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It’s a common understanding that every movie has an ending, but not all endings are as straightforward or conclusive as one might anticipate. Some films don’t neatly tie up their plots, opting for open-ended conclusions that intentionally leave audiences perplexed and debating what transpired. These unresolved conclusions invite viewers to formulate their own interpretations of the movie. Some fans appreciate these ambiguous endings and the ensuing discussions, while others find them frustrating and bewildering, feeling like they didn’t get a proper resolution. Whether you’re a fan or a critic of such endings, here are ten movie conclusions that left us puzzled and continue to be topics of discussion today.
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10 Movies WIth Highly Ambiguous Endings
The Graduate (1967)
“The Graduate” is a classic comedy-drama film that follows Benjamin, a recent college graduate who is uncertain about his future. He becomes involved in an affair with Mrs. Robinson, a family friend, and later falls in love with her daughter, Elaine. Ultimately, Benjamin intervenes to stop Elaine’s marriage to another man, and they leave together on a bus in the movie’s iconic closing scene. While many might see this as a happy ending, a closer look reveals that Benjamin and Elaine’s smiles fade, suggesting a sense of uncertainty. Just as Benjamin was uncertain about his future at the start of the film, it’s unclear whether they truly find happiness or if they’ve made a major mistake.
Black Swan (2010)
The film “Black Swan” centers on Nina, portrayed by Natalie Portman, who secures the lead role in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Throughout the movie, Nina grapples with her dual nature, as her innocence clashes with a darker side, mirroring the relationship between the pure White Swan and the evil Black Swan in the ballet. In a surprising twist, Nina stabs herself, mistaking her ballet rival for her, and continues with the production. She completes the finale before collapsing on stage in critical condition.
As the stage lights brighten, the film suddenly fades to black, leaving the audience with questions. Did Nina die? Is she genuinely injured? Much of the movie is a manifestation of Nina’s imagination or psychosis, including the stabbing and her transformation into the Black Swan. Director Darren Aronofsky leaves Nina’s fate open to interpretation, leaving it up to the viewer to decide.
Donnie Darko (2001)
“Donnie Darko” is a unique film that begins with a jet engine crashing into the home of Donnie Darko, narrowly missing him thanks to a bizarre rabbit-like character named Frank. Throughout the movie, Donnie delves into topics like wormholes, time travel, and experiences hallucinations that blur the lines of reality. After the tragic death of his girlfriend Gretchen, he envisions a vortex swallowing a plane and detaching its engine.
Unexpectedly, the film rewinds to the start, but this time, Donnie is in bed when the engine lands on him. The next morning, Gretchen, miraculously alive, rides her bike past Donnie’s house and sees his lifeless body, leaving his grieving family. She shares a mysterious moment with Donnie’s mother, suggesting they recognize each other, even though Gretchen claims they’ve never met. The ambiguous ending of the movie has contributed to its cult status over the years, leaving viewers questioning whether Donnie traveled through time to save Gretchen or if any of the events in the film were real.
Birdman (2014)
Despite being celebrated as one of the standout films of the 2010s, Birdman’s iconic and enigmatic conclusion has sparked controversy among its viewers. Throughout the movie, Riggan, portrayed by Michael Keaton, displays extraordinary abilities associated with Birdman, a superhero character he once played. The question arises: are these superhuman powers real or merely products of his imagination?
This question becomes central in the film’s final scene, where Riggan appears to jump from his hospital window, suggesting a possible suicide attempt. His daughter, Sam, played by Emma Stone, rushes to the window and peers down. It is perplexing that her reaction isn’t one of horror, considering her father’s potential tragic fate. Instead, she seems bewildered and shifts her gaze upwards before breaking into a smile. This leaves audiences wondering: Did Sam witness her father defying gravity like Birdman, or is she succumbing to the same madness that plagued her father? This enigma has been a subject of debate among viewers since 2014.
American Psycho (2000)
The movie “American Psycho” played a pivotal role in elevating Christian Bale to stardom, thanks to his outstanding portrayal of Patrick Bateman, a disillusioned corporate executive immersed in a world of “murders and executions.” Bateman carries out some bizarre and brutal killings throughout the film, leaving viewers both amused and horrified. However, as the movie reaches its conclusion, the bodies of his victims mysteriously vanish, and his most prominent target, Paul Allen (played by Jared Leto), is seen alive in London. This enigmatic ending leaves the audience questioning whether those murders were real or simply products of Bateman’s psychotic imagination.
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The Shining (1980)
Adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name, The Shining is considered one of the most iconic horror films. It follows the classic haunted hotel premise, where a family resides in the deserted Overlook Hotel, haunted by disturbing apparitions, and the father, Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson), descends into madness, attempting to harm his family. The film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, deviates from the source material in various ways, with the most significant difference occurring at the conclusion.
In the film, Jack’s wife and child manage to escape to safety, while Jack freezes to death on the hotel’s premises. The final scene focuses on an old photograph hanging in the hotel’s corridor, dated 1921, which prominently features a grinning Jack Torrance. The ending’s meaning has sparked ongoing debates. Some interpretations suggest that the photo represents a compilation of all the lives claimed by the malevolent influence of the Overlook Hotel over the years. Others speculate that Jack may have always been the hotel’s caretaker, possibly reincarnated and drawn back to it repeatedly. The ambiguity of this ending continues to fuel discussions and theories among viewers.
Inception (2010)
Many individuals can readily identify the source of this image, which is taken from the intricate and mind-twisting film “Inception,” directed by Christopher Nolan. The protagonist, Cobb, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, is a skilled thief who delves into the dreams of his targets to extract their secrets. Due to his extensive time spent in dreamscapes, Cobb grapples with distinguishing reality from the dream world. To aid him in this, he employs a totem, an ordinary object known only to the dreamer, which serves as a touchstone for differentiating between the two realms.
Cobb’s chosen totem is a straightforward metal spinning top. If it continues spinning indefinitely without toppling over, Cobb interprets this as an indication that he is ensnared in a dream rather than the real world. In the conclusion of “Inception,” after an emotional reunion with his estranged children, Cobb gives the top a spin to confirm his reality. The top twirls and twirls, and then the film concludes. The pivotal question of whether the top was on the verge of falling or not is deliberately left unresolved by Nolan, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions regarding Cobb’s state of being.
Blade Runner (1982)
“Blade Runner” is widely recognized as one of the most iconic science fiction films ever made, known for its enigmatic conclusion. The movie explores the fundamental query of what defines humanity, with the protagonist Rick Deckard, portrayed by Harrison Ford, grappling with this question while working as a “blade runner,” tasked with eliminating rogue robots known as replicants. Throughout the film, the possibility that Deckard himself may be a replicant is hinted at, with the most significant clue being an origami unicorn in the concluding scenes. However, the film never definitively addresses Deckard’s true nature, and this unresolved debate continues in the sequel “Blade Runner 2049.”
Shutter Island (2010)
“Shutter Island,” directed by Martin Scorsese, is a psychological thriller with a highly discussed ending. The protagonist, Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), initially believes he’s a U.S. Marshal investigating a missing patient at a mental asylum for the criminally insane. However, the movie’s twist reveals that Teddy’s true identity is Andrew Laeddis, one of the asylum’s most violent and disturbed inmates.
The entire investigation, which Teddy believes he’s conducting, is actually a form of therapy aimed at helping him recover his repressed memories. His doctors warn him that if he fails to remember his past, he will face a lobotomy. Unfortunately, Andrew reverts to thinking he’s Teddy, and he is taken by guards to undergo the lobotomy. Just before the procedure, Andrew utters a cryptic line: “This place makes me wonder, which would be worse: to live as a monster or to die as a good man?” The meaning of this statement is open to interpretation. It leaves viewers questioning whether Andrew intentionally chooses the lobotomy as a way to avoid living with the painful memories he has remembered.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Few films have a more mysterious conclusion than Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. This sci-fi masterpiece intertwines three distinct narratives spanning different eras, commencing with the birth of humanity. These narratives share a common thread in the form of monoliths, dark rectangular slabs of varying dimensions and placements, appearing as some kind of extraterrestrial technology. The movie suggests that these alien artifacts catalyzed human progress and evolution. However, the identities and motivations of these extraterrestrial beings remain elusive, leaving questions about their intentions and the purpose behind sending these monoliths to humanity unanswered.
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