As a film enthusiast with over three decades of cinematic exploration under my belt, I can confidently say that these films are not just movies, but timeless masterpieces that have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Each one tells a unique story, captures a significant moment in history, or explores the human condition in ways that resonate deeply with audiences.
Wrapping up a tale can be challenging, as you’d find if you asked Monty Python, who faced numerous difficulties (and financial constraints) while concluding their film “The Holy Grail“. When a movie ends successfully, it’s frequently due to one unforgettable scene that leaves a lasting impression on viewers for years. These scenes often serve as the most enduring image of the movie, and this list highlights such scenes that truly nail the ending. Iconic scenes that stick the landing perfectly.
Fight Club
It’s quite surprising that Fight Club didn’t become a blockbuster when it was first released in 1999, considering its powerful ending and mesmerizing visual effects. The city’s collapse scene wrapped up the movie in a chilling manner, while the use of The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind” during the explosion is one of the most brilliant instances of music in cinema history.
Oppenheimer
In the role of an admiring spectator, I must say that Director Christopher Nolan brilliantly orchestrated a captivating narrative in the upcoming film, Oppenheimer. By skillfully employing his signature time manipulation technique, he skillfully wove together Robert Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) complete tale—extending beyond The Manhattan Project—while masterfully culminating the story with the dramatic detonation of the first nuclear bomb test. This climactic moment served as a powerful prelude to the film’s conclusion, which delves deeply into Oppenheimer himself grappling internally with the moral implications of his actions.
Psycho
I’d attest that Alfred Hitchcock masterfully concludes films in a manner that leaves viewers bewildered and pondering long after the credits roll. Case in point: the finale of Psycho, where Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) locks eyes with me through the screen, his inner thoughts echoing ominously, crafts an ending as fitting as it is chilling.
Dead Poets Society
You can’t help but recall the memorable ending of Dead Poets Society when you think about it. The scene where John Keating (Robin Williams), after being dismissed, has all his students standing on their desks in homage, quoting “O Captain! My Captain!” from Walt Whitman’s renowned poem. It never fails to stir your emotions whenever you watch it.
The Breakfast Club
During the approximately 90-minute duration of “The Breakfast Club”, viewers grow deeply acquainted with each character. Mr. Vernon (Paul Gleason) interprets Brian’s (Anthony Michael Hall) words as the audience listens to Brian express that, despite their differences – be it a brain, an athlete, a troubled student, or a delinquent – they all share the common struggles of any teenager.
The Truman Show
One of Jim Carrey’s finest performances can be found in “The Truman Show,” a film where his emotional sailing journey across the ocean, culminating in reaching the door, is particularly gripping. The audience feels completely engaged as they witness Truman breaking free from his confinement. Leaving through the door, waving goodbye, offers a fitting and satisfying conclusion to the movie.
The Silence Of The Lambs
What’s most unsettling about the ending of The Silence of the Lambs is that it makes you unintentionally sympathize with a ruthless serial killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). In the movie’s final scene, we see an uncaptured Lecter lurking in disguise at the airport where his adversary, Dr. Chilton (Anthony Heald), has just disembarked from a plane in a tropical destination.
Thelma & Louise
There really isn’t a more epic ending to a movie than Thelma & Louise. After being chased across multiple states after committing a justified crime, the two titular characters decide to literally ride off into the sunset – or off a cliff – as the police are closing in on them. In it together to the end.
The Godfather
In the realm of cinema, there’s no equivalent to the epic tale that unfolds in the The Godfather series. The two…or three, if you count the third one, movies are filled with striking scenes, but none compare to the climactic moment at the end of the first film. Here, Michael (Al Pacino) has a heated argument and deceives Kate (Diane Keaton), shutting the door on her as he goes to welcome his other kin. It’s a heart-wrenching scene, yet undeniably powerful.
Chinatown
Regardless of the final words spoken in the movie, Chinatown remains unforgettable, particularly its poignant conclusion where Evelyn (Faye Dunaway) meets her demise while trying to break free from her overpowering and undeniably wicked father, portrayed by John Huston. Jake (Jack Nicholson), though deeply affected, is powerless to move on.
Planet Of The Apes
Remarkably twisty and iconic, the ending of Planet Of The Apes has etched itself into popular culture so profoundly that even those unfamiliar with the film, which features Charlton Heston as an astronaut stranded on what he believes is a distant planet, recognize its climax when he realizes he’s been on Earth all along.
Field Of Dreams
In the movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner constructs something believing that his father, who is his character, will appear. And indeed, he does. The story concludes with them playing catch on the enchanted baseball field, while an array of cars approach, hinting at more people coming to witness a game there. So, in the end, they do arrive.
The Usual Suspects
“The movie ‘The Usual Suspects’ features a twist that many people love, ending with the revelation that Kevin Spacey’s character is Keyser Söze. This final scene, with his last breath and the disappearance of the character…it’s one of the most memorable and powerful endings in movie history.
Dr. Strangelove
You can’t really end a movie in a more epic way than having nuclear weapons exploding over and over. From the moment Korg (Slim Pickens) hitches a ride on one of his bombs, to the montage of actual nuclear explosions, the end brings to a point the absurdity of nuclear war.
Casablanca
There aren’t many movies that have multiple quotes that have become part of the lexicon like Casablanca. Playing it again, hills of beans, looking at you… the list goes on and on. The final shot of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Renault (Claude Raines) walking off into the fog is right up there with the greatest endings ever, with that iconic quote from Rick to Renault about the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Sunset Boulevard
The final scene in Sunset Boulevard has few endings as both unsettling (yet captivating) as Norma Desmond’s gradual descent among the stars, with Gloria Swanson’s exaggerated facial expressions making it even more unnerving. When the camera freezes on Swanson’s face and she delivers her iconic line, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille,” it sends shivers down your spine.
Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino’s initial film is widely regarded as one of the greatest debut movies by a director, boasting an exceptional script that culminates in a tragically devastating ending where nearly every character meets their demise. The concluding scenes featuring Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) are particularly poignant, tugging at viewers’ heartstrings.
Whiplash
To wrap up a gripping movie like Whiplash, there needs to be a climactic scene that matches its intensity. The film’s last drum solo, where all the pieces fall into place for Miles Teller’s character, serves this purpose perfectly. Watching the movie is an emotional rollercoaster, and audiences can feel the tension build up until the dramatic release. It’s a masterpiece, and Teller’s expression truly reflects that intensity.
The Graduate
One captivating aspect of the finale in “The Graduate” lies in the uncertainty that envelops Benjamin (Dustin Huffman) and Elaine (Katharine Ross) as they settle onto the bus. At first glance, it might seem like a typical resolution for a Rom-Com, with the couple embarking on their future hand in hand. However, as the scene lingers, it becomes evident that both characters are apprehensive about the path ahead, questioning whether they’ve chosen wisely. Indeed, this thought-provoking ending is remarkably well executed.
The Thing
The closing scene of The Thing revolves around a single, memorable line. After experiencing numerous ordeals, both MacReady (Kurt Russell) and Childs (Keith David) find themselves alone in the freezing cold. When Childs queries about their next move, MacReady simply suggests they stay put for a while and observe what transpires.
There Will Be Blood
The climactic scene of the film “There Will Be Blood ” is undeniably one of the most emotionally charged sequences in cinematic history. The struggle for Daniel Plainview’s (Daniel Day-Lewis) inner self, a battle that combines physical and spiritual dimensions, is brutal. Once Plainview and Eli (Paul Dano) have reached their conclusion, with Eli deceased, Plainview can only express his exhaustion to his butler by saying, “I’ve had enough.” In essence, he has reached the end in nearly every aspect of his life.
Inception
Similar to the rest of the film, Christopher Nolan’s Inception concludes with a finale that invites various interpretations from viewers. At the end, Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) spins the top without looking at it, leaving both him and us questioning his exact location.
Primal Fear
Edward Norton’s characters in “Primal Fear” are truly chilling, and the movie’s conclusion, which echoes Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” leaves viewers with a profound sense of discomfort. The film poses questions that linger: What exactly did we just witness, and what is truthful? These queries remain unanswered, leaving us all puzzled.
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stands out as an unusually unique romantic film, posing a question many of us ponder: are our lives predetermined to intertwine with just one particular individual? Although the conclusion doesn’t offer a definitive answer, it effectively conveys that profound connections between two souls may develop whether we actively pursue them or not.
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
Sure, it’s the “Hollywood” ending to a kinda true story in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. In the end, in classic Western style, our heroes are surrounded with no chance to escape, they choose to go out guns blazing. Of course, in real life, the fate of the real Butch and Sundance has been open to a lot of conjecture. Did they survive? Well, the movie freezes just as they burst out of their hideout, and we never see the final gunfight, so maybe they did. It’s part of what makes it one of the best Westerns ever.
Se7en
Nothing surpasses the unsettling nature of the finale in the movie Se7en. Throughout, John Doe (Kevin Spacey) maintains control, culminating in the arrival of “the box,” which leaves Mills (Brad Pitt) and the audience in a state of disbelief. The camera then pulls back from a helicopter as we hear reports about the events that have transpired, leaving us pondering for days on end.
The Shawshank Redemption
The final scene in “The Shawshank Redemption” might be titled “Red’s Final Voyage,” as he embarks on a cross-country trek, crossing borders to meet Andy on the beach. It’s a heartwarming conclusion to what is arguably the finest film of the 1990s.
Citizen Kane
Without a doubt, the classic film “Citizen Kane” is renowned for its timeless impact on cinema. A significant factor contributing to this enduring appeal lies in its enigmatic ending. The haunting scene of the sled named “Rosebud” engulfed in flames doesn’t merely reveal what Kane (Orson Welles) alluded to at the film’s outset, but instead sparks a contemplation among viewers about the ultimate significance of life, even one as extraordinary as Kane’s.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
In the majority of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Big Chief’s significance isn’t fully apparent. However, it turns out that Big Chief plays a crucial role by ultimately freeing McMurphy by asphyxiating him, and in doing so, he also liberates himself from the hospital and the emotional burden that he had struggled to cast off. It results in a poignantly moving conclusion for such an unpredictable film.
The Bridge On The River Kwai
A significant portion of war seems pointless, and no film encapsulates that idea more effectively than “The Bridge On The River Kwai“. The movie portrays a continuous struggle between Japanese soldiers and Allied captives, yet this conflict extends beyond human adversaries to involve nature itself. The central focus is the bridge, which ultimately meets its fate in an explosion. One may wonder, what was the purpose of all this?
Schindler’s List
The raw power of the final scene of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece Schindler’s List is undeniable. The black-and-white movie turns to color as the real-life survivors place stones on the real-life grave of Oskar Schindler. It brings even more weight to the cost of the Holocaust than you could possibly expect and it’s as powerful a moment as has ever been in any film, ever.
It’s A Wonderful Life
In more contemporary terms, the timeless holiday movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” has developed a certain cliché status over the years. Yet, it’s hard to dispute the heartwarming and lovely conclusion where an angel ultimately receives his wings.
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2024-12-21 20:38