There's nothing like a satisfying ending! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most amazing, effective, and/or iconic endings to fantastic films. Spoilers ahead for the following movies.
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00:00But what about us?
00:02We'll always have Paris.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most amazing,
00:07effective, and or iconic endings to fantastic films. Spoilers ahead for the following movies.
00:13I drink your milkshake. I drink it up!
00:22Number 20, Handshake, Heat. Breaking his own rules,
00:25Neil Macaulay decides to postpone his vacation and hunt down the sadistic Wangro.
00:30Why don't we just talk about this a bit, huh, brother?
00:32This forces him to abandon his love interest, Edie,
00:35and sets up a final confrontation with his rival, Vincent Hanna.
00:38Director Michael Mann puts both men on an intense chase, sending them to LAX at night.
00:43The cat-and-mouse game features some heart-pounding thrills that lead up to Macaulay's defeat. It's
00:48an exciting and effective scene, but Mann goes one step further by exploring the
00:52character's complicated psyches. I told you I'm never going back.
01:00Hanna joins his nemesis for one final moment of mutual respect.
01:04Accompanied by some beautiful music, Heat closes out on an emotional high note.
01:08Number 19, Hypnotized, Oldboy. Featuring surprises around every corner,
01:13Park Chan-wook's mysterious thriller forces audiences to confront all kinds of taboos.
01:18Oh Dae-su fights his way to answers about his captivity,
01:21and ultimately realizes a shocking truth.
01:40He's been tricked by villain Wi Woo-jin to fall for his daughter,
01:44Mi-do, with a finale following this earth-shattering reveal.
01:47The hero hopes to hypnotize himself into forgetting everything. With the final shot,
01:52Choi Min-sik's incredible work makes you question the lead character's ultimate fate.
02:00This head-scratching ending also leaves you wanting to ponder the horror and surprises
02:04you've witnessed. It's full of psychological devastation, not letting the viewer off easy
02:09in its dramatic send-off. Number 18, Where Is My Mind, Fight Club. By the end of this trippy
02:15adventure, the narrator comes to realize that he's been pulling double duty the whole time.
02:32His connection to Tyler Durden sends him spiraling into confusion about existence itself.
02:36The wild twist sets up the darkly humorous ending, showing the main character at a
02:41crossroads in life. Project Mayhem's bombs go off as Edward Norton's hero and Marla
02:46watch with mixed emotions. To add to this iconic image, director David Fincher includes a pixie
02:59song to sum up the movie's cerebral themes. We couldn't ask for a better way to send off
03:03this generational film. Number 17, Friendly Dinner, The Silence of the Lambs. Receiving
03:09help from Hannibal Lecter, FBI trainee Clary Starling tracks down serial killer Buffalo Bill.
03:14She succeeds in her mission after her inmate helper escapes custody. The exciting story
03:19then sets up one last teaser, leaving us with a thrilling cliffhanger. Starling receives a call
03:30from Lecter that's more than a little menacing. While alluding to his next victim, the villain
03:35doesn't give much away before hanging up. It's a terrifying conversation that leaves the hero
03:48spooked. The Silence of the Lambs doesn't cut to the credits until it dishes out one more scare,
03:53with the antagonist off to find another meal. Number 16, Smiling Shark, Jaws. After losing
03:59their boat captain, Chief Martin Brody and oceanographer Matt Hooper struggle to survive
04:04a killer shark. The thrilling scene builds until a scuba tank reaches the villain's mouth.
04:08Director Steven Spielberg lets the tension bubble up under the water's surface, keeping viewers on
04:13the edge of their seat. Brody takes aim with a rifle, hitting the tank and causing the target
04:17to explode. It's an amazing spectacle that ends one of the best blockbusters ever made.
04:23Spielberg has the ability to hold the audience in the palm of his hand, putting you right at
04:27the center of some unforgettable action. Number 15, Waking Up, No Country for Old Men.
04:33Sheriff Ed Tom Bell doesn't end up saving the day in this Cormac McCarthy adaptation.
04:37By the end, he retires and contemplates his future.
04:47This includes describing his dreams to his wife and exploring a fascinating side of his character.
04:52He imagines a scenario where his father guides the way for him, alluding to his complex relationship
04:57to his family and destiny. It's an unexpected way to end a film that subverts our expectations
05:02about heroes and villains. Tommy Lee Jones' subtle performance only adds to these last
05:16few minutes, sending the audience away with many fascinating questions. Number 14, Forgetting It,
05:22Chinatown. Tracing the roots of city corruption and broken families,
05:26private eye Jake Giddes then watches all of his hopes crumble.
05:46He witnesses Evelyn Mulray and her sister try and fail to escape the clutches of their awful dad.
05:51The classic noir doesn't let up as the dominoes begin to fall
05:55fast. With the older sibling dead, the surviving one is carted away by the evil cross.
06:00Giddes can't do anything to save anyone anymore in one of the legendary downer endings. His
06:04partner delivers a quotable line, forcing the detective to walk away from a terrible tragedy.
06:11Chinatown hits you with one more gut punch before its troubling and haunting finish.
06:16Number 13, The Sound of Silence, The Graduate. Before the ending of this classic,
06:21Ben Braddock's life appears to be gradually falling apart. His last-ditch effort to stop
06:25Elaine Robinson's wedding comes with a few obstacles. It's daring, somewhat dashing,
06:30and completely insane. The chaotic climax feels like a burst of deeply felt emotions,
06:44rebellion, and humor. Braddock and Robinson flee the oppressive establishment,
06:49only to end up on a bus together. They soon consider their brash decisions in an open-ended
06:53moment. Is this couple just another flash in the pan, or do they really have a future together?
07:06The beauty of this Mike Nichols film is that you can keep debating the end forever.
07:10Number 12, Final Goodbye, The Truman Show. With a hunch that something about his life is off,
07:15Truman Burbank finally escapes in a boat to learn the truth. His sailing trip reaches the
07:20end of his fake world in a colorful metaphor for his life. Burbank then talks to the producer,
07:24Kristoff, about his ultimate fate. Jim Carrey offers up one of his finest performances,
07:29playing a man desperate to understand his upbringing. His character chooses to exit
07:33the stage and embrace a new reality. It's a momentous change for the hero,
07:37empowering us all to reconsider our own lives and media consumption.
07:46The enthralling story comes to a close with the world watching close,
07:49as Philip Glass' triumphant score plays.
07:52Number 11, Norma's Close-Up, Sunset Boulevard. Screenwriter Joe puts up with Norma Desmond long
07:58enough, but eventually tells her the truth about her failed film career. Desmond takes out her
08:06aggression on her guest with a gun. It's a stunning turn of events, letting people know
08:10the real reason the hero is lying in a pool. The former starlet then reveals her deteriorating
08:15mental state. Surrounded by police and press, the actress milks one last moment of attention
08:20in a tragic downfall. Sunset Boulevard brilliantly skewers the inflated egos of Hollywood players,
08:25with this ending bringing down one of the more iconic fictional performers ever.
08:29All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
08:32Director Billy Wilder lets Gloria Swanson command the screen in her signature performance,
08:36wrapping up an extraordinary tragedy with style.
08:40Number 10, All is Well, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King.
08:43What doesn't happen at the end of this sequel? The fate of Middle-Earth falls into the hands
08:47of Frodo, with the Hobbit eventually doing the right thing. Sauron and his minions are defeated
08:52thanks to the courageous efforts of the Fellowship and their allies. Tolkien's classic saga comes
08:56together thanks to an incredible collection of creative artists. It's almost a miracle that this
09:01kind of trilogy was done justice at all. Given the proper send-off to beloved fantasy characters,
09:06Peter Jackson leaves no stone unturned as he follows the main cast through an extended epilogue.
09:11You finished it.
09:16Not quite. There's room for a little more.
09:20Some might call it too much, but many fans appreciate the detail and care
09:24that the director gives this classic material.
09:27Number 9, The Standoff, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
09:30As the director of the Dollars trilogy, Sergio Leone specializes in giving audiences
09:35well-crafted set pieces. This might be his finest work in the culmination of an incredible franchise.
09:45The three title men assemble to determine their fates and fight for gold.
09:49Leone chooses to make this conclusion extra special, staging a standoff that's one of
09:54the more tension-filled sequences ever filmed. He utilizes Ennio Morricone's legendary music
10:00and extreme close-ups to get his point across. When it's all said and done,
10:04the man with no name rides off while Tuco seems lucky to be alive.
10:23In terms of western genre filmmaking, it doesn't get much more epic or iconic than this ending.
10:29Number 8, Star Child, 2001 A Space Odyssey.
10:33This space epic isn't exactly the easiest to understand. Director Stanley Kubrick's
10:37collaboration with writer Arthur C. Clarke takes you to Jupiter, with Dave discovering
10:42unknown limits of the universe. The astronaut's spaceflight takes him to a mysterious room
10:46where he ages before seeing the monolith. It's a sequence full of abstract visuals
10:51and compelling surprises, building up to the final image of the hero as a floating fetus.
10:56Kubrick's vision questions humanity's existence and future in one of the most
11:00grandiose endings of its kind.
11:08Delivering a high watermark for sci-fi, the filmmaker leaves viewers speechless
11:12in this exquisitely mysterious finale.
11:15Number 7, Rosebud, Citizen Kane. Despite his best efforts,
11:19reporter Jerry Thompson can't seem to crack Charles Foster Kane's final words.
11:24The central mystery of this movie then reveals itself in one of Hollywood's classic endings,
11:28as workers burn Kane's possessions. A sled, named Rosebud, goes up in flames.
11:33Little does anyone know, the man's last thoughts were about his childhood.
11:37This revelation gives tremendous insights into the character's tragic tale.
11:49Orson Welles' masterpiece leaves the audience
11:51pondering, creating a nuanced portrait of a man we only think we know.
11:55It's yet another reason this film is regarded among the greatest ever made.
12:00Number 6, Losing His Soul, The Godfather Part II.
12:03In the exceptional first film, Michael Corleone takes control in a powerful final shot.
12:09The Godfather Part II sends Michael into a personal hell, culminating with a devastating
12:14ending, where he has his brother, Fredo, killed. The mob boss considers his actions,
12:18while a flashback shows the younger Corleone announcing his entry into the marines.
12:22It represents a bygone and innocent era for the main character, giving him one last memory as he
12:27sits alone in a room with his father, and his brother, Fredo.
12:30Michael Corleone's character, Michael Corleone, is a man of his word.
12:35One of cinema's best sequels comes to a close with a somber reflection
12:39and one of the greatest hero-turned-villains ever.
12:42Number 5, Finished, There Will Be Blood.
12:45Daniel Plainview finishes out this movie with a lot of money, but at the cost of nearly
12:50everything else that matters. His nemesis, Eli Sunday, visits him with a proper funeral.
12:55Daniel Plainview's character, Daniel Plainview, is a man of his word.
12:59After forcing Sunday to renounce his beliefs, the anti-hero unleashes a verbal assault to rival
13:04any cinematic speech. Daniel Day-Lewis' Oscar-winning transformation goes full-throttle
13:09with blood-curdling results. Plainview throws his enemy down the bowling alley,
13:14eliminating the preacher once and for all.
13:16Daniel Day-Lewis's character, Daniel Day-Lewis, is a man of his word.
13:19Daniel Day-Lewis's character, Daniel Day-Lewis, is a man of his word.
13:22Daniel Day-Lewis's character, Daniel Day-Lewis, is a man of his word.
13:24Plainview throws his enemy down the bowling alley, eliminating the preacher once and for all.
13:28Daniel Day-Lewis's character, Daniel Day-Lewis, is a man of his word.
13:35It's not exactly a happy ending, but one that's certainly jaw-dropping.
13:38There Will Be Blood continues to provoke viewers while showing them what greed can do to a man.
13:44Number 4 – Dedication, Schindler's List
13:47Oscar Schindler protects his Jewish workers from going to concentration camps, but after the war,
13:52he must flee because of his connections to the Nazi party.
14:05His final goodbye is among the more moving scenes in the last half-century.
14:09Liam Neeson's performance expertly captures a man that's full of regrets.
14:12Steven Spielberg lets the beautiful moment settle before setting up the transition to the 1990s,
14:17where some of the real Schindler Jews appear alongside the cast.
14:20The somber end pays tribute to a troubled figure that found courage to help others,
14:24with Neeson getting the chance to lay roses at Schindler's grave.
14:30Spielberg's vision brings together the past and present,
14:33combining them for this inspiring conclusion.
14:36Number 3 – Wouldn't Hurt a Fly, Psycho
14:39At the end of Alfred Hitchcock's groundbreaking thriller,
14:41the remaining characters figure out the terrifying truth about Norman Bates.
14:46It's a shocking reveal that comes after a film full of frightening surprises.
14:50Once Bates is arrested, the authorities evaluate his mental state as he sits alone in a holding
14:54cell. His mind then wanders as his mother's voice takes over in a horror conclusion for the ages.
15:15The creepy voice-over haunts viewers, teasing them with the notion of the villain's personalities
15:21competing for power. Anthony Perkins' evil grin sells his character's twisted fate
15:26in a chilling finale.
15:28Number 2 – A Beautiful Friendship, Casablanca
15:31Humphrey Bogart delivers perhaps his finest work here,
15:34working alongside incredible performers like Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains.
15:38Despite still having feelings for her, Bogart's Rick Blaine helps Bergman's Ilsa Lund
15:43escape Casablanca without joining her.
15:45If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it.
15:48Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
15:52It's a heart-wrenching and romantic moment that's only one part of this iconic finale.
15:56The hero watches the love of his life prepare to fly away before killing Major Strassa to
16:01keep the flight safe. Captain Renault then helps Blaine get away, with the two hinting
16:05at a friendship in the last enjoyable exchange.
16:08Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
16:12It's only in this kind of classic Hollywood story that you can have heartbreak,
16:16thrills, and classic lines in one sequence.
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16:34Number 1 – Reuniting with Andy, The Shawshank Redemption
16:38Following years of torment, Andy Dufresne finds his way to freedom.
16:42All that's left to wrap things up is a dramatic reunion with Red, his friend from prison.
16:50Red achieves parole, follows his buddy's instructions, and heads for Mexico.
16:54Both characters have been through a lot, and it's only fair they get their happy ending.
16:58On a beach in Mexico, the two find each other on a beautiful day.
17:06You'll likely be crying tears of joy as the pair reunite.
17:09Frank Darabont's brilliant adaptation of Stephen King's story features many high points,
17:14which all lead to one of the most satisfying conclusions ever.
17:17What incredible ending did we forget? Let us know in the comments below.
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