movie endings, I’d like to know what movie endings were especially memorable for you teeming millions here (it’s probrably been done before, but what hasn’t)
Shane had a perfect ending. course it followed the book very well. I liked the ending of the first Godfather movie - with the door shutting Michael’s wife out.
Your thougts?
Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The Terminator
The whole movie was nicely done, but the ending answered questions you didn’t even know you wanted to ask.
Life of Brian had a great ending. The impact has been somewhat lessened by overuse of the song later on though.
Time Bandits
Brazil. It managed to be a ‘happy’ ending, or at least the best it could have been.
The protagonist manages to escape a torture chamber, fight back against the dystopian bureaucracy and escape with his literal Dream Woman… and cut to reveal him still in the torture chair, catatonic. He’s just an office drone, he couldn’t have done all of that - but he didn’t give up information, and he at least gets to have his dreams.
Monsters Inc.
I loved how everything tied together in the end so nicely. Turned out kids’ laughter was a better power source, and the nerdy assistants became the ones collecting them.
The Usual Suspects. The flashback voiceover as “Verbal” limps away, and then, he just straightens up and walks normal, and get in the car with Mr. “Kobayashi.”
Still great after all these years.
“Some Like it Hot”
I came in to mention this. Fantastic. Also good is * The Prestige*.
Casablanca: “Round up the usual suspects”.
King Kong (the original).
And I came in to mention The Prestige. I loved almost everything about this movie, but the ending sealed the deal. I almost fell off my chair.
Shawshank Redemption: I know that the ending of the book is different than the movie, but I find the movie ending so satisfying. It makes me happy.
That’s a great one.
I came in to mention Frailty, with Matthew McConnaghy and Bill Paxton.
When the end reveals that McConnaghy is actually NOT a delusional psychopath but actually IS killing monsters in human form it blew my mind.
Homeward Bound, The Incredible Journey. When the animals improbably find their owners and come bounding out of the woods, I weep with joy every single time.
I thought I was the only one who’d seen this movie. Good movie all around. And a perfect ending for that film.
In Bruges
From a man who was going to kill himself earlier, that is a very positive ending.
The Third Man. 'Nuff said!
The Shawshank Redemption, the brightness of the beach and the open expanse of the sea is just such a great contrast to the gray claustrophobia of the prison.
It’s a great ending precisely because it DOESN’T give us what Hollywood has led us to expect. During her long approach, we’re sure Holly Martin is going to grab the girl and kiss her… or tell her he loves her… or just say SOMETHING. Instead, he just stands there and watches her go by, because he can’t think of anything to say to her.
That feels right. It feels real. But would the ending work so well if we HADN’T been conditioned to expect a happy, romantic ending?