The Top 50 Greatest Movie Endings of All Time

[popltree2]

So I found this on digg and I have got to say that there are some on there that I wouldn't place and some that aren't on there that I would. Any you would nix or add? Here is the link to the article... (http://filmcritic.com.nyud.net:8090/misc/emporium.nsf/95a45e26914c25ff862562bb006a85f2/394a496e465c4f38882571b900114dc5)

[professio]

I would have to say I would take off Blair Witch Project, mainly because by the end of that movie I was so bored I could have cared less how it ended.

I personally liked the ending to the illusionist, I may be just saying this because I only saw it for the first time a week ago but that totally blew my mind.

[comhcinc]

that list is a joke right?

[tokenuser]

I personally liked the ending to the illusionist, I may be just saying this because I only saw it for the first time a week ago but that totally blew my mind.Its sad when two movies come out at about the same time with similar story settings, and one gets all the press while the other is ignored.

The Matrix vs The 13th Floor
Armageddon vs Deep Impact
The Prestige vs The Illusionist

The 13th Floor had a great ending, and considering it was similar setting to The Matrix, it was a MUCH better movie (what? Never heard of it? Someone been drinking the Keanu Aid?)

Similarly, The Illusionist was (IMHO) a much better movie that told a great story. OK, The Prestige wasn't too bad either, but The Illusionist was the better, but ignored movie.

[magunwarrior]

I still need to watch The Illusionist, have it on DVD but I keep forgetting to watch it.

[rabidbadger]

got to agree on:
Brazil (directors cut)
Memento
Empire Strikes Back
The Usual suspects.
Boogie Nights.

all great, even before the ending...

[calvinslug]

She's All that when they are out by the pool.

[satori]

Johnny Handsome
http://www.filmweb.no/bilder/multimedia/archive/00010/Johnny_Handsome__198_10031f.jpg

[kowgod]

I haven't looked at the list linked, but honestly, I would seriously think about including the freeze-frame ending to Death Proof (Grindhouse) in any list. I'm talking specifically about the freeze frame ending. Maybe a few seconds leading up to it, too. But that frame is just awesome.

[masherscf]

that list is a joke right?

I take it you've haven't seen many of them.


Nevertheless, I've never put much stick in "great endings." In my opinion, a shitty movie has a great ending because it ended. I'm firmly in the camp that says a movies should have a great beginning and middle as well as end.

I'm reminded of the proteced ending of "Lord of the Rings" mostly because a was listening to the recorded books version in the version (http://www.recordedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rb.show_prod&book_id=64677) in the car yesterday. I was remined how much of those last chapters was actually cut-out to make the ending more digestble to movie audiences.

BTW, every Tolkien fan must have the complete unabridged reading of "The Lord of the Rings."

[slowmy]

i have to agree with, in no particular order:

fight club
casablanca
momento
big night
magnolia
say anything
usual suspects

[joeleeriepa]

Its sad when two movies come out at about the same time with similar story settings, and one gets all the press while the other is ignored.

The Matrix vs The 13th Floor
Armageddon vs Deep Impact
The Prestige vs The Illusionist

The 13th Floor had a great ending, and considering it was similar setting to The Matrix, it was a MUCH better movie (what? Never heard of it? Someone been drinking the Keanu Aid?)

Similarly, The Illusionist was (IMHO) a much better movie that told a great story. OK, The Prestige wasn't too bad either, but The Illusionist was the better, but ignored movie.

I'm goin' with the Prestige on this one. The Illusionist was enjoyable, but the depths of the characters' obsession in the Prestige, and the construction of the film around the three acts of magic was absolutely brilliant.

[masherscf]

... absolutely brilliant.

Clever, yes. I'd hardly say "brilliant." The three act structure is common in drama.

Although, shortening attention spans has forced a structure in cinema recently that favors more acts that are shorter in length. The ironic result is that movies are getting longer.

As far as plot twists go, I guessed the ending about three minutes after a particular character was there. The foreshadowing was obvious. The movie was a replay of the disappearing bird trick.

Nevertheless, "The Prestige" was an enjoyable movie.

[tokenuser]

I'm goin' with the Prestige on this one. The Illusionist was enjoyable, but the depths of the characters' obsession in the Prestige, and the construction of the film around the three acts of magic was absolutely brilliant.I really enjoyed The Prestige as well, and if anything thought that The Illusionist built up the 3 stages in many ways even better than The Prestige did.

To be honest, the thing that bugged me the most about The Prestige was the jumping back and forth in the time line with the dual diaries. It was almost too clever as a plot device, and muddled what would have been an even better story.

[rabidbadger]

Have these been mentioned yet? If you're fans of the "one room mystery" with really clever surprise endings then try these:

Sleuth (http://imdb.com/title/tt0069281/)
and
Deathtrap (http://imdb.com/title/tt0083806/)

[tansuman]

Hello everybody.
First post here and I'm not a huge movie buff but I couldn't stand it. How about "The Sixth Sense" (personally, I really didn't expect that) and "Clue" (Hell, it had 4 endings, is a totally rad 80's movie and was a fun movie with out a "creepy" ending (plus I'm a huge Tim Curry fan)) Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Tansuman

[trsjeff]

Have these been mentioned yet? If you're fans of the "one room mystery" with really clever surprise endings then try these:

Sleuth (http://imdb.com/title/tt0069281/)
and
Deathtrap (http://imdb.com/title/tt0083806/)

I happen to love both of those movies. Michael Caine FTW!

-Jeff

[rabidbadger]

I haven't seen them in decades myself, which means when I see them again I won't remember a lot. Making them almost new again...

[masherscf]

I happen to love both of those movies. Michael Caine FTW!

-Jeff

Micheal Caine rocks!

Micheal Caine was in "A Bridge Too Far" and "The Man Who Would Be King" with Sean Connery. Both are awesome flicks...

You guys know about that seven degrees of Kevin Bacon?


Here is my conjecture.

Every actor that has appeared (must be credited on IMDB) in at least two mainstream US releases since 1960 has either been in a movie with Sean Connery or has been in a movie with someone who has.

Therefore, it's Sean Connery FTW!

Nevertheless, the Kevin Bacon game becomes childs-play once you make the Connery connection.

[magunwarrior]

So I finally got around to watching The Illusionist the other day, I enjoyed it a lot more than The Prestige, but I do love both of them.

Both very clever and well put together movies.

[jason-h]

The Original Italian Job!!! Great ending
The Original Oceans 11!
the new Superman
The Score

[jason-h]

The Directors cut ending to the Chronicles of Riddick. Veeerrry Awesome! and as a side note, i didn't see the theatrical release of the movie until after i saw the Director's cut and i can't believe the difference. The directors cut is an unbelievable movie while the theatrical version was junk.

[stopikingonme]

The ending scene to Kenneth Branagh's Henry V

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/d/db/Henry_V_Branagh.jpg

[MaxTheSilent]

That list missed one of my favorites.

It's the ending to THE THIRD MAN. A stunningly simple but powerful shot of Allida Valli taking that loooooong walk towards Joseph Cotten. After what seems like minutes she reaches him... and walks straight past him without a sideways glance. THE END.

Magic. It gets me every time I watch it.

[evilash]

My favorite ending no one knows about is the alternate ending on the "Bootleg Cut" of Army of Darkness. I mean, my handle is evilash, of course I would say that.

"I slept too long!"

[seanc]

That list missed one of my favorites.

It's the ending to THE THIRD MAN. A stunningly simple but powerful shot of Allida Valli taking that loooooong walk towards Joseph Cotten. After what seems like minutes she reaches him... and walks straight past him without a sideways glance. THE END.

Magic. It gets me every time I watch it.
Great choice, one of my favorites as well.

[gm_wil]

Batman - Keaton . . . the pan up the gothic building to the theme music to see Batman standing above Gotham with the bat symbol in the sky . . . to the clash of the symbols . . . awesome.

(Keep in mind this was the first real good comic adaptation before the latest string . . . I'm going off of what i felt the time I saw it . . . )

-

[zombierin]

I am very very glad that Night of the Living Dead is on the list. Brilliant ending.

I would however like to add both Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian.

[jason-h]

OMG, How could i forget.. the end of Heat. That shit was epic. I felt all of the emotions of both characters. In the end you are rooting for the bad guy and yet still aren't dissapointed when it goes down. Seriously gripping right up until the very last.

[poltah]

Con Air.
Nuff' said.

[tokenuser]

One of the greats ... its old now, but it was a powerful ending -

Shane (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/) (1953 - told you it was getting old ;) ).

"Shane. Shane. Come back!" ... as the weary gunslinger slowly rides off into the distance.

[senoj1]

Back to the Future - Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads. I mean c'mon so epic

Ya i agree the Batman ending in both the first one and Batman Begins. I wanted to see the Joker then and there in begins.

[mikeyj10]

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry


The ending is the best period.

[stopikingonme]

The ending to the movie Four Rooms:
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/cd/large/Four_RoomsWB_Elektra61861.jpg

I know Masherscf is going to call me on that ending as it was more of a "bit" joke than anything else, but still I loved it, and the rest of the movie too. I mean come on, a dead hooker in a mattress how classic is that?

[stopikingonme]

No matter what you think of David Fincher's translation of Chuck Palahniuk's pre-iPod, post-post-punk nightmare, you have to admire an ending that foresaw things that are still being talked about today. The film predicts the emo-boy nation that we swim in these days, but the ending, with the Pixies' raucous "Where is My Mind?" wailing in the background, sees self-terrorism and numb romance as the new, essential way of life. -CC
This is what one of the writers of the list wrote about Fight Club. Wow, very spot on!!

[stopikingonme]

I know I know the last three post have been by me, but just as I was leaving my office I remembered perhaps one of the greatest movie endings of all time:

Seven

"What's in the box? What in the BOoooox?"
http://www.apeculture.com/images/seven15.jpg

[phillip-litt]

Firstly you are right in saying Se7en. Great ending.

Also, Donnie Darko and Chasing Amy were both quality flicks that ended very well.

[mikeyj10]

I just watched the greatest movie ending ever (forget my above comment), because the "40 Year Old Virgin" ending is now my all time number 1 ending now.