THE end of a film is its make or break moment - will you be blown away by the last thing the director throws at you, or will it make the last couple of hours feel like a total waste of time?
Read News of the World film critic Robbie Collin's ten favourite film endings of all time (complete with spoilers, of course).
With so many classics to choose from, we've found that even some of the greatest (such as King Kong, E.T and Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid) have narrowly missed the list!
But what do you think? We want to know what your favourite movie endings of all time are.
1. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1993
HOVERING round the top of most people’s favourite films list and rightfully so, it’s Shawshank’s lengthy and at times unpredictable ending that cements this movie’s place in your heart.
We know Andy Defresne isn’t in jail any more, yes. But where the hell is he, and HOW DID HE DO IT? Frank Darabont takes his time in spelling out the brilliant escape.
Some have complained that the final shot of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman on a beach is too obvious and the film should have been left open-ended.
And if it wasn’t Morgan Freeman in the role, they would probably be right. But the look he shoots Robbins is pure, life-affirming gold.
2. MEMENTO 2000
DARK Knight director Christopher Nolan’s complex flashback-based thriller finishes with the gut-wrenching reason why amnesiac Leonard Shelby will NEVER catch the killer of his wife.
Brilliantly, the story finishes exactly where it started – leaving the chilling impression that Leonard’s quest will loop for all eternity.
Cue a crazed dash for the DVD remote to rewind and scan the film for ‘evidence’. And of course, it’s all in there.
3. THE USUAL SUSPECTS 1995
WHEN Kevin Spacey finally gets out of the police station, Agent Kujan thinks he’s got the Keyser Soze case sewn up.
Then he notices a few familiar-sounding names on the police station notice board. And drops his coffee mug drops to the ground.
And you suddenly realise HOLY CRAP, IT WAS HIM ALL ALONG. Best twist ending ever.
4. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 1981
EVERYONE remembers the melty-faced Nazis, but the real genius of the first Indiana Jones film is in the very final zoom-out shot where we see the Ark of the Covenant in a wooden crate…being driven down an aisle of wooden crates…in a really, really, REALLY big warehouse of wooden crates.
Exciting because it implied there were thousands of other amazing Indy stories just waiting to be told. Ultimately disappointing because the next one turned out to be Temple of Doom, but never mind.
5. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 1980
STAR Wars was great and all, but it was Episode V that REALLY cranked things up – particularly with that Jeremy Kyle moment when Darth fesses up to Luke, and Han Solo’s excellent carbonite freeze moment. ("I love you."/"I know.")
Which all begged the question, how on earth is George Lucas going to top this? The answer: Evil Galactic Empire defeated by dancing teddies. Rrrriiiigggghht.
6. THE SIXTH SENSE 1999
HE’S come out with some right rubbish since, but it’s easy to forget the absolute brilliance of the twist ending of M Night Shyamalan’s first film.
Bruce Willis is the child psychologist dealing with a kid who sees dead people. The kid sees him. But strangely, nobody else seems to. So that means what? Was it really that clear, all the way through?
And cinema audiences all over the world instantly book another ticket.
7. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946
FACT: the only things that don’t cry at the end of this classic Christmas weepie are bricks and lizards.
Despite being 62 years old, IAWL continues to move audiences to fits of sentimental howling today.
George Bailey was convinced that his life has been totally pointless. Clarence the angel has just shown him otherwise.
So he runs home, scoops up his wife and kids, starts singing Auld Lang Syne, and then when the banister comes off in his hands…heck, I’m welling up just thinking about it.
8. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE 1971
“I WAS cured, all right!” boasts Alex DeLarge at the end of Stanley Kubrick’s ultraviolent shocker.
“No you weren’t you flipping mentalist,” think the audience, as it’s clear that all the hospital treatment in the world isn’t going to straighten out this sex-crazed nutjob.
Monumentally depressing and yet strangely satisfying at the same time.
9. BACK TO THE FUTURE 1985
THE greatest ever sign that a sequel’s on its way, Doc Brown’s glorious return at the end of BTTF is the ultimate appetite-whetter for BTTF2.
With the first film's plot sewn up, Marty McFly is picked up by the Doc in the modified DeLorean for another mission with the immortal line: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need…roads.” before flying off into the sunset.
Amazing to think that audiences had to wait four agonising years for the sequel. But holy cow, was it worth it.
10. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT 1999
UNLESS you’re terrified by shaky pictures of trees, The Blair Witch Project isn’t that scary…until the last bit, that is.
Heather and Mike are scouring an old house for any trace of their vanished buddy Josh and Heather ventures down into the basement.
For just long enough for the audience to realise what’s going on, she catches on camera a grainy figure standing in the corner.
It’s Josh. Facing the wall, like a naughty child who’s about to be punished. Badly.
Absolutely petrifying.
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