20 Movie Endings That Blew People Away
Whether you’re a diehard happily-ever-afterer or open to some weirder, more experimental stuff, we can all agree that a good movie ending has to follow certain rules. It can’t just cut to black at the end of the action — that’s the narrative equivalent of hitting a brick wall at 80 miles per hour. The ending has to naturally follow the most exciting parts to their logical conclusion. It doesn’t have to wrap everything up in a neat little bow, but it does have to lower you, the viewer, gently into a cozy little resolution nest.
But some movies just go above and beyond when it comes to peacing out. They throw in a last-minute shocking plot twist, hit you with an expected but ballsy gut punch, or go way harder than they have any right to. That’s why user Arnoldbpm asked r/AskReddit, “Which movie ending sent shivers down your spine?”
Unbreakable
The Usual Suspects
The Shawshank Redemption
The Ring
The Departed
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Everything Is Illuminated
Kids
The Thing
Léon: The Professional
Full Metal Jacket
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Cool Hand Luke
Big Fish
Cube
Children of Men
No Country for Old Men
The Iron Giant
The NeverEnding Story
