Entertainment
The 10 Best Endings in Film History
Warning! There are some major spoilers regarding the films discussed.
A brilliant movie isn’t just about a moment or two, a legendary performance, or box office numbers. A genuinely perfect film must have all that and still be exceptional from beginning to end. And those films that end in a masterful manner tend to earn forever praise. It’s easy to wrap up a story neatly with a bow, but that’s boring. A great ending must be earned and leave a lasting impact. But what makes an incredible ending? Well, these ten films know a thing or two about sensational finales.
From a shocking revelation to a poetic conclusion, a great movie should end in a way that properly completes the narrative and leaves the audience feeling satisfied. A great ending must be worth sitting through until the credits end. These films do just that. Some have inspired subsequent movies. Others have influenced other filmmakers to find their own iconic buttons that emulate these movies. While there are certainly many more films that could have slipped onto this list, these ten endings represent a great cross-section of cinema history and genres.
1
‘All That Jazz’ (1979)
Of all the films on this list, All That Jazz may be one of the more underrated films of all time. Directed by the legendary Bob Fosse, the film did earn a handful of Academy Award nominations and wins. And perhaps a reason why is that sensational conclusion. The film is a semi-autobiographical film based on the director himself. The dazzling yet cynical musical drama follows Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), a workaholic director juggling a chaotic personal life, prescription drugs, and impending mortality. He has an endless line of women, his family life is crumbling, and physical and mental stress is taking its toll on a consummate professional. A raw look into the pressures of the industry, balancing work with life and love, All That Jazz is greatly remembered for Fosse’s sizzling choreography and the surreal sequences. The very best comes at the end.
We may ponder how our final moments might play out on our deathbed—Fosse envisioned it for Joe via razzle-dazzle and all that jazz. A dying Joe hallucinates a massive, glamorous television variety show led by O’Connor Flood (Ben Vereen), where he and Joe perform the upbeat song “Bye Bye Life,” a whimsical riff on the Everly Brothers’ song “Bye Bye Love.” It’s a grand conclusion that celebrates himself, his life, and his loves as a cavalcade of characters from his past appear in celebration. The sequence blurs the line between his internal ego, regret, and the final stages of dying where Angelique (Jessica Lange), the alluring woman in white representing death, waits at the end of the spectral runway. At the end, his corpse is zipped up in a body bag. The final scene flourishes with brilliant showmanship and, like a Broadway show, wraps up the entire journey through song. But it’s that shockingly jarring dose of reality that serves as a harrowing reminder that death is finite. Truth and illusion are united through thematic closure. One man’s ego may aggrandize his life, but Joe’s exit from life is just like everyone else’s. All That Jazz simply couldn’t end any other way.
2
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
There are very few romantic dramas that hold a candle to Casablanca. The 1942 classic directed by Michael Curtiz tells the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American nightclub owner in Vichy-controlled Morocco. Rick must choose between his lingering love for his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), and helping her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a resistance leader, escape the Nazis by securing vital exit letters. Rick’s moral dilemma leaves him torn between his personal desire for Ilsa and the broader global fight against fascism, forcing him to make the greatest decision. Casablanca ends the way it must: with the ultimate gesture and one of the most romantically heartbreaking lines ever uttered: “We’ll always have Paris.”
The final scene of the film finds Rick and Ilsa on the tarmac at the foggy airport. Rick convinces Ilsa to board a plane to freedom with her husband. But it’s not that easy. Rick shoots the Nazi Major Heinrich Strasser (Conrad Veidt) who tries to stop them, and French Captain Renault (Claude Rains) protects Rick by telling his men to “round up the usual suspects.” It’s implied that Renault has now joined the Free French cause. As the plane departs, Rick and Renault walk into the fog together, Rick’s states, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. One of the most iconic endings with a brilliant quote, Casablanca concludes with the ultimate sacrifice. Rick’s line to Ilsa before he sends her away serves as his acknowledgment that while they have had incredibly sweet moments together, they simply cannot be. Casablanca trades away a typical Hollywood ending for an emotionally mature, cliche-free action of political duty and nobility. This is literally the opposite of riding off into the sunset. It’s a bittersweet parting, but truly the only way hope can be found in the darkness.
3
‘Chinatown’ (1974)
Hands down, one of the greatest neo-noir mysteries in Hollywood history is Chinatown. Directed by Roman Polanski, the thriller centers around private eye Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson), who, in 1937 Los Angeles, uncovers a dark web of municipal corruption and family secrets after being hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) to investigate a routine infidelity case. Gittes uncovers a horrific family connection involving Evelyn’s father, Noah Cross (John Huston), in a finale that instantly cements the film’s legacy. Inspired by a real-life situation, Chinatown packed a powerful punch where hero and villain do battle, but the bloody conclusion may leave you unsatisfied.
Jake tries to help Evelyn flee to Mexico with her daughter/sister Katherine Cross (Belinda Palmer), only to be confronted by the villainous Noah in Chinatown. As Evelyn fires a shot against her abusive father, a police officer blindly fires at her, killing Evelyn instantly. Cross, like the monster he is, cradles the mortified young girl, who is both his daughter and grandchild, ultimately being the one to lead her to safety. Jake, who has seemingly lost the war, is whisked away as the infamous line, “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown,” is uttered in his ear. It’s a devastating blow that proves that corruption can succeed and justice will not prevail. Cross is deemed largely untouchable as this myth of “Chinatown” represents a system where the rules don’t make sense and trying to do so can lead to greater tragedy. The scene may be harrowing, but it’s thematically brilliant. Jake represents a hero whose intervention triggers loss. Chinatown‘s ending serves as a reminder that the Hollywood ideal is that one single person cannot stop a powerful, systemic evil.
4
‘Planet of the Apes’ (1968)
There are a lot of things that the original Planet of the Apes is known for, but it’s that final image that will remain its most recognizable and resounding. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the original Planet of the Apes is based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. The science fiction film follows a group of human scientists, led by astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston), who crash-land on a mysterious, futuristic, savage planet where talking apes rule society and primitive humans are hunted and enslaved. Chimpanzee scientists Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) and Dr. Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) befriend Taylor and try to help him, but the menacing orangutan Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) tries to hide proof that humans were once the superior intelligence. Planet of the Apes is a film about survival, but what happens when you learn the hard truth about the dangerous world you fell upon? Welcome to that final moment.
As science fiction Hollywood films tended to do, the protagonist would be able to fight his way to freedom. Taylor and a mute human named Nova (Linda Harrison) escape into the Forbidden Zone away from the ape city. Though a confrontation between Taylor and Dr. Zaius arrives, it’s the latter who knows the truth of what’s beyond. Taylor and Nova escape, riding horses along the coastline, only to discover the remains of the Statue of Liberty buried in the sand. The revelation comes as Taylor discovers he did not travel across the galaxy and that humanity was responsible for its own demise, revealing the escape was futile. “We finally really did it. You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! Goddamn you all to hell!” he exclaims on his knees, ending on an ultimate low. Planet of the Apes concludes to serve as a cautionary tale about humans’ self-destructive nature. For a film from 1968, it wasn’t necessarily prophetic, but its reality has yet to be altered. The dystopian conclusion of humanity destroyed by nuclear fears struck a chord with Cold War-era audiences, remaining culturally powerful.
5
‘Se7en’ (1995)
Crime thrillers often end with the villain getting apprehended and the cops walking off into the sunset. Then came Se7en, and that concept was flipped for one of the most shocking endings in thriller history. Directed by David Fincher, Se7en follows William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a near-retired veteran detective, and David Mills (Brad Pitt), a hot-headed rookie, who hunt a meticulously complex serial killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), who stages his brutal murders around the seven deadly sins. Se7en was destined to deliver on the horrible murders for each sin, but audiences truly never expected the killer’s grand finale to be as horrible as it was.
After a relentless search, the killer finally decides to turn himself in to the police. Covered in blood, Doe leads the two detectives to a remote field where he claims the final two victims are. Suddenly, a van arrives with a mysterious box. Instructed to open it, Somerset opens the box to great dismay as he discovers the severed head of Mills’ wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). Left in complete shock, John Doe confesses to murdering Tracy out of envy for Mills’ perfect life. He then provokes Mills by revealing that she was pregnant. In complete despair, Mills fulfills the killer’s need for wrath, shooting John to death. And just like that, the serial killer’s mission is complete: his 7-part murder spree was fulfilled with the last two victims squarely in the field.
Mills and Somerset believed they were about to ride off with a killer in their control, only for their lives to be upended. Mills’ life and career are shattered, and Somerset, quoting Ernest Hemingway, does not retire; he decides to fight for the world he lives in. An utterly perfect end to a psychological thriller, Se7en provides the absolute destruction of the protagonist’s moral code by allowing evil to prevail. Se7en claims that there can never be any morally perfect heroes. Pitt famously fought for the devastating ending, feeling the righteous conclusion did not serve the story. He was right.
6
‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)
Going out in a blaze of glory never looked more incredible than in Thelma & Louise. The iconic buddy dramedy directed by Ridley Scott follows two best friends—Thelma (Geena Davis), a timid housewife with a controlling husband, and Louise (Susan Sarandon), a tepid diner waitress—as they leave Arkansas for a short fishing trip in the mountains. But their weekend getaway turns into a desperate race across the American Southwest when they become accidental outlaws after Thelma is assaulted by a man at a roadside bar. After deciding to head to Mexico rather than turn themselves in, they make the ultimate decision that leads to one of the most daring and iconic moments in cinema history.
After a long chase, the police eventually catch up with the titular characters and their 1966 Ford Thunderbird. With surrender behind them and death in front of them, Thelma and Louise decide that rather than going to prison, they’ll “keep going.” With a mutual smile and hands held, they agree to accelerate the car and soar right off the cliff. The film ends with an infamous freeze-frame with the Thunderbird suspended in mid air before a cinematic white-out. Even though we know the answer is tragic, this moment is why this ending was pitch-perfect. Their decision is the ultimate act of freedom and self-autonomy. They spent the film fighting against being victims of circumstance. Now, they emerge as agents of their own destiny. Scott keeps the car in flight to immortalize freedom. It solidifies their ultimate bond: mutual liberation from society’s bounds. The scene was not only a fitting finale but also an important liberation for those watching. Though no one wants to meet the same end, Thelma & Louise‘s epic ending made the film the ultimate road trip film.
7
”The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)
Though many bibliophiles and cinephiles know Stephen King as the King of Horror, there are some stories on his resume that go beyond the genre. The greatest drama he’s ever written, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, was turned into a brilliant film adaptation, written and directed by Frank Darabont. The brilliant film tells the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker wrongly convicted of murder. He’s sentenced to life in a brutal Maine penitentiary where he befriends another inmate, Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman). Over two decades, Andy uses his financial skills to survive in a corrupt prison, inspire fellow inmates, and quietly plot his path to freedom. One might think that a King story would end on a bad note, but The Shawshank Redemption concludes with a message of hope, optimism, and friendship.
For 19 years, Andy had been tunneling through his cell wall with a small rock hammer. After pushing through what seems to be an endless maze of raw sewage, Andy finds his way to freedom, where he exposes the warden, Samuel Norton’s (Bob Gunton) money laundering and corruption under a fake identity he prepared. But wait, there’s more. Red is paroled and struggles to adjust to the outside world. But Andy didn’t leave him hanging. Having remembered a promise he made, Red visits a hayfield in Buxton, Maine, where he finds a hidden box under a black volcanic rock, containing cash and an invitation to join Andy in Mexico. Choosing hope over despair, Red breaks his parole and reunites with his friend, as they jovially embrace on a beach, finally finding peace and solitude.
The Shawshank Redemption‘s emotionally earned conclusion proves that there may actually be a light at the end of the tunnel. Andy’s journey was a meticulous plan operated as quiet revenge. He beat the system by choosing to live. Mexico served as an almost distant myth, but seeing it offers the audience an opportunity to witness abstract hope become a practical reality. The film cuts to black over the vast Pacific Ocean, allowing the audience to relish the limitless freedom their characters dreamed of. We may be in prisons of our own, but with hope and resilience, our ocean is attainable.
8
‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)
As you can tell, the ’90s were filled with some iconic endings. Whether satisfying or shocking, they left a lasting impact, but it was one massive twist no one saw coming that helped cement a director’s stardom. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the psychological thriller The Sixth Sense follows child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) as he seeks to help a young patient, Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), who can communicate with the dead. Malcolm advises Cole to stop running from the ghosts and instead listen to them and try to help them resolve their unfinished business. The Sixth Sense is a mind-blowing example of practicing what you preach, as the finale revealed one of the greatest shocks in cinema history.
As a great psychologist hopes to, Malcolm ultimately helps Cole reconnect with his overwhelmed single mother, Lynne (Toni Collette). Now, it was his turn to return home and speak to his wife, Anna (Olivia Williams), who had previously been distant and cold to him. But there was one clue that was hiding in plain sight: Cole telling Malcolm that dead people “only see what they want to see” and don’t know that they’re dead. At home, he sees his sleeping wife drop his wedding ring, realizing it’s missing on his own finger. Malcolm finally remembers that the gunshot wound from the beginning of the film was due to being shot by a former patient. A shot that he did not survive. It was only then that the dead Malcolm could tell his wife that she was never second to him, giving him and Anna the closure they needed. Malcolm helped Cole, who in turn helped him because, when Cole said he “sees dead people,” he meant him. Though some claim they could have seen it coming, the major twist recontextualized the entire film. Shyamalan masterfully misdirects the audience by tapping into the expectations of seeing what they want to see. Malcolm only interacts with Cole and Anna. And even then there are closed dialogue loops. The Sixth Sense set up our expectations of twist endings from the director, but none ever achieved the same brilliant shock.
9
‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995)
In another prime example of a twist ending, The Usual Suspects made you realize you simply cannot trust anyone. Especially if they’re criminals. Directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, the crime thriller follows the aftermath of a deadly, explosive shootout on a docked ship in San Pedro harbor; the police are left with only one physically disabled survivor: a small-time con man known as Roger “Verbal” Kint (Kevin Spacey). He’s interrogated by U.S. Customs Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) and recounts a convoluted story detailing how he and four other high-profile criminals—a corrupt ex-cop Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), a hotshot Michael McManus (Stephen Baldwin), his partner Fred Fenster (Benicio del Toro), a hijacker Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak)—were brought together by a legendary, ruthless, and nearly mythical crime lord named Keyser Söze. As Verbal weaves his complicated tale, the identity of Söze’s becomes the film’s greatest mystery and twist.
The Usual Suspects is a mark of brilliant storytelling. The entire film follows a man spinning a tale. Verbal frames his dead associate, Keaton, as the mythical criminal mastermind. Kujan accepts the story as truth, feeling satisfied that the case is solved. With Verbal gone, a proud Kujan looks around the room, suddenly realizing that every name, brand, and detail in Verbal’s story was completely fabricated on the spot as he built his narrative while sitting in the room. His revelation comes too late as Verbal is gone, having already picked up his belongings. As Verbal walks down the street, he drops his limp, straightens his posture, and lights a cigarette with his steady hand. He gets into a waiting car, driven by his mysterious associate, Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite), and rides off into the sunset. The film ends with Kujan recalling Verbal’s previous statement, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled off was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Verbal Kint was Keyser Söze all along. The Usual Suspect is the blueprint in misdirection, meaning a two-hour crime thriller was built on an elaborate lie that everyone, audience included, went along with. Spacey delivers a remarkable performance in one of his most iconic roles. Like Kujan, why wouldn’t the audience believe him? The payoff is simple: the film emerges as a rewatchable classic that dares you to pick up the clues that were hiding in plain sight.
10
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
There are very few films quite as beloved as The Wizard of Oz. From mesmerizing visuals, iconic songs, and an iconic career-making performance, The Wizard of Oz had it all. And that included a perfect ending. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, the film tells the story of Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), a young Kansas girl who is swept away by a tornado to the magical Land of Oz. Accompanied by three new friends—the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr)—she sets out to meet the Wizard (Frank Morgan) in the Emerald City, hoping he has the power to send her back home. Along the way, Dorothy must overcome challenges and battle a vengeful Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton). A timeless story of self-discovery and inner empowerment, the film was more than just a story with a strong moral anchor; it was a reminder that our imagination is only as powerful as we make it.
At the end of the film, Dorothy gets her wish as she has the power to return home to Kansas. All she has to do is click her ruby slippers three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home.” And she does! She says goodbye to her newfound friends and the adventure ends. But Dorothy’s happily ever after doesn’t stop there. The technicolor is gone as Dorothy wakes up in her sepia-toned world, in the comfort of her own bed. She’s surrounded by her family and farm hands, realizing that her fantastical journey was a dream. “And you were there, and you were there, and you were there…” she says, realizing each and every person was a character she met in Oz. The moral of the story is Dorothy didn’t need to search for her heart’s desire in far-off technicolor lands. There truly is no place like home. It serves as a reminder that life holds more value than any dream that we wish. It’s a beautiful and tender scene and perfectly bookends the story. There was truly no other manner in which The Wizard of Oz could end.
The Wizard of Oz
- Release Date
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August 25, 1939
- Runtime
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102 minutes
- Director
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Victor Fleming
- Writers
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Edgar Allan Woolf, Florence Ryerson, Noel Langley, L. Frank Baum
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Judy Garland
Dorothy Gale
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Ray Bolger
“Hunk” / Scarecrow
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