Top Ten Endings

I usually favor surprise endings, but I figured I would put some very meaningful endings on here as well... When I speak of the endings, there are no spoilers -- no worries.

1. The Sixth Sense

Come on guys, everyone knows that this is the biggest surprise ending of all-time. It was right under our noses the entire time.

2. The Usual Suspects

What an amazing unforgettable image of the footsteps down the sidewalk. Incredible. Bryan Singer's debut couldn't have been better. Keyser Soze!

3. On The Waterfront

The heroes march, all you can do is root for him. He's beaten to a pulp, but stays on his feet.

4. Silence of the Lambs

From Hannibal Lector's ingenious escape to the famous night vision scene in Buffalo Bill's basement. The ending is keeps you on the edge of your seat for so long that your back gets sore.

5. Matchstick Men

I didn't see it coming. And like the Sixth Sense, the ending elucidates what you have been seeing all along.

6. Ocean's 11

The entire movie you are wondering how in the world are they going to pull this off. And most of the movie is them explaining how they are going to as Soderbergh shows them doing it. How it culminates is incredible.

7. Seven

I don't know what's better, the plot twist or Kevin Spacey's character, John Doe. The ending is sad, but so fitting to the characters.

8. Signs

I just loved how this ending had everything come together in the end. M. Night Shyamalan gives us these little elements associated with each character throughout the movie and brings them together for the grand finale. Also when Jacquain Phoenix is inside beaten the shit out of the alien and Mel's outside with his son, the camera pans over to the window to look through it, and James Newton Howard's three-note, chilling original score picks up.... It's just so great movie making.

9. The Blair Witch Project

What a chilling last image and then BAM! the movies done. With how the movie is filmed with a camcorder, the ending is perfect for it.

10. Shawshank Redemption

There's a great shot where the Frank Darabont (the director) shows the warden's face peer down the rabbit hole after tearing the poster off. It's just so cool. And of course its raining, how classic.

11. The Thomas Crown Affair

I just loved this ending, cause its smart and you look at Pierce Brosnan's character and you just have to say.... "You're a clever little devil aren't ya?"Especially that whole mixed up maze of men with bowler hats in the art museum. That's so cool.

12. Casablanca

Are there many more classic scenes than Humphrey Bogart at the airport sending his love off in the plane? The guy has a heart! He isn't just some smooth, talking George Clooney. He's Rick! And I think he's OK.

13. The Village

Most surprise endings focus on a how or a who? But Shyamalan pulls off a when.... That is so original and creative to me. And he gives a reason behind it. Its not a surprise ending for the sake of a surprise ending. Its a ending that fits the story and psychi of the characters. Reminds me of Christendom College, actually....

14. Citizen Kane

After 2+ hours of seeing the corruption of a successful man, we see Rosebud -- one of the most classic iconography names in Hollywood. And your wondering what or who Rosebud is the whole movie, only to be surprised of what it is to such a corrupt man.

15. Memento

The ending is really the beginning, because of the ingenious reverse timeline idea by Christopher Nolan. But how the story actually begins (and the movie ends) is quite the shocker. It plays perfectly off of Lenny's short-term memory loss condition.

16. Fight Club

Now lets get this straight. The big penis that flashes on the screen at the end is not why I love this ending. I love the ending because it calls into question the legitimacy of everything you have seen thus far. Who is Tyler Durdan? It's fast paced and intense for the last 20 minutes, only to end with an explosive show and the Pixies singing "Where is my mind?". Beautiful, just beautiful.

17. Saw

What you thought was a prop the entire movie became the last "Jigsaw" puzzle piece. I love its simplicity and delivery. The music picks up and sends shivers to your ass. I didn't like the whole "Game Over!" line, it reminded me of those tragic years trying to beat Mario.

18. The Game

Its just a cool concept. The whole movie your thinking this some terrible stuff that is happening, but those two words bursted out when the rooftop access door opens sends your head for a spin.

19. The Others

This is one of the most underrated endings, because it was out the same time as the Sixth Sense. Bad timing from the producers, but if watched now the ending would be great and no one would say... "hey that's been done before". Plus Nicole Kidman looks good as a 1800's estate owner, so modest, so modest.

20. Pulp Fiction

How could I not put this on? Tarantino pretty much invented the skewed timeline, which would be used for many shocking endings there after. The delivery is pretty decent, of course the lines are funny, but what puts this on the list is how it revolutionized film making. Memento would have never been made unless it was for Pulp Fiction.