A Random List of Great Movie Endings.

A great or bad ending to a film can make or break it. It can leave you inspired, crying, contemplating, depressed, or all the above. We are looking for feelings and responses like this on this list. There are a lot of great movie endings out there, and I could easily be ignoring some here, but this is simply a list of endings that come to mind as of writing this, so maybe I'll make another list in the future. But for now, in no particular order, here is a collection of films with some of my favorite endings.

Rocky

The underdog story of Rocky Balboa going from the bottom of the barrel to fighting Apollo Creed for the title makes for a riveting viewing, Rocky is a human story first and foremost. The heart of that story lies in the relationship between Rocky and Adrian, which takes center stage in the film's final moments. Rocky and Adrian embrace each other without caring about the storming media or the fight's results, creating a beautiful moment that will move just about anyone.

Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic continues to be one of the most influential films ever made thanks to its great characters, story, and action. All that carries it to a bittersweet note at the end. With the bandits defeated, the farmers celebrate joyfully at their bright future, while the surviving three samurai are left with nothing. As the Elder Samarai declares, "The Victory belongs to those peasants, not to us". While sunnier days await the village, the samurai are left with as little as when they were recruited by the peasants, and that final shot of the graves of the fallen cements this profound ending.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Slasher that started it all, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, truly feels like a descent into hell thanks to its great use of atmosphere. The final chase sequence that the film ends on still sends shivers down my spine. The rising sun, Sally laughing hysterically, and Leatherface maniacally swinging his chainsaw as Sally gets away is bone-chilling.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

While I stand by that the rest of the film is great too, the climax of this Spielberg classic is hands down the best part of the film. This is one of those rare sequences that can make me cry simply because of how beautiful it is. It's one of the most awe-inspiring moments in all of cinema.

Citizen Kane

The mystery of Charles Foster Kane's last words, "Rosebud", is the enigma that captures the attention of the public. As the film flashes through Kane's life and how he gained and lost everything, the final shot of the film hits hard. The burning of Kane's childhood sled in the furnace, which is revealed to be named "Rosebud." This leaves the audience with the powerful note that despite all the money he attained, his final memory was that of a sled he played with as a boy. This wouldn't be considered the greatest film of all time without a strong ending like that.

The Godfather Part 2

The Final moments of The Godfather Part 2 are masterful. The montage of all the loose ends being tied up, culminating with Fredo's death on the lake, overlooked by Michael, is chilling. Cutting then to the final flashback of the film with Michael announcing his plans to enlist in the Marines after pearl harbor, and Fredo being the only one to congratulate him. Michael then sits alone at the table as everyone greets his father, Vito, for his birthday. The cut back to the present day with Michael sitting by the lake once again alone, absolute cinema.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

A masterpiece that too few people have seen. The slow burn of the film may not capture the minds of some people, but if given the chance, it will leave them profoundly affected. This is especially the case in the film's closing act. The examination of Robert Ford's sad life as the public turns on him for killing Jesse, culminating in Ford's untimely death. It takes a piece out of you that will affect you long after the credits roll.

Field of Dreams

If you don't cry at the end of this movie, you may want to check to see if you have a soul, nuff said.

The Shawshank Redemption

While Andy finally achieves freedom after being falsely imprisoned for 19 years, it is satisfying. However, the redemption hinted at in the title belongs to Red. The final words of the film come from Red saying, "I hope," which hits hard as it calls back to the film's message of finding hope even in the darkest places. The image of Andy and Red reuniting on the beach is the icing on the cake.

Dune Part 2

While Villeneuve's adaptation of the second half of Frank Herbert's novel takes a slightly different turn at the end, it's still effective and captures the spirit of the source material. As Chani leaves Paul in his moment of triumph, the lack of a sense of victory hits home as Paul knows the future that is coming, as he tells his fanatic Freeman followers to "Lead them to paradise". As the Freeman board ships to embark on what will be a Holy War that will cost countless lives, Chani returns to the one place she can call home, the desert. Hans Zimmer's powerful score and the final image of Chani struggling to hold back her tears as she calls a worm sends goosebumps down my body.

Arrival

From one Denis Villeneuve masterpiece to another. This fascinating take on the first contact sub-genre of the science fiction genre has one of the most profound and thought-provoking endings out there. The brilliant twist of the film reveals that the flashbacks going through Dr Louise Banks (played brilliantly by Amy Adams), time with her daughter before her death from cancer, are messages from the future. This ability to perceive time is the real language of the aliens. Louise uses this gift bestowed on her to prevent military strikes on the various ships throughout the world. As Louise chooses to embrace her future regardless of the tragic outcome, she states in narration, "despite knowing the journey and where it leads, I embrace it, and welcome every moment of it". Who would have thought a movie with giant space squids would have such a fascinating examination of humanity.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The closing notes of the 1950s science fiction classic still feel relevant all these decades later. Will we continue to spread our distrust and violence to the point of mutual destruction? Or can we move on from these "petty squabbles" and build a better future for everyone? These are the powerful notes the film ends on, and as Klatu says, "The choice rests with you".

Gojira (Godzilla)

Another 50s Sci-Fi classic with relevant themes. A film made by a country that experienced the mass destruction of atomic energy firsthand. The use of Godzilla symbolizes this destruction as the film goes out of its way to show the human effects of his rampages, treating this like a real-life disaster. Even the solution to killing Godzilla at the end is a hollow victory, as the weapon used was so powerful that its creator chooses to die alongside the monster so no weapon like this can ever be made. It's a brilliant metaphor of the dangers of unchecked power, and if nothing is done to respect this power, another Godzilla could appear one day.

Schindler's List

Steven Spielberg's harrowing depiction of the brutality of the Holocaust and of Oskar Schindler's efforts to save as many lives as possible is essential viewing for anyone. As the film returns to color in its final sequence, we get a montage of the real-life Schindler Jews as they visit Schindler's grave and place stones on the marker (a sign of respect in Jewish culture). This powerful ending shows not just the survivors, but the legacies that were saved because of this man's actions. It stands as a reminder that even in the bleakest of times, true humanity can still shine.

Birdman

An imaginative and bonkers film, it would be crazy to think that this film would end in such a simple way. Riggan lies in the hospital after nearly killing himself during a showing of his play, and he notices a flock of birds flying outside and seemingly jumps out the window and flies with them. His daughter returns to his room in shock at his disappearance, but smiles as she looks out the window at the sky. What happened? Did Riggan fly? Did he die? Is this ending sequence even real? The film's tendency to mess with the audience's perception of reality leaves multiple interpretations, and that's why it's great.