# Best Endings - Movie Division **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062 "2011-03-17T20:27:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/61 "2011-08-30T19:10:56Z")
I came in to say “Annie Hall” but I see I did that back in March. How about “Zombieland”? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/62 "2011-08-30T19:26:51Z")
_Funny Games_. Either version. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/63 "2011-08-30T19:40:47Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > **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. Kitty! (Oh, sorry, I believe I have something in my eye) And The Iron Giant..damn it and it’s ability to tug at my emotions ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/64 "2011-08-30T19:47:46Z")
One of my favorites is the end of the original _The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3_. When Walter Matthau leans back into the apartment, after the other guy coughs and sneezes, oh, the look on his face! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/65 "2011-08-30T19:48:59Z")
_[Burn After Reading](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/)_ was not one of the Coen Brothers’ most brilliant efforts, but it’s an enjoyable romp, with J.K. Simmons as the CIA chief summing things up nicely: CIA Superior: What did we learn, Palmer? CIA Officer: I don’t know, sir. CIA Superior: I don’t fuckin’ know either. I guess we learned not to do it again. CIA Officer: Yes, sir. CIA Superior: I’m fucked if I know what we did. CIA Officer: Yes, sir, it’s, uh, hard to say CIA Superior: Jesus Fucking Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/66 "2011-08-30T20:21:03Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > _[Burn After Reading](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/)_ was not one of the Coen Brothers’ most brilliant efforts, but it’s an enjoyable romp, with J.K. Simmons as the CIA chief summing things up nicely: Good call, an odd case of a pretty average film with a truely great ending. ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/67 "2011-08-30T20:28:40Z")
> [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > **No Way Out**. A lot of his actions now make sense. **No Way Out** was a remake of [**The Big Clock**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Clock_(film)) from 1948 starring Ray Milland. You might find it worth checking out. Someone else mentioned **Fail Safe**. Along that line, few endings beat the one in [**Dr. Strangelove**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Strangelove). On a different note, I always thought the ending to [**Vanishing Point**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanishing_Point_(1971_film)) not only was a complete surprise but also tied up the story nicely. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/68 "2011-08-30T22:13:29Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > One of my favorites is the end of the original _The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3_. > > When Walter Matthau leans back into the apartment, after the other guy coughs and sneezes, oh, the look on his face! Yes! Love that movie and love that ending. How about Jaws? Smile, you son of a bitch! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/69 "2011-08-30T23:35:51Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Oh yeah, great ending. Of course, it’s hard for me to watch the film again already knowing that ending… As one of my students said (after the entire class had INSISTED I watch it): “There are two movies called _Fight Club_. The first one you see, and than every other time…” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/70 "2011-08-31T00:51:22Z")
Gotta mention the seventies movie _Car Wash_. The movie is mostly an ensemble comedy with a few poignant moments, but at the end, an angry employee who was fired turns up to rob the place, and for a few minutes everything is dead serious and unpredictable. Just like in real life. It’s a perfect ending for an underrated picture. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/71 "2011-08-31T01:02:58Z")
And then there’s the press conference where Tony Stark is on his way to the classic “secret identity” ending: he’s setting up the straight-out-of-the-comics story, explaining that his not-the-hero-type self was at Point A while his armored bodyguard was playing superhero at Point B, and we’re suddenly watching Robert Downey Jr talk about his character defects and the highly publicized mistakes he’s made and, _yeah, okay, the truth is – I am Iron Man._ ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/72 "2011-08-31T02:17:58Z")
Is straight-to-DVD a cheat? I thought the ending of the last Futurama movie was fantastic. First we get a cameo from pretty much every character that ever appeared on the show, and then a final moment that perfectly encapsulates everything that made the show so damn wonderful over the years. A perfect, hopeful-yet-a-little-tearful goodbye to some of my favorite characters ever. Then the show got picked up. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/73 "2011-08-31T03:00:45Z")
Call me a sentimental fool, but… the last scene of _Saving Private Ryan_, when the old Ryan begs his wife to validate his life, and is overwhelmed at the cemetery while looking at Captain Miller’s grave and the thousands of other graves around it. Brings a tear to my eye every time. And _Rocky_, who ends up beat to shit, losing the fight and not even really noticing, since he’s the happiest man in the world because Adrian loves him too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/74 "2011-08-31T03:12:26Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > “It’s the stuff dreams are made of.” > > -_The Maltese Falcon_ Came in to add this one, but you already took it. How about the ending of _Citizen Kane_ where they burn all of his stuff in an incinerator? ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/75 "2011-08-31T03:56:49Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > It got mentioned twice in the other thread, but the ending to _The Mist_ really belongs in here. The ending to that movie was like getting kicked in the solar plexus. Fucking brilliant. Huh, funny how different peoples tastes are. I haven’t read the other thread, but this belongs there IMO. I despised the ending of the Mist. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/76 "2011-08-31T04:11:34Z")
Some endings I liked in no particular order: Saving Private Ryan - Earn this Leathal Weapon 2 - It’s just been revoked! Star Wars - YOU’RE ALL CLEAR KID!! NOW BLOW THIS THING AND LET’S GO HOME! Unstoppable - Hey that’s Ned! Planet of the Apes - YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!! Swimming With Sharks - What do you want? Boggie Nights - You’re a fucking star! Soylant Green - THEY’RE PEOPLE!! American Psycho - I just had lunch with Paul Allen The Iron Giant - SUPERMAN! 12 Monkeys - I’m in insurance… Terminator 3 - Your father didn’t send us here to stop Judgement Day (the rest of the film sucked) ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/77 "2011-08-31T04:13:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > **In Bruges**. “And I really hoped I wouldn’t die. I really really hoped I wouldn’t die.” Have to second you on that. One of my favorite closing lines of all time, and one of the few that makes the lead’s survival completely irrelevant, in the best way possible. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/78 "2011-08-31T04:42:21Z")
The original **Back to the Future** had a brilliant sequence of repeated climaxes. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/79 "2011-08-31T06:34:26Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > _[Burn After Reading](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/)_ was not one of the Coen Brothers’ most brilliant efforts, but it’s an enjoyable romp, with J.K. Simmons as the CIA chief summing things up nicely: CIA Superior: What did we learn, Palmer? > CIA Officer: I don’t know, sir. > CIA Superior: I don’t fuckin’ know either. I guess we learned not to do it again. > CIA Officer: Yes, sir. > CIA Superior: I’m fucked if I know what we did. > CIA Officer: Yes, sir, it’s, uh, hard to say > CIA Superior: Jesus Fucking Christ. People I know in the intelligence community have told me that they’ve had very similar conversations in real life. Which is kind of scary. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062/80 "2011-08-31T14:24:30Z")
The Blues Brothers (Everybody let’s rock). ETA: The first few times I saw it in the theatre, the audience just roared! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-endings-movie-division/575062.md?page=5)