The Power Of An Ending
We’ve all been there. We’ve sat at home or in the theatre, completely enthralled by a movie, and then suddenly it comes, the conclusion that makes you go, “That’s it??”
Movies can be made or broken by their ending. Here’s a list of some movies that were failed by their final moments.
10 Cloverfield Lane
This sequel to Cloverfield was filled with tension, suspense, and everything you’d expect from a good thriller. Unfortunately, the moment our heroes are freed…the movie ruins everything it worked so hard to gain, and all the tension is lost.
Paramount, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Sunshine
Sunshine had a powerhouse cast, particularly for a sci-fi film. The power of Sunshine came from its simple premise—the danger came from space itself. Unfortunately, a final act plot twist undermines everything and turns this film from flawless to average.
Searchlight Pictures, Sunshine (2007 film)
The Number 23
The Number 23, starring Jim Carrey in a dramatic turn, starts as a fascinating mystery thriller, filled with the tantalizing question of “What’s going on?” Too bad by the time that the audience realizes what’s happening, they already wish that they didn’t know.
New Line Cinema, The Number 23 (2007)
Baby Driver
The theme of these movies seems to be not knowing what genre they were in. Baby Driver continues in this vein. While the first half is a quirky action film full of characters, the last half turns into a strange melodrama that leaves a poor impression.
Hancock
Everyone loves a superhero movie. What they love even more is a superhero movie that makes fun of the genre. Unfortunately, Will Smith's Hancock missed the mark by ending on a reveal that was too much for the quirky comedy.
War Of The Worlds
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the well-known sci-fi novel is a dark and gritty departure from his usual wholesome and entertaining pics. However, that’s exactly how Spielberg goes off the rails.
The need to give the characters happy endings is at odds with the darker, emotional impact of the movie.
Paramount, War of the Worlds (2005)
A Nightmare On Elm Street
Although A Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror classic that launched a very successful franchise, most fans agree that the ending of this film does not live up to the power of the rest of the film. Wanting to make a sequel, the studio forced them to change the ending, and it sticks out as an obvious bait for a sequel.
New Line Cinema, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Bad Times At The El Royale
Bad Times at The El Royale is a psychedelic wild ride that launched Chris Hemsworth’s dark comedic acting chops. However, as it moves towards its messy end, it becomes predictable, tedious, and over-the-top.
Twentieth Century, Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
The Lost Word: Jurassic Park
Everyone knows that a sequel rarely lives up to the quality of the original. It’s just too hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice. However, the ending to the Jurassic Park sequel, which sees a T-Rex brought to the mainland, feels disconnected from the rest of this otherwise enjoyable film.
It also seems to hint at a sequel that then never happened.
Universal, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Beau Is Afraid
This dark, eccentric comedy from Ari Aster spends the majority of the film successfully leaning into the twisted dark areas that most movies are afraid of. However, as it reaches its climax, it starts to lose its wheels.
The title character Beau meets such a confusing and aggressive end, that it feels less like a conclusion and more like a messy declaration that happy endings don’t exist.
Fight Club (Chinese Cut)
Fight Club is an iconic film with an iconic ending. Unfortunately, in the Chinese cut of this film, that powerful ending is undermined by a simple post-script that declares that the authorities figure out the plan, arrest the criminals, and stop the threat. Hooray…not.
Twentieth Century, Fight Club (1999)
The Box
Cameron Diaz's 2009 thriller The Box introduced a powerful dilemma. The lead couple is given a box with a button. If they push it, they’ll get a million dollars, but a random person will lose their life.
Too bad the movie goes off the mark, adding the afterlife and “Big Brother’ surveillance that takes away from the power of this film.
The Village
The problem with a twist ending is that it is not always the masterpiece that the writer hopes for. M Night Shyamalan is infamous for both the best and the worst twist endings. The Village, with its ending that proves the threats were never real, undermines the entire movie, landing itself in the “worst” column.
Touchstone, The Village (2004)
Happiest Season
Sometimes the chemistry between two actors can proceed to ruin the ending that the writers had in mind. This is what happened in Happiest Season. It is clear to all audience members that Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza belong together. Unfortunately, the writers didn’t agree.
TriStar, Happiest Season (2020)
Downsizing
When you write a comedy, people come to your movie to see a comedy. This means they aren’t pleased when you try to sneak in a heavy, dramatic ending that undermines the entire film. Alexander Payne's Downsizing is brought down by this.
The Wolverine
Unfortunately for Hugh Jackman, there is a general belief that many of the early Wolverine movies miss the mark, and this 2013 instalment doesn’t differ. While it started strong, its generic finale that introduces a subpar villain did not hold up.
Twentieth Century, The Wolverine (2013)
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
The Indiana Jones franchise seems to be filled with ups and downs, blockbusters, and movies that try to push the envelope too far. While the majority of The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull falls into the fun adventure antics expected from Indy, the conclusion crashes into the realm of sci-fi too hard. It loses its viewers.
Paramount, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Old
As was already said, M Night Shyamalan either hits the mark with his twists or misses completely. Old is another one of his “worst” attempts. Although Old had an intriguing premise, its conclusion—that, Spoiler Alert, it was all some sort of testing for pharmaceuticals—leaves more questions than it answers.
Remember Me
Remember Me started as an intense but heartfelt drama that carefully walks the line of dark topics while serving some honest truths about life. Unfortunately, its attempt at an ending is not just an unnecessary dramatic twist, but in poor taste, using a real-life tragedy to add more trauma to already traumatized characters.
Summit Entertainment, Remember Me (2010)
The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King
Everyone knows that The Lord of The Rings films are lengthy. For fans, it’s part of their appeal. However, for many, the conclusion of the final film is overindulgent and drags longer than even their attention spans can stand.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Matrix Resurrections
While no one was looking for a Matrix sequel, there is a respectable-sized fanbase for this installment. The problem is, that it had huge shoes to fill, and the conclusion that they offered fell short. Many fans even think it ruined not just this film, but the entire trilogy that came before it.
Warner Bros., The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Last Night In Soho
The problem with twists is that if you aren’t careful, they will undermine the entire message of the film you were creating. The first half of Last Night in Soho has a strong message about the dangers of idolizing the past; however, the ending reverts everything that had come before, leaving the audience wondering what the point of it all even was.
Film4, Last Night in Soho (2021)
The Magnificent Ambersons
This drama from 1942 was a masterpiece when it was viewed in its original format. Too bad the “happy ending” that the studio forced upon this piece is the only version of the film that is still in existence.
RKO, The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
Now You See Me
Again, it’s the plot twist at the end that is the downfall of this otherwise fun and creative film. When it’s revealed that a trusted character is the unseeing hand behind everything, suddenly there are too many plot holes in this film to count.
Summit Entertainment, Now You See Me (2013)
I Am Legend
The original ending of I Am Legend was deeply impactful. It turned the entire story on its head, having our hero realize he’d become the monster. Unfortunately, the theatrical version preferred a traditional “happy ending” that did not pack the same sort of punch.
Warner Bros., I Am Legend (2007)
Pay It Forward
There is a time and a place for a serious ending. However, there are some movies that it just ruins. Pay It Forward is this case. After the traditional 90 or so minutes of uplifting messaging, Pay It Forward takes a dark, dark turn that sours anything that came before.
Warner Bros., Pay It Forward (2000)
Lucy
Lucy runs on the premise of a woman who has been injected with a drug that allows her to access the full power of her brain. While it is a fascinating topic, the movie handles it poorly, with their conclusion becoming so ridiculous it makes the entire film fall flat.
Horton Hears A Who!
The problem with adapting beloved stories into films is that the ability to make an error is very high. Horton Hears a Who! Almost made it. Unfortunately, the introduction of a sudden song break at the end does nothing for the movie. It undermines everything that came before.
Twentieth Century, Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
Psycho
Psycho is iconic, and there is a reason for it. The majority of the film is fantastic. It’s just the ending that’s dated. Following the climax, there is an epilogue that dives deep into the psychology of Norman, which is not only unnecessary but very outdated.
The Devil Inside
The world is always changing. Digital media opened many doors. However, not all uses of it are good. The Devil Inside missed the mark when they decided to cut their movie off abruptly, giving them a title card directing audiences to a website to see the end of the film, rather than an actual ending. Needless to say, no one was happy.
Paramount, The Devil Inside (2012)
The Last Voyage Of The Demeter
The Last Voyage of The Demeter tries to take a new approach to an old favorite. This film adapts only one chapter of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. While it is mildly entertaining, its attempt at hinting at a sequel is ruined by the fact that everyone knows what happens next—and it’s not what they’re trying to suggest.
DreamWorks, The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Spectre
There is a following who will support any movie in the James Bond franchise regardless of what happens. However, that doesn’t mean that Spectre didn’t miss the mark. Despite its captivating cinematography, the end of Spectre becomes erratic, and frankly, anticlimactic.
Serenity
Serenity started as a unique thriller that had audiences on the edge of their seats, wondering what was going to happen next. Too bad the ending ruined it. By revealing that the entire film was a video game made by a young boy, essentially falling back on “none of it was real”, the movie became pointless.
Promising Young Woman
Promising Young Woman starts out as a moving movie that is about women's empowerment, showing a female character taking justice into her own hands, as she knows it’s the only way that she’ll get it. However, its dark ending rather deflates the entire message, questioning whether there is any power in this film at all.
LuckyChap, Promising Young Woman (2020)
Split
It’s time to look at M Night Shyamalan again. Again, Shyamalan swings big with his twists, and undermines the rest of the film before it. While the audience thinks they’re watching a psychological thriller, this is eventually replaced with the supernatural.
Shocking, sure, but disappointing to anyone who was enjoying the tension already being built.
High Tension
High Tension is full of, well, high tension. Following two female friends on a road trip who find themselves chased by a villain, the audience spends most of the movie on the edge of their seats. However, the moment it is revealed that one of the women was the threat all along, they are suddenly confused.
The ending fills the rest of the film with plot holes.
EuropaCorp, High Tension (2003)
Signs
Signs is an enjoyable film that does a lot of things right. The tension can be felt in every corner of this movie. The problem is that there seem to be some flaws in the plot itself. By making the weakness of the invaders too easy—water on a planet practically made of water—the audience was robbed of a true fight for survival.
Toy Story 4
Pixar has made a lot of money off of Toy Story. It is understandable that they want to keep making films. While Toy Story 4 starts off with the usual heart and humor that audiences love about Toy Story, its ending undermines the ending that Toy Story 3 worked so hard to give us. It also disregards Woody’s key character trait: loyalty.
Grease
Setting aside the fact that by the end of the movie, Sandy completely changes who she is in order to get her man, and that is a message that doesn’t sit well with many viewers, Grease takes an interesting turn into the fantastical. Many viewers are confused by the sudden flying car that appears at the end of Grease.
The Grey
The Grey starts as one of Liam Neeson’s typical adventure movies, with his character being the only thing between the rest of the cast and survival. However, The Grey quickly loses the plot. Despite being an expert, Neeson’s character leads the characters right into danger… and then the movie fails to tell you whether they survive or not.
LD Entertainment, The Grey (2011)
Planet Of The Apes
Fans of the novel or the original 1968 film can understand what Tim Burton was trying to do in this remake. He wanted to honor the story that came before while bringing his twist. However, his attempt at a twist just led to confusion, as the story did not set up his final ending very well.
Twentieth Century, Planet of the Apes (1968)
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2
There will always be trouble with film adaptations of books. However, the one thing you really shouldn’t touch is the ending. This final Harry Potter instalment changes several things about Voldemort’s end, which avid fans feel ruins the message of the story.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
No Country For Old Men
This is a divisive ending. It was intended to be messy and unresolved as that was the sort of story that was being told. No Country for Old Men even won Best Picture for it. However, as time has gone on, some viewers feel that this film's abrupt ending was more of a copout than actual storytelling.
Paramount, No Country for Old Men (2007)
La La Land
This is another Best Picture winner that has some mixed reviews. Some people love this ending. However, many feel that having the central couple part ways goes against the very narrative the story was set up.
Soul
Soul is a profound and meaningful film that Pixar put out in 2020. Its final ending, which likely came at the cost of it being a children’s film, undermines the message. Although the main character makes a sacrifice so another soul can get a chance to live, he is eventually rewarded as well. A happy ending, to be sure, but diminishes the impact of that sacrifice.
500 Days Of Summer
This film has mixed reviews, to begin with. It is certainly one of those films that needed to have the right audience. However, its ending leaned into “cute” a little too hard.
After spending the entire movie chasing after a girl named Summer, Tom starts over…only to immediately meet another girl, Autumn.
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