Warning! Spoilers ahead for the endings of major movies of the 2020s!
The ending of a movie can make or break the audience and critical opinion about a film. The quality of an ending is always open to interpretation, especially since so many final scenes in films of the 2020s incorporate ambiguous or open-ended conclusions to keep the viewer guessing. Some of the best movies with cliffhanger endings effectively use this type of finale without making it seem like a gimmick, which can be a pitfall of the cliffhanger. However, when done right, any type of ending will stay with audiences long after the movie is over.
Some of the biggest summer blockbusters of the 2020s distinguished themselves by utilizing unexpected conclusions that subverted audience expectations. However, more often than not, independent films can be more experimental in how their endings are framed because there isn’t as much outside pressure. Writing an ending can be the most difficult part of making a film. The conclusion shouldn’t be overlooked in its importance to the overall product. Whether the ending utilizes a shocking twist, enormous emotional impact, or successfully brings the movie’s narrative full circle, these projects understand the power of a great finale.
10 Nora & Hae Sung Say Goodbye – Past Lives (2023)
Directed by Celine Song
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Celine Song’s directorial debut, Past Lives, is a quiet, deeply affecting drama that was an unexpected darling of awards season. However, the enormous praise for the script, performances, and direction was not so unexpected, considering how well the movie captures a unique experience of longing and the desire to explore what might have been. When childhood friends Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are reunited in New York after over twenty years, they wonder what would have happened if Nora had never left South Korea.
As the pair wait for his car to arrive to take him to the airport and out of Nora’s life again, the viewer knows that Nora would never really do this, but the possibility lingers in the air.
The Past Lives ending scene is a moment when both the audience and characters hold their breath, unsure if Nora would really run away from her life and her husband to be with Hae Sung. As the pair wait for his car to arrive to take him to the airport and out of Nora’s life again, the viewer knows that Nora would never really do this, but the possibility lingers in the air. As he gets in, and she stays, she breaks down crying, mourning the life she never had and the person she no longer is.
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8/10 Past Lives PG-13DramaRomance
In Past Lives, childhood sweethearts Na Young and Hae Sung lose contact when Na Young’s family moves abroad. Twelve years later, they reconnect through social media, but their lives have diverged. As they meet again, unresolved feelings surface, leading to poignant reflections on love, choices, and the complexities of relationships.
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*Availability in US Director Celine Song Release Date January 21, 2023 Writers Celine Song Cast Greta Lee , Teo Yoo , John Magaro Runtime 106 minutes
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Past Live (2023) |
95% |
93% |
9 Calum Walks Away From Sophie – Aftersun (2022)
Directed by Charlotte Wells
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Since his breakout performance in Normal People, Paul Mescal has been rising to prominence as an actor, and his groundbreaking work in Aftersun has helped foster this. Mescal plays Calum, the young father of Sophie (Frankie Corio), who takes her on a vacation that the adult Sophie reminiscences on years later. The whole of Aftersun is a bittersweet and emotionally affecting story as Sophie tries to understand what the final days of their relationship mean to her now.
Aftersun attempts to unpack the dichotomy between who Sophie knew her father to be and who he was as an individual. Grief and loss take center stage in the emotionally gripping Aftersun, and the transition from Calum in the hallway saying goodbye to Sophie to his entrance into the party where the adult Sophie has been following him is the subtle confirmation of his death that the audience needs. Though it’s a sad ending, there’s also a glimmer of hope and closure for Sophie, which is all that she can ask for.
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10/10 Aftersun RDrama
Aftersun is a 2022 drama directed by Charlotte Wells. The film follows a young girl named Sophie who reflects on a vacation she took with her father, Calum, twenty years earlier. Through a series of memories, Sophie attempts to reconcile the loving father she knew with the unresolved aspects of their relationship. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio star in this introspective exploration of memory and familial connection.
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*Availability in US Director Charlotte Wells Release Date October 21, 2022 Writers Charlotte Wells Cast Paul Mescal , Frankie Corio , Celia Rowlson-Hall , Sally Messham Runtime 96 minutes
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Aftersun (2022) |
96% |
81% |
8 Gawain’s Dream Sequence – The Green Knight (2021)
Directed by David Lowery
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Dev Patel leads the star-studded cast of The Green Knight as Sir Gawain of the Round Table. An offshoot of the Arthurian legends, The Green Knight is a complex and twisting narrative that questions the nature of honor and legacy through the eyes of the young Gawain. He embarks on a quest to fulfill his bargain with the Green Knight, which could potentially end in his death. However, to go back on his deal would destroy his honor and ultimately lead to his ruin, regardless. Gawain grapples with this on his way to the Green Knight.
Related 10 Best R-Rated Fantasy Movies, Ranked
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There are many ways to interpret the ending of The Green Knight, as the film presents several possible endings. It’s up to the audience to decide what’s the truth. At first, it seems Gawain flees from his fate and is ravaged by devastation because of his cowardice. However, this turns out to be a dream, and by staying true, the Green Knight decides to spare him. By ending the film right after the Green Knight lets him live gives the film an air of poetry and ongoing relevance, which ties into the original poem the story is based on.
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8.5/10 The Green Knight RAdventureDramaFantasy
An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in a more profound journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger.
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*Availability in US Director David Lowery Release Date July 30, 2021 Studio(s) A24 Writers David Lowery Cast Dev Patel , Emilie Hetland , Ralph Ineson , Helena Browne , Alicia Vikander , Joel Edgerton , Erin Kellyman , Barry Keoghan , Anthony Morris , Sean Harris , Kate Dickie , Sarita Choudhury Runtime 125 minutes Expand
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Title |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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The Green Knight (2021) |
89% |
50% |
7 Evelyn Saves Her Family – Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
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Everything Everywhere All At Once wasn’t the first film that the directing duo, The Daniels, made together, but it has been their most critically and financially successful so far. Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn, the belabored matriarch of her family who feels her life is coming apart at the seams. However, the mundanity she’s used to is further upended by the discovery of the multiverse. Matters are made worse when she realizes that it’s her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), who’s trying to destroy the universe.
Despite the complex elements of sci-fi and fantasy that make Everything Everywhere All At Once such an explosive blend of genres, the film is a family drama at its core. What Joy wants is for Evelyn to see and accept her for who she is, and by the movie’s end, Evelyn realizes that it’s love, not fighting, that will save the world. Evelyn gives an impassioned and moving speech about her commitment to Joy, and the family returns to the IRS as a unit, representing their growth and how they’ll always be there for each other.
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9.3/10 Everything Everywhere All at Once RAdventureComedyAction
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
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*Availability in US Director Daniel Kwan , Daniel Scheinert Release Date March 25, 2022 Writers Daniel Scheinert , Daniel Kwan Cast Jenny Slate , Ke Huy Quan , Stephanie Hsu , Harry Shum Jr. , Jamie Lee Curtis , James Hong , Michelle Yeoh Runtime 132 minutes
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) |
93% |
79% |
6 Em & OJ Get Proof – Nope (2022)
Directed by Jordan Peele
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Nope is one of the most creative horror movies of the 2020s and delivers one of the director, Jordan Peele’s, best ending sequences. From the visual reference to Akira to the stylization of the alien Jean Jacket to resemble a biblically accurate angel, every piece of the puzzle falls into place at the end of Nope. Emerald (Keke Palmer) and Otis (Daniel Kaluuya) are easy protagonists to root for, and it’s incredibly satisfying when not only do they defeat Jean Jacket, but they get proof that he existed.
The tension of
Nope
is slowly built throughout the movie’s tight run, with the most terrifying scenes left behind, leaving an action-packed and thrilling ending.
It’s fitting that the proof Emerald gets of Jean Jacket’s existence came in the form of a picture from the kitschy, analog tourist attraction in Jupe’s (Steven Yeun) park. Instead of the flashy equipment and gear that the characters had been using to capture the alien’s image, it’s an old-fashioned, manual machine that subverts the desire for spectacle that so much of the film comments on. The tension of Nope is slowly built throughout the movie’s tight run, with the most terrifying scenes left behind, leaving an action-packed and thrilling ending.
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7.8/10 Nope rHorror Sci-Fi
Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Nope follows the owners of a family-run Hollywood horse ranch whose lives are changed by extraterrestrial phenomena. Siblings Otis (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) scramble to understand events that seem to defy all explanation, even as their neighbor (Steven Yeun) tries to turn the strange occurrences into a alien tourist attraction.
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*Availability in US Director Jordan Peele Release Date July 22, 2022 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers Jordan Peele Cast Steven Yeun , Michael Wincott , Daniel Kaluuya , Brandon Perea , Keke Palmer , Barbie Ferreira Runtime 131 minutes Expand
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Nope (2022) |
83% |
69% |
5 James Bond Dies – No Time To Die (2021)
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga
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No Time To Die made history as the first James Bond movie to kill off Bond to pave the way for a new era. Daniel Craig was a memorable actor, and his take on Bond has already changed the franchise forever. However, by the end of No Time To Die, it was clear that his tenure as the iconic spy was over and that he was ready to move on. Though killing him off was divisive, it ensures that Craig’s Bond can never be replicated or have his legacy tarnished.
Of course, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing Bond right now, but James Bond 26 updates all hint that whoever takes up the moniker next will be more than worthy. It helps that the way Bond went out in No Time To Die was for personal reasons as well as for the fate of the world. After learning that he has a daughter and that she and her mother will be able to live their lives in safety, he sacrifices himself to give them a better future and becomes more than just 007.
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5/10 No Time to Die PG-13ActionAdventureThriller
The famed agent James Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. However, his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
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*Availability in US Director Cary Fukunaga Release Date October 8, 2021 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Writers Cary Fukunaga , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Robert Wade , Scott Z. Burns , Neal Purvis Cast Daniel Craig , Rami Malek , Lea Seydoux , Ralph Fiennes , Lashana Lynch , Jeffrey Wright , Billy Magnussen , Dali Benssalah , Naomie Harris , Rory Kinnear , Ben Whishaw , Ana De Armas , David Dencik Runtime 163 Minutes Franchise(s) James Bond Expand
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Title |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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No Time To Die (2021) |
83% |
88% |
4 Oppenheimer Discusses His Future With Einstein – Oppenheimer (2023)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
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Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer doesn’t make a searing moral judgment about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Muphy) or his legacy, and the mixed ending demonstrates this fact. The end of Oppenheimer sees the tide turn on his legacy once more, as the man is given the Enrico Fermi Award in his old age, and the evaluation of his contributions to science seems to be viewed in a more positive light. Additionally, Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), who has been plaguing Oppenheimer throughout the movie, loses his position of political power, which is framed as a just response to his targeting of Oppenheimer.
In some ways, the triumph of
Oppenheimer
‘s conclusion undercuts the commentary made earlier in the film, but this middling moral ground is the point of the film.
In some ways, the triumph of Oppenheimer‘s conclusion undercuts the commentary made earlier in the film, but this middling moral ground is the point of the film. As the audience is finally given insight into Oppenheimer’s conversation with Einstein (Tom Conti), who foretells Oppenheimer’s complex relationship with world history, the viewer witnesses Oppenheimer’s remorse. However, it can be interpreted as a reaction to his own sense of purpose being shaken rather than his negative impact on the world.
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8.5/10 Oppenheimer RDramaHistoryBiography
Oppenheimer is a film by Christopher Nolan, which follows the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy will play the titular role, with the story based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 21, 2023 Studio(s) Syncopy Inc. , Atlas Entertainment Writers Christopher Nolan Cast Cillian Murphy , Emily Blunt , Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr. , Rami Malek , Florence Pugh Runtime 150 Minutes Expand
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Title |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Oppenheimer (2023) |
93% |
91% |
3 Paul Seizes Power – Dune: Part Two (2024)\
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
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For fans of the book by Frank Herbert, it was always clear where Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) path was leading him. The final moments of Dune 2 are both explosively action-packed and emotionally devastating as Paul defeats Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) in combat and then loses Chani (Zendaya) when he usurps Emperor Shaddam (Christopher Walken) and takes control of Arrakis. In claiming this power, Paul embarks upon a holy war that will have devastating consequences for the galaxy. It’s a pivotal moment in the series, and though the movie alters it slightly, its impact on the audience is only increased.
Throughout Dune: Part Two, Paul attempts to convince himself that he’s working toward the liberation of the Fremen and won’t take up the position of false messiah to seize power. However, after he drinks the water of life, Paul embraces the thirst for glory that has been driving him all along and declares himself emperor of the universe. The Dune 3 possibilities will see Paul continue down this path of destruction, but the setup and foreshadowing that the ending of Dune: Part Two establishes are vital for the story.
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7.9/10 Dune: Part Two PG-13 Sci-FiThrillerDramaAdventure
Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate.
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*Availability in US Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date March 1, 2024 Studio(s) Legendary Pictures Writers Denis Villeneuve , Jon Spaihts , Frank Herbert Cast Timothée Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson Runtime 166 Minutes Franchise(s) Dune Expand
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Title |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Dune: Part Two (2024) |
92% |
95% |
2 Lydia’s Reputation Is Destroyed – Tár (2022)
Directed by Todd Field
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Some critics and audiences have argued that due to the surrealist nature of Tár‘s final act, from the time that Lydia enters the tunnel and injures herself to the end of the film, all happens inside her head. Like all great movies, this is open to audience interpretation. However, either way, the ending of Tár tells the audience much about the dichotomy between what Lydia has and what she thinks she deserves, both good and bad. Cate Blanchtett’s performance in Tár cements the project as one of her best works, and her acting in the last scenes is incredible.
Fallen from grace and destroyed by her own mistakes, Lydia’s consequences can be understood as metaphorical or factual, but they will continue to haunt her.
The fact that Lydia ends up in the Philippines conducting a video game concert is a perfect full-circle moment for the elitism and exploitative actions that have defined her career. Ostracized from her fame and notoriety in the Western sphere, which she blatantly prioritizes and believes to be superior throughout the story, Lydia becomes a victim of her own prejudice. Fallen from grace and destroyed by her own mistakes, Lydia’s consequences can be understood as metaphorical or factual, but they will continue to haunt her.
Tar RDramaMusic
Tar is a film that tells the story of a fictional composer/conductor, Lydia Tar, portrayed by Cate Blanchett. Tar, in this story, is the first-ever female chief conductor of a large-scale European Orchestra and examines the fluid nature of power and its effect on the modern world as it documents her ascent to her position and subsequent fall from grace.
Director Todd Field Release Date October 7, 2022 Studio(s) Universal Pictures , Focus Features Writers Todd Field Cast Cate Blanchett , Noemie Merlant , Nina Hoss , Sophie Kauer , Julian Glover , Allan Corduner , Mark Strong Runtime 158 minutes Expand See at AmazonSee at WalmartSee at Best Buy
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Tár (2022) |
91% |
74% |
1 Sandra Is Acquitted – Anatomy Of A Fall (2023)
Directed by Justine Triet
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Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall was one of the biggest fills of 2023, and much of the movie hinges on the performance of Sandra Hüller, who plays Sandra in the film. The domestic story turned courtroom drama sees the audience and Sandra’s son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), question if it was Sandra who murdered her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) or if his fall was an accident. Though Daniel’s testimony helps acquit Sandra on the charges, there’s never confirmation that she didn’t murder Samuel.
Of course, whether or not Sandra did it isn’t as important to Anatomy of a Fall as the ride the audience takes exploring her psyche and the dynamic of her relationship. As she returns home and readjusts to being there with Daniel, there’s something off about Sandra, but there’s no way to know if it’s because of hidden guilt or the ordeal of the trial. However, Triet understands that Anatomy of a Fall only works because the audience never really knows the truth and that some mysteries are never solved.
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9/10 Anatomy of a Fall RCrimeDramaThriller
Anatomy of a Fall is a crime-drama film by director Justine Triet and made its initial debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Following the death of successful writer Sandra’s husband Samuel in the French Alps, she is arrested and accused of murder. With their blind son, Daniel, the only witness to Samuel’s death, Sandra must face nearly impossible odds to prove her innocence.
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*Availability in US Director Justine Triet Release Date May 22, 2023 Studio(s) Les Films Pelléas , Les Films de Pierre Writers Justine Triet , Arthur Harari Cast Sandra Hüller , Swann Arlaud , Milo Machado-Graner , Antoine Reinartz , Samuel Theis , Jehnny Beth , Saadia Bentaieb , Camille Rutherford , Anne Rotger , Sophie Fillières Runtime 151 Minutes Expand
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
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Anatomy of a Fall (2023) |
96% |
90% |