nando820

And also this Chaplin gem, the original walking into the sunset

Modern Times

Crocker Jarmen

Yes, and don't forget the horrifying part of the mother being impossibly pulled through the tiny door window by Freddy's arm.

inri222

jfoobar

Obvious sentimental choice for me, since I love every single thing about this film:



But here are a couple of more offbeat choices that spring to mind (don't press play if you don't want spoilers):

Memento. Alas, the video cuts off a couple of seconds too early. A great final line:



An American Werewolf in London. Already a good ending, but also has the most awesome musical transition to the end credits in cinematic history (fast forward to 1:45 or so):

jfoobar

It should have ended on the bus, with his final words "I hope..."

TheMovieman

True, and there are people who played with the audio levels trying to discern what was said.

Perkinsun Dzees

Sergio Corbucci's Companeros

Franco Nero, Tomas Milian, Ennio Morricone. Nuff said.


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GoldenJCJ

I remember hearing that that was Darabont’s original ending. The final shot was the bus driving away with Red saying “I hope...”. Apparently test audiences insisted there should be a final reunion between Andy and Red so the Mexico ending was filmed.

I can understand both sides but I guess I chalk it up to me being a j6p because I feel like I needed that reunion at the end as well.

Although I never considered it but I do like Decker’s interpretation of the ending being in Red’s mind of what he hopes he finds in Mexico. To me that almost works better than the “I hope” ending and the literal reunion.

Time Warrior

A few personal favourites of mine:-

1) Land of the Pharaohs (1954) - "This is what you have lied and cheated and murdered to achieve!"

2) Gone With the Wind (1939) - overused but that line, "Frankly my Dear, I don't give a damn" followed by Scarlett's speech about returning to Tara is just perfect.

3) The Searchers (1956) - John Wayne, unwanted, walking away from camera into Monument Valley as the door of the house, with reunited happy family within, closes behind him.

4) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - "Nothing's too good for the man who shot Liberty Valance" followed by that look on James Stewart's face and that of Vera Miles as well.

5) Dracula (1958) - The whole final sequence but especially the dust blowing away from around the ring and leading into James Bernard's pounding final theme.

6) The Spider and the Fly (1949) - The final look that passes between Guy Rolfe and Eric Portmann as the latter recognises the former, as Maurice Denham makes it clear what is going to happen to anyone boarding the train.

7) A Tale of Two Cities (pretty much any version but especially the 1980 TV movie) - "It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

8) Witchfinder General (1968) - "You took him away from me!!!!"

tanman

Oh yeah Big Fish had a great ending. It really wrapped up all the crazy stuff that was going on.

jfoobar

At least they got a free trip to Mexico out of it from the producers.

I generally favor the "leave them wanting a little more" type ending. The only one like that I didn't quite dig was the ending of Good Will Hunting. It would have been nice to have a brief scene where they see each other, perhaps from a distance, instead of just ending with the car driving off into the distance. However, Van Sant obviously wanted to end with the "son of a bitch stole my line" and I guess it wouldn't make sense sequentially to have Will make it all the way to California and see her again.

Sort of along that line, I love the ending of 50/50 also. All that romantic tension buildup and yet the audience never even sees JGL and Kendrick so much as kiss in the movie. But his sly grin in the film's final shot tells us everything we need to know. Plus, it was timed perfectly with Yellow Ledbetter:



I could have seen GWH ending like this. Will waits outside a med school building at Stanford. She comes out, sees him standing there. The camera is on her tight as her face lights up with recognition and a smile, fade to black.

Another great "leave them wanting more" ending was the ending of Sideways. He walks up to her door and knocks and the movie ends.

GoldenJCJ

This one’s polarizing but I thought it was great!

nando820

so many great posts here! Makes me want to revisit a lot of movies and explore some i never seen

GhostLee

One of mine:

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Goonies85

Forgot to mention the ending of Fish Tank. It's one of my favorite movies. When Nas's song "Life's a Bitch" comes on at the end, I almost always tear up. One of the most downbeat but yet upbeat (paradoxical) endings I've ever seen. Andrea Arnold kicked ass with that movie. And Fassbender was amazing. I love that movie.

Norm de Plume

From my favourite film, and possibly the most quietly devastating ending in film (clip lacks subs):

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inri222

Jack Straw

From those of us who have no idea what movies you are referring to based solely on a still image, well done.

Jack Straw

Absolutely, yes!

JANK

Many many but no one has mentioned the original Planet Of The Apes with Charlton Heston or Robert Duvall in THX1138.

Michael Corvin

Blair Witch Project... it was kind of a big deal back in the day.

OldBoy

The Third Man and The Station Agent rank up there for me. Lots of horror leave me wanting more...

Sonic

I know I'm in the minority here but The Never Ending Story II

rbrown498

I've got to agree with many of the suggested endings so far, particularly that of Lost in Translation.

I'd like to add:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The Graduate

and, most especially, The Purple Plain. Even though Lost in Translation is my favorite film, my favorite ending belongs to The Purple Plain. It's the most emotionally perfect ending as I've ever seen.

andicus

I would've mentioned The Station Agent, but it's a favourite 'whole' movie, for me. Love every second of that one!