Comingsoon.net is fast-forwarding to the end to figure out which movies have the best endings. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
A movie’s ending can make or break the entire ordeal. If the filmmaker lays the ending on a bit too thick, then the rest of the film goes down with it. If the movie ends too ambiguously, then audiences might not be satisfied (even if that’s what the director intended). It’s a very delicate balance, and one that comes down to an exact science. That’s why it’s worth praising the directors who absolutely nailed the landing.
Notice that all of these films walk the line between drama and thriller—typically, these films have endings that pack a real punch. After a whole film’s worth of setup, it’s always so satisfying to encounter an ending that delivers on every little bit of foreshadowing in a way that perfectly sums up the entire viewing experience. It sounds like a daunting task, but these five films from directors like Stanley Kubrick, David Fincher, and John Carpenter all managed to do it.
film endings
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
It may or may not surprise those who haven’t seen the film that 2001: A Space Odyssey’s middle sequence is the only one that could be described as “traditional.” The beginning and the end of the film are both genre-bending feats of filmmaking, and the latter is especially powerful as an unexpected and profoundly compelling finale.
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Se7en (1995)
David Fincher is now respected as one of the leading voices in dramatic thrillers. However, back in 1995, Fincher was still getting started. Se7en, starring Brad Pitt as a young detective in search of a killer basing his crimes on the seven deadly sins, features an ending that practically cemented Fincher’s status as a force to be reckoned with for decades to come.
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The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola will always have the praise of countless critics for his bangers back in the 70s and 80s, specifically The Godfather series. The first film, released in 1972, has an ending so unexpected that it still resonates with viewers even after nearly five decades.
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The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter is one of a few kings of practical effects that remains from the 1980s—Joe Dante is another, Paul Verhoeven is a third. The Thing is one of the very best examples of how good Carpenter’s films hold up, punctuated by a truly killer ending.
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The Usual Suspects (1995)
When it comes to twist endings, The Usual Suspects might have the upper hand over all these five films (even though Se7en comes pretty close). It’s the type of truly jaw-dropping drama that’s hard to come by today.
