Best Movie Endings

February 3, 2010 at 5:36 am (fiction) (, , , , , )


The Best Endings For Movies (Yes there are spoilers if you have not watched the movies):

  1. The Matrix (the first movie) – The story itself had ended. The protagonist had gone on his journey, discovered the truth and learnt to use his inner power. Yes there were still problems but they weren’t important to this story. This story was about Neo finding out what the matrix was and who he was. He did that. The end. No sequels. I loved the ending of this movie.
  2. Once Upon a Time In Mexico – I think I have to love a movie that ends with everyone really getting exactly what they deserve. The ending is explosive, it is a little gory and it brings together multiple plot threads in a really interesting way.
  3. The Princess Bride – Classic fairy tale ending for both Buttercup and Westley and the grandfather and his grandson. Beautifully told and it just leaves you feeling very happy.
  4. Willow – Same as the Princess Bride really. He saves the day, returns to his village, is reunited with his wife and shows the bully what for. Classic ending and well-executed.
  5. Kill Bill Vol 2 – The ending of this surprised me. The violence throughout the story kind of had me anticipating a massive fight sequence with way over the top gore but instead it ended with a more intimate family note. Yes there was still a bit of violence but it was definitely a sequence more about experiencing emotion. Plus, Bill’s speech about Superman has to go down as one of the most interesting monologues in a long time.

I think what all of these movies have in common is that the ending fits the plot, it resolves the main issues, it is interesting, and it ends. That might seem odd but there are quite a few brilliant movies and books out there that just don’t seem to know when enough is enough. We don’t need to see anymore of Westley and Buttercup. They kiss as the sun is setting the end. Yes they are then going to have to find somewhere to stay for the night and figure out what they are going to do now that Westley is no longer a pirate and Buttercup is no longer a Princess but we don’t really need to see any of that.

What are your favourite movie or book endings?

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15 Comments

  1. Tooty Nolan said,

    February 3, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    No question – The Sixth Sense. The Day the Earth Caught Fire was pretty good too. And how could I forget Groundhog Day?

  2. Carol Kilgore said,

    February 3, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    I agree about The Sixth Sense. Another ending that really fit the story was The Witness. And in books, Night Fall by Nelson DeMille.

  3. Carol Kilgore said,

    February 3, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Duh – I hit send too soon. I have an award for you at my blog 🙂

  4. Karen Gowen said,

    February 3, 2010 at 7:13 pm

    Hi Cassandra,

    I’m visiting from Under the Tiki Hut, who gave you another award to add to your collection! I love the ending of Manhattan Murder Mystery, where Woody Allen and Diane Keaton walk into their apt together, dressed to match, laughing, talking about where they’ll eat dinner that night, laughing and cracking jokes. And this great 40’s music playing in the background. It makes me so happy.

    Karen

    • Cassandra Jade said,

      February 4, 2010 at 7:43 am

      Never seen it, but it does seem like a feel good kind of ending.

  5. AlexJ said,

    February 3, 2010 at 8:18 pm

    I like the ending to Aliens, because it’s a double-ending. We think it’s over when they return to the ship – but no! The queen alien has come along for the ride. (And then we get to see Ripley kick some alien butt.)
    Although there was no need for Alien III…

    • Cassandra Jade said,

      February 4, 2010 at 7:44 am

      I hated alien 3 when I was young but watching it recently I realised it wasn’t as bad as I used to think. Still the low point of the series.
      You’re right about Aliens being great. The double finale works really well.

  6. JackieS said,

    February 3, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    I used to be on WEBook – as WordShaker. Happy I found my way to your blog. You make some interesting observations about writing.

    ‘We don’t need to see anymore of Westley and Buttercup. They kiss as the sun is setting the end. Yes they are then going to have to find somewhere to stay for the night and figure out what they are going to do now that Westley is no longer a pirate and Buttercup is no longer a Princess but we don’t really need to see any of that.’

    Have you read the 25th anniversary edition of The Princess Bride? There’s a section at the end called Buttercup’s Baby and it goes through what happened to everyone. Though, as you say, it’s not necessary, it doesn’t exactly ruin the story either

    Endings I liked:
    Breakfast at Tiffany’s – the book by Truman Capote. The movie’s ending was too cutesy.

    The Book Thief & The Messenger by Markus Zusak

    Possession by AS Byatt

    Endings I didn’t like:

    Harry Potter – I don’t know what it was but something just didn’t sit right with me. The epilogue was too much.

    Twilight – there was nothing to hook me into reading the rest of the series so I just left it. Maybe if Edward had turned Bella then, I would have read it.

    • Cassandra Jade said,

      February 4, 2010 at 7:45 am

      Very much agree about Harry Potter – the ending is way too much.

      Good to hear from you again.

  7. Elizabeth Spann Craig said,

    February 3, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Since you mentioned Tarantino, it put “Pulp Fiction” in my head. Interesting ending there. I also enjoyed the odd ending (or was it a beginning?) to “Memento.”

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

    • Cassandra Jade said,

      February 4, 2010 at 7:46 am

      I think Reservoir Dogs also needs a mention but I’m a Tarantino fan so I’m a little biased.

  8. Mickey Mills said,

    February 6, 2010 at 4:27 am

    I had the discussion recently with a friend about Avatar 3D. I can’t say it’s the best movie I have ever seen. I’m not even sure I could pick one to be the best. I could probably come up with a list of candidates, but to pick one??? I highly doubt it.

    I can say that seeing Avatar is 3D was the best movie theater experience since the first time I saw Star Wars in the theaters back in 1977. I miss people standing up and cheering at the end of a good movie!

    I could of cheered at Avatar, but I didn’t.

    Mickey Mills
    http://www.theprodigalscribe.com

  9. Cherie said,

    February 9, 2010 at 3:59 am

    I guess since Return to Me is my favorite movie, I’d have to go with that as the best ending too. It’s happy, but there’s some melancholy in it, too. It cracks me up that you mention Kill Bill. I never thought of that one as having a good ending, but now that you bring it up, you have a good point about it. I never looked at it that way.

    • Cassandra Jade said,

      February 9, 2010 at 9:08 am

      I think it was just unexpected which is sometimes what you need after that much violence.

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