The 10 Best Movie Endings of the 2020s So Far, Ranked

Notice! Spoilers ahead for the endings of the major films of the 2020s!

The ending of a film can make or break the audience and critical opinion of 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 films with cliffhanger endings effectively use this type of ending without making it feel like a gimmick, which can be a cliffhanger. However, when done well, any type of ending will linger in the audience’s memory long after the film is over.

Some of the biggest summer blockbusters of the 2020s stood out for using unexpected conclusions that subverted audience expectations. However, for the most part, independent films can be more experimental in how their endings are framed because there isn’t as much external pressure. Writing an ending can be the hardest part of making a film. The conclusion should not be overlooked in its importance for the product as a whole. Whether the ending utilizes a shocking twist, a huge emotional impact, or successfully brings the film’s narrative full circle, these projects understand the power of a big ending.

10

Nora and Hae Sung say goodbye – Past Lives (2023)

Directed by Celine Song

Celine Song’s directorial debut, Past Livesis a silent and deeply moving drama This was an unexpected awards season darling. However, the overwhelming praise for the script, performances, and direction wasn’t all that unexpected, considering how well the film captures a unique experience of longing and the desire to explore what could have been. When childhood friends Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) reunite in New York after more than twenty years, they wonder what would have happened if Nora had never left South Korea.

THE Past Lives The final scene is a moment where both the audience and the characters hold their breath, not knowing if Nora would really run away from her life and her husband to be with Hae Sung. As the pair wait for their car to arrive to take it to the airport and out of Nora’s life again, the viewer knows that Nora would never actually do this, but the possibility remains in the air. When he enters and she stays, she begins to cry, lamenting the life she never had and the person she is no longer.

9

Calum moves away from Sophie – Aftersun (2022)

Directed byCharlotte Wells

Since its excellent performance in Normal peoplePaul Mescal has been gaining prominence as an actor, and his groundbreaking work in After-sun helped promote this. Mescal plays Calum, Sophie’s young father (Frankie Corio), who takes her on a vacation that the adult Sophie remembers years later. The whole After-sun is a bittersweet and moving story as Sophie tries to understand what the final days of her relationship mean to her now.

After-sun attempts to unravel the dichotomy between who Sophie knew her father to be and who he was as an individual. Grief and loss take center stage emotionally gripping After-sunand the transition from Calum in the hallway saying goodbye to Sophie to his entry into the party where adult Sophie follows him is the subtle confirmation of his death that the audience needs. Although it’s a sad ending, there’s also a glimmer of hope and closure for Sophie, which is all she can ask for.

8

Gawain’s Dream Sequence – The Green Knight (2021)

Directed by David Lowery

Dev Patel leads the star-studded cast of The Green Knight like Sir Gawain of the Round Table. An unfolding of Arthurian legends, The Green Knight is a complex and twisted narrative that questions the nature of honor and legacy through the eyes of young Gawain. He embarks on a quest to fulfill his deal with the Green Knight, which could end in his death. However, going back on their agreement would destroy their honor and ultimately lead to their ruin anyway. Gawain faces this on his way to the Green Knight.

There are many ways to interpret the ending of The Green Knight, as the film presents several possible endings. It is up to the public to decide what the truth is. At first, it appears that Gawain runs away from his destiny and is wracked with devastation because of his cowardice. However, this turns out to be a dream and, remaining faithful, the Green Knight decides to spare him. 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.

7

Evelyn Saves Her Family – Everything Everywhere At Once (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Everything everywhere at the same time It was not the first film that the directing duo, The Daniels, made together, but it was the most critically and financially successful to date. Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn, the elaborate matriarch of her family who feels like her life is falling apart. However, the mundanity she is accustomed to is further disturbed by the discovery of the multiverse. Things get worse when she realizes that it is her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), who is trying to destroy the universe.

Despite the complex science fiction and fantasy elements that make Everything everywhere at the same time With such an explosive mix of genres, the film is at its core a family drama. What Joy wants is for Evelyn to see and accept her as she is, and at the end of the film, Evelyn realizes that it is love, not fighting, that will save the world. Evelyn gives a passionate and moving speech about her commitment to Joy, and the family returns to the IRS as a unit, representing their growth and how they will always be there for each other.

6

Em and OJ Get Evidence – No (2021)

Directed by Jordan Peele

No is one of the most creative horror films of the 2020s and offers one of director Jordan Peele’s best final sequences. From visual reference to Akira to the stylization of the alien Jean Jacket to resemble a biblically accurate angel, each piece of the puzzle fits together at the end of No. Emerald (Keke Palmer) and Otis (Daniel Kaluuya) are easy to root for and it’s incredibly satisfying when they not only defeat Jean Jacket, but also obtain proof that he existed.

It’s fitting that the proof Emerald obtains of Jean Jacket’s existence comes in the form of a photo of Jupe’s (Steven Yeun) kitschy, analogue tourist attraction in the park. Instead of the flashy gear and equipment the characters used to capture the image of the alien, is an old-fashioned manual machine that subverts the desire for spectacle which much of the film comments on. The tension of No is built slowly throughout the film, with the most terrifying scenes left behind, leaving a thrilling, action-packed finale.

5

James Bond dies – No Time to Die (2021)

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

There’s no time to die made history as the first James Bond movie to kill Bond to prepare the way for a new era. Daniel Craig was a memorable actor and his take on Bond already changed the franchise forever. However, by the end of There’s no time to dieit was clear that his tenure as an iconic spy was over and that he was ready to move on. While killing him was divisive, it ensures that Craig’s Bond can never be replicated or have his legacy tarnished.

Sure, it’s hard to imagine anyone playing Bond now, but James Bond 26 updates all the tips that whoever uses the next nickname will be more than worthy. It helps that the way Bond got in There’s no time to die it was for personal reasons as well as 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 safely, he sacrifices himself to give them a better future and becomes more than just 007.

4

Oppenheimer Discusses His Future with Einstein – Oppenheimer (2023)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer does not make a blunt moral judgment about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Muphy) or his legacy, and the mixed ending demonstrates that fact. The end of Oppenheimer sees the tide turning once again in his legacy, as the man receives the Enrico Fermi Prize in old age, and the assessment of his contributions to science appears to be viewed in a more positive light. Additionally, Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), who has been tormenting Oppenheimer throughout the film, loses his position of political power, which is framed as a righteous response to his attack on Oppenheimer.

In a way, the triumph OppenheimerMichael’s conclusion undermines the comment made earlier in the film, but this middling moral foundation is the point of the film. As audiences finally get 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 your own sense of purpose being shaken, rather than your negative impact on the world.

3

Paul takes power – Dune: Part Two (2024)\

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

For fans of Frank Herbert’s book, it was always clear where Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) path led him. The final moments of Dune 2 are both explosively action-packed and emotionally devastating while 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. By claiming this power, Paul embarks on a holy war that will have devastating consequences for the galaxy. It’s a pivotal moment in the series, and although the film changes it slightly, its impact on audiences only increases.

All over Dune: Part TwoPaul tries to convince himself that he is working for the liberation of the Fremen and will not assume the position of false messiah to seize power. However, after drinking the water of life, Paul Embraces the Thirst for Glory That Has Driven Him All Along and declares himself emperor of the universe. THE Dune 3 possibilities will see Paul continue on this path of destruction, but the setup and foreshadowing that the end of Dune: Part Two establishes are vital to the story.

2

Lydia’s reputation is destroyed – Tár (2021)

Directed byTodd Field

Some critics and audiences have argued that due to the surrealist nature of the TarLydia’s final act, from the moment Lydia enters the tunnel and gets hurt until the end of the film, everything happens inside her head. Like all great films, this one is open to audience interpretation. However, in any case, the end of Tar tells the audience a lot about the dichotomy between what Lydia has and what she thinks she deserves, both good and bad. Cate Blanchtett’s performance in Tar consolidates the project as one of his best works, and his performance in the last scenes is incredible.

The fact that Lydia ends up in the Philippines hosting a video game show is a perfect moment to come full circle to the elitism and exploitative actions that have defined her career. Ostracized for her fame and notoriety in the Western sphere, which she shamelessly prioritizes and believes to be superior throughout history, Lydia becomes a victim of her own prejudice. Disgraced and destroyed by her own mistakes, Lydia’s consequences can be understood as metaphorical or factual, but they will continue to haunt her.

1

Sandra is acquitted – Anatomy of a fall (2023)

Directed by Justine Triet

Justine Triet Anatomy of a Fall was one of the biggest films of 2023, and much of the film depends on the performance of Sandra Hüller, who plays Sandra in the film. The domestic story turned courtroom drama leaves the audience and Sandra’s son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), questioning whether it was Sandra who murdered her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) or whether her fall was an accident. Although Daniel’s testimony helps absolve Sandra of the charges, there is never confirmation that she did not murder Samuel.

Of course, whether Sandra did it or not isn’t that important. Anatomy of a Fall according to the tour the audience takes exploring his psyche and the dynamics of his relationship. As she returns home and readjusts to being with Daniel, there’s something off about Sandra, but there’s no way of knowing whether it’s because of hidden guilt or the ordeal of the trial. However, Triet understands that Anatomy of a Fall It only works because the audience never really knows the truth and some mysteries are never solved.