Jun 25, 2020

25 More Movies That Completely Nailed Their Ending Scenes

Strong start, stronger finish.

Allie Hayes

BuzzFeed Staff

A little while back, we asked members of our BuzzFeed Community, "What is a movie ending scene so satisfying — so well executed — it should've won the Academy Award for Best Movie Ending (if, ya know, that was a category)?" and their excellent answers led to even MORE great responses! So, here are a few more ending scenes that would like to thank the Academy:

WARNING: Given that this is, you know, a post entirely framed around ending scenes...there are SPOILERS ahead. Like, pretty much ONLY spoilers. You've been warned. Love ya, bye.

1. The Graduate (1967)

"It's so well done and leaves you seriously thinking about how these two characters' lives are going to turn out."—evrbdytlks — Embassy Pictures

"It's so well done and leaves you seriously thinking about how these two characters' lives are going to turn out."
—evrbdytlks

Embassy Pictures

"It's so well done and leaves you seriously thinking about how these two characters' lives are going to turn out."
—evrbdytlks

2. Black Swan (2010)

"How was this not on the original list? That ending is — pun intended — perfect."—brody_saxon05 — Fox Searchlight Pictures

"How was this not on the original list? That ending is — pun intended — perfect."
—brody_saxon05

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"How was this not on the original list? That ending is — pun intended — perfect."
—brody_saxon05

3. Say Anything... (1989)

"I loved the ending of this movie. They are on the plane and she's really nervous about flying, which was established earlier in the movie. He tells her once you hear the 'ding,' everything will be okay and that he'll 'just keep talking until the ding happens.' Then you hear it as the screen goes black, and that is how the movie ends."—mrsgillis333 — 20th Century Fox

"I loved the ending of this movie. They are on the plane and she's really nervous about flying, which was established earlier in the movie. He tells her once you hear the 'ding,' everything will be okay and that he'll 'just keep talking until the ding happens.' Then you hear it as the screen goes black, and that is how the movie ends."
—mrsgillis333

20th Century Fox

"I loved the ending of this movie. They are on the plane and she's really nervous about flying, which was established earlier in the movie. He tells her once you hear the 'ding,' everything will be okay and that he'll 'just keep talking until the ding happens.' Then you hear it as the screen goes black, and that is how the movie ends."
—mrsgillis333

4. Us (2019)

"This one has a really interesting ending. It makes you really wonder who the real villain is — Red or Adelaide?"—errajatbhatiaakg — Universal Studios

"This one has a really interesting ending. It makes you really wonder who the real villain is — Red or Adelaide?"
—errajatbhatiaakg

Universal Studios

"This one has a really interesting ending. It makes you really wonder who the real villain is — Red or Adelaide?"
—errajatbhatiaakg

5. Casablanca (1942)

"It’s old-school, but there's a reason it's praised as a classic ending!"—amykinsk — Warner Bros. Pictures

"It’s old-school, but there's a reason it's praised as a classic ending!"
—amykinsk

Warner Bros. Pictures

"It’s old-school, but there's a reason it's praised as a classic ending!"
—amykinsk

6. Scream (1996)

"That final shot with Courteney Cox giving her Gale Weathers 'Exclusive Eyewitness Account' newscast with the police in the background as the camera cranes upward to face the rising sun to the tune of Moby's 'First Cool Hive' playing in the background...biiiiitch, chills. SO ICONIC."—whitfield89 — Dimension Films

"That final shot with Courteney Cox giving her Gale Weathers 'Exclusive Eyewitness Account' newscast with the police in the background as the camera cranes upward to face the rising sun to the tune of Moby's 'First Cool Hive' playing in the background...biiiiitch, chills. SO ICONIC."
—whitfield89

Dimension Films

"That final shot with Courteney Cox giving her Gale Weathers 'Exclusive Eyewitness Account' newscast with the police in the background as the camera cranes upward to face the rising sun to the tune of Moby's 'First Cool Hive' playing in the background...biiiiitch, chills. SO ICONIC."
—whitfield89

7. Rogue One (2016)

"That Darth Vader scene was freaking amazing!"—melissas48470ea8d — Lucasfilm Ltd.

"That Darth Vader scene was freaking amazing!"
—melissas48470ea8d

Lucasfilm Ltd.

"That Darth Vader scene was freaking amazing!"
—melissas48470ea8d

8. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

"This is probably an unpopular opinion, but when I think of great endings — it's this one. Not only was it poetic, romantic, and beautiful, it also changed how I viewed life and love. It affected me deep down and I will carry some small piece of that film with me for the rest of my life...so yeah, I think it's an award-worthy ending."—adamr4ab2ed254 — Focus Features

"This is probably an unpopular opinion, but when I think of great endings — it's this one. Not only was it poetic, romantic, and beautiful, it also changed how I viewed life and love. It affected me deep down and I will carry some small piece of that film with me for the rest of my life...so yeah, I think it's an award-worthy ending."
—adamr4ab2ed254

Focus Features

"This is probably an unpopular opinion, but when I think of great endings — it's this one. Not only was it poetic, romantic, and beautiful, it also changed how I viewed life and love. It affected me deep down and I will carry some small piece of that film with me for the rest of my life...so yeah, I think it's an award-worthy ending."
—adamr4ab2ed254

9. Primal Fear (1996)

"It's a double twist ending, but the biggest twist is in the final scene and makes the whole movie pay off. It very much deserves to be on this list."—a4e923f2c7 — Paramount Pictures

"It's a double twist ending, but the biggest twist is in the final scene and makes the whole movie pay off. It very much deserves to be on this list."
—a4e923f2c7

Paramount Pictures

"It's a double twist ending, but the biggest twist is in the final scene and makes the whole movie pay off. It very much deserves to be on this list."
—a4e923f2c7

10. Little Women (2019)

"The way that the entire story is tied into the end and the end result is finally shown, Jo's small smile turns to a frown, the way her hands wrap around the book... It brings me to tears every time, it's so perfect."—avasexton64 — Sony Pictures Releasing

"The way that the entire story is tied into the end and the end result is finally shown, Jo's small smile turns to a frown, the way her hands wrap around the book... It brings me to tears every time, it's so perfect."
—avasexton64

Sony Pictures Releasing

"The way that the entire story is tied into the end and the end result is finally shown, Jo's small smile turns to a frown, the way her hands wrap around the book... It brings me to tears every time, it's so perfect."
—avasexton64

11. Psycho (1960)

"This has one of the most iconic endings of all time and I’ll fight anyone who says differently."—alexfromjupiter — Paramount Pictures

"This has one of the most iconic endings of all time and I’ll fight anyone who says differently."
—alexfromjupiter

Paramount Pictures

"This has one of the most iconic endings of all time and I’ll fight anyone who says differently."
—alexfromjupiter

12. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

"Katniss staring at the camera and her expression changing from shock to sadness to anger paired with the final line, 'There is no District 12.' It makes you appreciate the film as a whole as well as wonder what is going to happen next with Katniss's story."—lightheart16 — Lionsgate

"Katniss staring at the camera and her expression changing from shock to sadness to anger paired with the final line, 'There is no District 12.' It makes you appreciate the film as a whole as well as wonder what is going to happen next with Katniss's story."
—lightheart16

Lionsgate

"Katniss staring at the camera and her expression changing from shock to sadness to anger paired with the final line, 'There is no District 12.' It makes you appreciate the film as a whole as well as wonder what is going to happen next with Katniss's story."
—lightheart16

13. Train to Busan (2016)

"I’m terrified of zombies so I was already scared, but then when the dad sacrificed himself so his daughter could get away...I started bawling my eyes out. It was so well done, engrossing, and heart-wrenching."—ryeami — Next Entertainment World

"I’m terrified of zombies so I was already scared, but then when the dad sacrificed himself so his daughter could get away...I started bawling my eyes out. It was so well done, engrossing, and heart-wrenching."
—ryeami

Next Entertainment World

"I’m terrified of zombies so I was already scared, but then when the dad sacrificed himself so his daughter could get away...I started bawling my eyes out. It was so well done, engrossing, and heart-wrenching."
—ryeami

14. Tarzan (1999)

"From the second her glove blows away to the reprise of 'Two Worlds, One Family' to the final 'Tarzan yell' before it cuts to black... I know it's just a cartoon, but it is a fantastic, cathartic ending!"—mfalcone — Walt Disney Studios

"From the second her glove blows away to the reprise of 'Two Worlds, One Family' to the final 'Tarzan yell' before it cuts to black... I know it's just a cartoon, but it is a fantastic, cathartic ending!"
—mfalcone

Walt Disney Studios

"From the second her glove blows away to the reprise of 'Two Worlds, One Family' to the final 'Tarzan yell' before it cuts to black... I know it's just a cartoon, but it is a fantastic, cathartic ending!"
—mfalcone

15. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

"The iconic 'I’m having an old friend for dinner' line with Dr. Lecter hanging up and slowly following Chilton while Clarice is still panicking on the phone... Perfection."—esa23552 — Orion Pictures

"The iconic 'I’m having an old friend for dinner' line with Dr. Lecter hanging up and slowly following Chilton while Clarice is still panicking on the phone... Perfection."
—esa23552

Orion Pictures

"The iconic 'I’m having an old friend for dinner' line with Dr. Lecter hanging up and slowly following Chilton while Clarice is still panicking on the phone... Perfection."
—esa23552

16. Whiplash (2014)

"This movie has the most satisfying ending ever committed to film."—bdoggotl — Sony Pictures Classics

"This movie has the most satisfying ending ever committed to film."
—bdoggotl

Sony Pictures Classics

"This movie has the most satisfying ending ever committed to film."
—bdoggotl

17. American Psycho (2000)

"Christian Bale's monologue at the end is just absolutely breathtaking."—loureemendez63 — Lionsgate

"Christian Bale's monologue at the end is just absolutely breathtaking."
—loureemendez63

Lionsgate

"Christian Bale's monologue at the end is just absolutely breathtaking."
—loureemendez63

18. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

"It's so chaotic, and then when Cap tells Fury he's upset because he 'had a date.' So good."—brieg2804 — Marvel Studios

"It's so chaotic, and then when Cap tells Fury he's upset because he 'had a date.' So good."
—brieg2804

Marvel Studios

"It's so chaotic, and then when Cap tells Fury he's upset because he 'had a date.' So good."
—brieg2804

19. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

"Just watch it. It’s graphic, but it was the perfect ending to the movie."—brittanya4ea9eee09 — The Weinstein Company

"Just watch it. It’s graphic, but it was the perfect ending to the movie."
—brittanya4ea9eee09

The Weinstein Company

"Just watch it. It’s graphic, but it was the perfect ending to the movie."
—brittanya4ea9eee09

20. La La Land (2016)

"It was such a well-executed epilogue scene and a final nod of farewell between Sebastian and Mia. It wrapped up the story beautifully."—districtrue — Lionsgate

"It was such a well-executed epilogue scene and a final nod of farewell between Sebastian and Mia. It wrapped up the story beautifully."
—districtrue

Lionsgate

"It was such a well-executed epilogue scene and a final nod of farewell between Sebastian and Mia. It wrapped up the story beautifully."
—districtrue

21. The Departed (2006)

"It's still probably the only Martin Scorsese movie that I didn't think was too long! Epic ending!"—clairebsaenz — Warner Bros. Pictures

"It's still probably the only Martin Scorsese movie that I didn't think was too long! Epic ending!"
—clairebsaenz

Warner Bros. Pictures

"It's still probably the only Martin Scorsese movie that I didn't think was too long! Epic ending!"
—clairebsaenz

22. Fight Club (1999)

"This one is an easy choice. The music, the dialogue, the cinematography — it’s all brilliantly done."—mmrg344 — 20th Century Fox

"This one is an easy choice. The music, the dialogue, the cinematography — it’s all brilliantly done."
—mmrg344

20th Century Fox

"This one is an easy choice. The music, the dialogue, the cinematography — it’s all brilliantly done."
—mmrg344

23. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

"I love period pieces, and the fact that they were able to infuse fantasy and magic is amazing."—bernardkaelin — Picturehouse

"I love period pieces, and the fact that they were able to infuse fantasy and magic is amazing."
—bernardkaelin

Picturehouse

"I love period pieces, and the fact that they were able to infuse fantasy and magic is amazing."
—bernardkaelin

24. The Shining (1980)

"This ending is *chef’s kiss*. The slow zoom-in on the photo of the hotel. I love that it leaves the viewer with so many questions. Was Jack a reincarnated spirit being called back to the hotel? Was he a victim of the hotel’s toxic energy? Did he finally find his 'home' among the other hotel guests?"—amandan25 — Warner Bros.

"This ending is *chef’s kiss*. The slow zoom-in on the photo of the hotel. I love that it leaves the viewer with so many questions. Was Jack a reincarnated spirit being called back to the hotel? Was he a victim of the hotel’s toxic energy? Did he finally find his 'home' among the other hotel guests?"
—amandan25

Warner Bros.

"This ending is *chef’s kiss*. The slow zoom-in on the photo of the hotel. I love that it leaves the viewer with so many questions. Was Jack a reincarnated spirit being called back to the hotel? Was he a victim of the hotel’s toxic energy? Did he finally find his 'home' among the other hotel guests?"
—amandan25

25. And finally, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

"What about these endings? All 45 of them?! LOL. Seriously though, it's a perfect film."—cocogrigio — New Line Cinema

"What about these endings? All 45 of them?! LOL. Seriously though, it's a perfect film."
—cocogrigio

New Line Cinema

"What about these endings? All 45 of them?! LOL. Seriously though, it's a perfect film."
—cocogrigio

Now it's YOUR turn! What is an ending scene that is so perfect, it deserves an imaginary Academy Award that I totally made up? Share your pick and why in the comments below!

Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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