Greatest Movie Endings?

[Zomby Woof]

The thread about surprise endings got me to thinking... even when things turn out mostly (or completely) like you expected, a good ending can still pack a punch.

Best endings include:

"The Godfather" - when Kate Corleone mournfully realizes the truth about Michael, as the door shuts on her.

"The Player" - the ultimate satirical send-up of Hollywood happy endings, neatly, perfectly wrapping the movie.

"Revenge of the Sith" - when Lars, Beru, Obi-Wan, and the infant Luke watch the twin suns set on Tattooine. One of the great self-homages to one of the most iconic scenes in movie myth: the adult Luke in 'A New Hope', which was Joseph Campbell's hero in a snapshot.

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Spoorloos (The Vanishing)

I'm not gonna spoil it, but anyone who has seen it knows what I'm talking about.

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. Yep.

I had nightmares. :scared:

[CBGLuthier]

4. Oh, yeah

Indeed, indeed.

[Chichiri]

9. I saw the American remake with Kiefer Sutherland and Jeff Bridges

Does it add up?

[ghostsofgiants]

11. I haven't seen the American version, but I've been told it's awful

The Dutch version is absolutely amazing though.

[CanuckAmok]

77. No.

I've seen both, and the US version isn't even the same movie.

Surprise! A US remake of a foreign film is sub-par!

See: Vanishing.

See: Chronos.

See: Her Himmel Uber Berlin/Wings of Desire.

[xmas74]

31. Few movies have shocked me like that one.

I love scary movies and that blew me away.

[ghostsofgiants]

37. Me too...

Creepy and suspenseful as hell. And the ending...wow.

[xmas74]

58. We can't talk about it w/o giving away the ending!

Fantastic movie all around.

[Strawman]

39. That was such a great ending

God the American remake of that movie sucked.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Citizen Kane, of course

And not just for the twist value but the implications of what Rosebud really meant to Kane.

THX-1138 as the music soars and that gigantic sun.

Millenium Actress, since it is not as well known I will not say why, but it makes me cry with both happiness and sadness at the same time, hell I am tearing up just thinking about it.

[MiniMandaRuth]

108. Millenium Actress...

THAT movie made me think. Confused by a movie... that doesn't happen everyday.

[Merrick]

5. American History X

Saddest ending ever.

[Democrats_win]

45. Included a great quote from Lincoln's first inaugural address

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the

better angels of our nature.

http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

91. Amazing movie.

[4_Legs_Good]

6. Gallipoli had a great ending

It's one of the ones I always remember.

PLEASE no Revenge of the Sith or any other fake "Star Wars" prequel movies. All sucked beyond imagining.

david

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Chinatown.

Best. Ending. Ever.

[Zomby Woof]

14. That is a great ending

[bridgit]

15. good ending: chinatown...

tis true :thumbsup:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. 'No Way Out'. But it'd be a spoiler to say what happened.

[sweetheart]

10. "equilibrium"

The mona lisa smile at the film's end is really sweet.

I also find the ending to "american beauty" to be sublime.

[Initech]

12. Fight Club *spoiler*

The credit card industry goes up in smoke to the tune of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind".

[Zomby Woof]

13. Much of that was filmed right down the street

I live near the area most of the set shots were done...

[Initech]

19. What city does the movie take place in?

I've never been able to figure that out.

[Zomby Woof]

20. I don't know

I am strictly talking sets and filming... not the intended setting. It is probably meant to be Every American City.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

57. Delaware b/c that's where the CC industry is concentrated.

IMDB mentioned that. As far as which city, I don't know.

[CanuckAmok]

78. The city is intentionally non-descropt.

It's even more vague in the book.

[obxhead]

24. definitely a best

[ghostsofgiants]

38. That is a classic scene...

Where is my mind?" was the perfect song for that part too, I think.

[Democrats_win]

47. A great ending.

[NewJeffCT]

16. The original Star Wars (A New Hope)

Luke (with guidance from Obi-Wan) puts his shot in the hole with an assist from Han Solo out of nowhere to get Darth Vader off of his back... boom, the Death Star explodes.

[NewJeffCT]

18. and, The Empire Strikes Back

"I am your father!"

Han Solo getting frozen in carbonite.

downer of an ending overall.

[bridgit]

17. raise the red lantern...

melancholy/sad :cry: but there it is :thumbsup:

[democracyindanger]

21. Tampopo

Japanese flick about people's relationship with food. The last shot under end credits is the most logical and appropriate ending for a movie ever.

[nytemare]

22. I liked the "Revenge of the Sith" ending.

Especially taken after the newly suited Darth Vader and the Emperor looking on the building of the Death Star.

In addition to that, I would add "The Silence of the Lambs" That clip of Hannibal saying"I do wish we could chat longer, but....I'm having an old friend for dinner." Then, walking off into the crowd.

[Democrats_win]

43. Titanic: Rose reunitd with Jack, the crew and passengers.

Then in the credits, the song: "My Heart will go on."

Beautiful!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

73. *REPRESSES MURDEROUS URGES WITH GREAT EFFORT*

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

23. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

(which, as the BBC are showing Romero's trilogy this week, I saw for the first time in ages last night).

It's an incredibly bold statement on race-relations in the US given the time it was made.

[xmas74]

32. Great movie!

I need to watch it again soon. It's one of my favorites.

[SOteric]

25. The Usual Suspects,

The moment of realisation.

[yowzayowzayowza]

53. Thatz a good one...

Also, like "Wild Things"... cool soundtrack too. ... not to mention the ...well ... other scenery. :evilgrin:

[bridgit]

26. shaun of the dead...

excellent ending :thumbsup:

[Guy Fawkes]

27. Lost in Translation

[alarcojon]

28. Blade Runner

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams ... glitter in the dark near Tanhauser Gate. All those ... moments will be lost ... in time, like tears ... in rain. Time ... to die.

[peekaloo]

29. Ghost World

ambiguous endings are the best.

[WCGreen]

49. I liked that as well.....

[CanuckAmok]

81. Try this for ambiguous: "The Quiet Earth".

I love this obscure New Zealand sci-fi flick.

[Sabriel]

100. I love it, too

It's one of my favorite sci-fi movies, right up there with Until the End of the World.

[Sabriel]

101. Das Boot

How depressing was THAT ending? I first saw it in German class in high school, and it was the first non-American happyhappyjoyjoy ending I'd ever seen. It freaked out all of us. We sat there in silence until the bell rang for the next class.

[KeepItReal]

30. Menace II Society

"Caine Lawson reflecting after being shot:

After stomping on Ilena's cousin like that, I knew I was gonna have to deal with that fool someday.

Damn! I never thought he'd come back like this... blasting.

Like I said, it was funny like that in the hood sometimes. I mean you never knew what was gonna happen or when.

I've done too much to turn back, and I've done too much to go on. I guess in the end it all catches up with you.

My grandpa asked me one time if I care whether I live or die.

Yeah, I do... Now it's too late."

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. Top Gun, Love Story, Titanic, AI, Mission Impossible 1 and 2,

and a few others. Not that the endings were great in and of themselves, but that the fact that THEY ENDED - that was great! Thank God this piece of shit is over, and I can have my life back!! THANK YOU GOD FOR THAT ENDING!!!

[Hand]

96. Whew!

Ya had me scared there fer a minute, masked man... :rofl:

[Laelth]

34. The Sixth Sense

I know, Bruce Willis votes for Repukes, but it's a good story ... another surprise ending.

-Laelth

[WCGreen]

50. I think that one is my favorite ending....

Closely followed by Brazil....

And Twelve Monkeys.....

[Laelth]

107. Oh, I forgot about 12 Monkeys ...

Yes. That ending brings me to tears every time I see the movie.

-Laelth

[DanCa]

35. Billy Jack the Indian power salute

It still gives me chills.

[taterguy]

60. agreed

Also quite fond of the not very PC ending to Mad Max

[DanCa]

90. Rocky 1 - it proved it that winning or losing did wasn't important but

sequels were.

[tuvor]

36. Time Bandits was good if a bit unexpected. n/t

[tedoll78]

46. "DON'T TOUCH THAT - IT's EVIL!!!" nt

:P

[charlie and algernon]

40. Brokedown Palace

:cry: :cry:

don't want to spoil it, but it'll make you hug your friends tightly after seeing that one.

[nytemare]

72. Welcome to D.U.

Yes, there was a little redemption there.

:)

[lady raven]

111. Touching

I agree. Plus, it's a much better movie than it's been given credit for.

[NervousRex]

41. Gallipoli

n/t

[Va Lefty]

42. "The Terminator"

Mexican boy takes "the picture" and says there's a storm coming.

[tedoll78]

44. Back to the Future 2

Marty is apparently stranded in 1955, with no time machine and a passed-out Doc Brown on the town square. The street is ablaze, the orchestra strikes-up, and the camera pulls-away for a wider shot..

I was only about 12 or 13 then, and it just about drove me NUTS. Such a great cliffhanger!

Second place: Breakfast At Tiffany's.
You wanna see a grown man bawl like a baby when she finds Cat? And in the rain, no less!

[rppper]

48. "Full Metal Jacket"

the marines marching into the sunset, hue city burning in the background, singing "who's the leader of the club thats made for you and me...m i c k e y m o u s e.....", then private joker saying....."My thoughts drift back to erect nipple wet dreams about Mary Jane Rottencrotch and the Great Homecoming Fuck Fantasy. I am so happy that I am alive...in one piece and short. I'm in a world of shit...yes...But
I am alive....And I am not afraid."

it has a calm after the storm effect but somehow stays disturbing....

i loved the ending of "Goodfellas" too....sid vicious singing "my way" and ray liotta saying.... "I'm an average nobody... get to live the rest of my life like a schnook."

[hickman1937]

51. Sorry, I know it's cliche, but Casablanca.

"Louis, I think this the start of a beautiful friendship." Not just because it was the perfect capper to a great movie, but the colloquial english.

[mac56]

80. I was about to nominate Casablanca.

Don't care if it's cliche.

[Poiuyt]

83. Cliche or not, it is a great ending

[JohnnyBoots]

99. How many cliches come from that movie??? We'll always

have Paris, Here's looking at you kid, play it again Sam, Round up the usual suspects, This could be the begining of a beautifull freindship, and few others.....one hell of a great movie.

[Merrick]

52. 2 More Fincher Flicks: "Seven" and "The Game"

along with Fight Club, the guy has a knack for finishing with a bang.

[bliss_eternal]

55. Kinda O/T but Seven stayed with me for MONTHS

Fincher is also a master of setting a mood--that was the creepiest film I've ever seen. I couldn't sit still watching it. It totally put me on edge. Though I've wanted to, I haven't been able to see it since.

[TroubleMan]

76. The ending for "The Game" was incredible

nt.

[bliss_eternal]

54. Exposed ass-cracks, The Full Monty!

You can leave your hat on! Love that movie, and the ending--so satisfying!

I have others(many), but am tired now...be back tomorrow! :hi:

I agree with the original poster on The Godfather, truly one of the best film endings of all time!

[Awsi Dooger]

56. The Sting

The conclusion of the big con, "Place it on Lucky Dan."

Robert Shaw as Doyle Lonnigan: "There's a half million dollars of my money in there!"

"Yeah, but there's two dead guys in there, too."

[mnmoderatedem]

59. The Shawshank Redemption

Fell good escape, plus a phony fundie gets his comeuppance. What more could you ask for? :)

[Terran]

61. "The Color Purple" and "It's a Wonderful Life"

Two movie endings guaranteed to make me absolutely loose it, every time.

[taterguy]

62. Bob Roberts

I liked the Jefferson Memorial shots and the Woody Guthrie song, but I'm a little annoyed that the Woody Guthrie song is impossible to find on a reasonably priced CD; and it wasn't realistic since the Jefferson Memorial isn't centrally located

[Ksec]

63. Jerry Maguire, feel good endings are the best

Especially the ones with the best soundtracks

[anarch]

64. Unforgiven

The Clint Eastwood movie, not the older Western.

"I'll see you in Hell, William Munny."

"Yeah." *blam*

[Zomby Woof]

65. What's 'deserves' got to do with it?

:thumbsup:

[Rabrrrrrr]

68. "Yeah, it's a hell of a thing, killin' a man"

[CanuckAmok]

84. "You better bury Ned right! Better not go cuttin' up...

nor otherwise harm no whores... or I'll come back and kill every one of you sons-o-bitches."

[Rabrrrrrr]

87. "I'm comin' out now - if I see anyone, I'll kill ya. If anyone shoots

at me, I'll kill you, I'll kill your family, I'll kill all your friends, and I'll burn your house down."

Jesus I love that line!!

[Hand]

97. "Well, ya killed hell outta him..." nt

[Burma Jones]

66. Apocalypse Now

Either Ending

[Merrick]

67. Dogville

Surprisingly and exhileratingly brutal. Great movie.

[trackfan]

69. Hannah and Her Sisters. n/t

[khashka]

70. Resident Evil

Milla Jovovitch escapes from quarantine.... and everyone is dead. The entire world. Perfect.

I hate happy endings....

Khash.

[Penndems]

71. "The Usual Suspects"

When Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) morphs into Keyser Soze, and Dave Kujan's (Chazz Palminteri) realization that he's been conned by Verbal.

One of my all-time favorite movies!

[Neshanic]

74. "As Good as it Gets"

[Calliope]

75. Cinema Paradiso and Breakfast at Tiffanys

[CanuckAmok]

79. "Birdy"

"...what?"

[sendero]

82. Bad Santa...

... as improbable as the ending was, it was good :) And of course, I love this movie!!!!

[CanuckAmok]

85. "Vanishing Point", and "Jacob's Ladder"...

Didn't see either of those ones coming!

[sendero]

86. Ooohhh.....

. ... I LOVE Vanishing Point - I saw that when I was about 17 and I thought it was the coolest movie ever.

Watched it again a couple years ago and even knowing the ending I loved it.

I've never seen Jacob's Ladder, probably need to :)

[LaraMN]

88. Open Water-- great ending, because it was the end.

That movie SUCKED!

Here's what it was about:


Yeah, that was IT!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

89. Brazil.

[semillama]

92. Evil Dead 2

nuff said.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

93. The alternate ending for "Clerks".

I can see why Smith didn't put it in the final version, but it was good to see it on the DVD. And the bit after the credits was perfect.

[-..__...]

94. Bridge Over the River Kwai

"What have I done"?

[Hand]

98. "Madness... madness!"

:toast:

[Gildor Inglorion]

95. What about "My Fair Lady"?

"I washed my face and 'ands before I come, I did."
"Where the devil are my slippers?"

[Throd]

102. "Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry"

I remember seeing that when I was about 9 years old and it freaked me out. Talk about an abrupt ending. As soon as they thought they had found freedom, their car crashes into the side of a train at about 100 mph. Credits roll.

[StellaBlue]

103. Gone with the Wind

Selznick didn't change the ending to a happysappy one. And he kept the 'damn' in, too!

[renate]

104. Field of Dreams

I don't like Kevin Costner any more, but the ending gives me chills and I cry like a baby every time.
"Dad?... you wanna have a catch?"
:cry:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

105. 2 Italian movies: "La Strada" and "Il Sorpasso"

When the brutish Zampano (Anthony Quinn) finally breaks down on the beach and cries after he learns that Gelsomina (Giulietta Messina) has died, that was to me one of the greatest movie endings of all time. The camera just pulls out with the lonely figure crying on the beach.

In "Il Sorpasso", the kind, timid, naive law student (Jean Louis Trintignant) goes over a cliff in the sports car, while the shiftless, bombastic, hedonistic Bruno (incredible, incredible, INCREDIBLE! performance by Vittorio Gassman) leaps to safety. That tragic ending just leaves me stunned every time I see this great flic from the '60s. This film is in my top 20 favorites.

[Orsino]

106. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (spoilers)

After Gwyneth Paltrow's girl-reporter character has been hoarding her camera's film throughout most of the wonders she encounters in the adventure, she is finally presented with one of the most fantastic tableaus imaginable. As she sighs in satisfaction at having gotten the perfect snap, Jude Law looks at her tenderly, and gently says...

..."Lens cap."

Hilarious!

[MiniMandaRuth]

109. Quadrophenia.

Made me cry.

[grannylib]

110. I love the end to "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" - makes me teary

every time I see it.

[ekelly]

112. Arlington Road nt

[hippywife]

113. The Glenn Miller Story

with Jimmy Stewart and June Allison is the first one that comes to mind.