Happy Endings

Since this is my very first time posting here in the film section of the forum, I suppose I should start by sending my warmest greetings to all you fellow cinephiles out there.

I really just wanted to draw some attention to something that seems to be widely accepted, almost as an unspoken rule, regarding what a movie should have—namely, a happy ending... But why, I ask? To be honest, this is something that personally bothers me quite a bit within the American film industry, because I can't help but feel that the reason behind it is mostly due to the lack of taste among general audiences and their rather primitive expectations for how a story should conclude, even though those very viewers are the ones who provide the financial foundation for the entire cinematic world.

I realize I might be a bit of an oddball, I truly do, 😁 but I find that about 99.9% of movies feel mediocre to me, being entirely predictable from the opening frame to the final minute. I may only be 28 years old, but I believe I possess a very refined taste in cinema; I don't view films merely as a way to pass the time, but rather as genuine works of art—much like how one views an artist rather than just a mode of transportation—and that tendency of mine is starting to get under my skin.

I find myself waiting for that specific moment in, say, a high-octane action flick where, during those final slow-motion sequences, the main protagonist somehow manages to grab his gun with his last remaining strength to defend his wife from some villainous terrorists, and while this epic battle of top-tier production value is unfolding, he suddenly runs out of ammunition (yes, believe it or not, guns can actually run out of bullets) and takes a bullet straight to the chest... at that exact moment, the slow motion stops, he hits the floor, and the screen instantly cuts to black as the credits begin to roll.😍

Please, I beg you, don't try to tell me that movies like that already exist, because they really don't; I mean, sure, there are a few, but they are incredibly rare (for instance, the decapitation in Braveheart isn't considered a sad ending, but rather an ending with a profound message, which is a completely different perception altogether).

Well, there I go, just venting my frustrations... Damn it all to hell, especially those movies designed specifically to boost American morale.😁

I wish you all the very best.😉

Look, I’m pretty much in the same boat as you—I can't stand those forced happy endings. You know the ones? Where the movie spends two hours making sure you know every shred of hope is dead and buried, and then suddenly—bam!—some spectacular miracle or some totally nonsane script twist fixes everything. It just ruins the whole experience for me. There are a million endings like that out there. Personally, I thought the ending of Funny gama US was spot on—I won't spoil it, but if you've seen it, you know what I mean. It felt right, and honestly, if we're being real, that's how movies should be. But, I guess I still hold onto this little dream that one day we'll get a genuinely high-quality, gripping film where the main guy actually takes a bullet to the head or gets his heart ripped out—provided he was a total badass, of course. Even video games don't really go there anymore. Speaking of which, since we're on the subject, the ending of Mafia was incredible; it’s such a shame nobody has brought that story to the big screen. Most video game movies are absolute garbage, but man, if Scorsese took that on, it would be legendary... Anyway, I'm totally drifting off-topic here, so I hope you guys don't mind!
Really great topic, by the way. 🙂 🙂

From a commercial standpoint, if the box office returns are several times higher than the budget, studios demand a "happy ending"—which, naturally, just paves the way for sequels. Then there’s the other category: films with a clear beginning, middle, and end. These stories focus on the narrative from the jump. If they hit that massive jackpot, great. If not, well, that's life.

Personally, I prefer movies that actually have a cohesive structure. It’s one of the reasons I hope mini-series eventually take over the mantle currently held by Hollywood films. Mini-series carry movie-level budgets—not quite equal, but close enough to get the job done right. Most importantly, they follow a complete arc. Even if the finale is :klap: or 🙂 it doesn't matter, because the story feels complete.

Of course, many iconic films are defined entirely by their endings. Movies like A Perfect World, Thelma & Louise, Man on Fire (a fantastic film that ends perfectly in my eyes), or Heat (same thing) simply wouldn't be the masterpieces they are if the conclusions were different.

Bottom line: when the story is the priority, the ending serves to wrap everything up. Sometimes that means riding off into the sunset, and other times it means tears because a character died.

It is what it is. Deal with it.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS POST!***

Wait, if I’m actually following your logic here... you don't like it when a movie has a heavy ending that actually means something based on everything that happened before? You just want the main character to drop dead for no reason at all? Just... poof? And somehow, that’s the only way an ending would actually satisfy you... 😕

I don't know... I feel like every ending, whether it's happy or tragic, has to happen for a reason. I'm not exactly a sucker for those cheesy happy endings, but honestly? In Shawshank Redemption, that ending just worked... It felt right.

Look, in American History X, one of the main characters takes a bullet straight to the chest... if you still can't wrap your head around why that happened to him, then honestly, I don't even know what to tell you...

Look, you’ve got that movie "The Other Guys," I think that's the title... except we aren't talking about the ending here. It's more like halfway through the film. If you haven't seen it, just go watch it, then you'll see exactly what I'm getting at...

I hope you realize that in all these recent horror movies, they love making the villains win at the end by slaughtering every single protagonist... maybe you'll find some twisted satisfaction in that... 😁

I’ve got nothing against a happy ending as long as it actually makes sense within the context of the story. Honestly, crafting some depressing, soul-crushing finale just because you think it looks cool or "different" from everything else out there? That's just lazy filmmaking to me. At the end of the day, if the conclusion flows naturally from the rest of the movie and feels earned, I don't care if it's happy or tragic...

dustycrane5 said:***POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!***

Wait, if I'm following you correctly, you don't like it when a movie has a sad ending that actually serves as a consequence of the plot—meaning an ending with a message. You'd rather just have the protagonist die for no reason at all, just because, and call that a satisfying ending? 😕

You misunderstood me. In those specific cases (*A Perfect World*, *Thelma & Louise*, *Man on Fire*, *Heat*), would a different ending have actually made them better movies? Imagine if Kevin Costner just let the kid go and ran from Clint Eastwood, or if *Thelma & Louise* had used a parachute, or if Denzel Washington just slept through it while Robert De Niro sent Amy the finger and walked away.

Of course I don't prefer seeing main characters die, but if they had survived, those films simply wouldn't be what they are.

John Peterson3 said:You totally missed my point. In those specific movies (A Perfect World, Thelma & Louise, Man on Fire, Heat), would a different ending have actually made them better films? Imagine if Kevin Costner just let the kid go and then outran Clint Eastwood, or if Thelma & Louise just grabbed a parachute, or if Denzel Washington just took a nap, or if Robert De Niro sent Amy the finger and walked away on his own terms.

Look, obviously I don't love seeing main characters die, but if they had survived, the movies just wouldn't be the same.

Exactly. I don't think a "happy ending" would have improved any of those stories.

If someone is looking for that kind of resolution, they really need to stay away from big-budget US blockbusters. Like someone once said, the promise of a sequel and more $$$ usually means the protagonist gets to live to fight another day.😁

John Peterson3 said:You totally missed my point. In those specific movies (A Perfect World, Thelma & Louise, Man on Fire, Heat), would a different ending have actually made them better films? Like, if Kevin Costner just let the kid go and then ran off from Clint Eastwood, or if Thelma & Louise had just used a parachute, or if Denzel Washington just slept through it, or if Robert De Niro sent Amy the bird and walked away...

Look, obviously I don't want to see the main characters die, but if they had survived, the movie just wouldn't be what it was. It wouldn't work.

I think there’s just a misunderstanding here. My post was directed at whoever started this thread—they were being a little vague.
But man, I completely agree with your take! 👍

**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**

The Mist has an absolutely epic ending🤣 I mean, who even remembers that movie if it didn't end like that?
A Million Dollar Baby and The Warlords also have those heartbreaking finishes. In Death, maybe the lead doesn't die, but that villain kills off the good guy in the woods😢. Gran Torino and The Last of the Mohicans are right up there with Braveheart—not a happy ending, sure, but it's not like evil won either. In Apocalypse Now, every single scene feels like a disaster waiting to happen🙏. And Dr. Strangelove...🤣

Then you've got 300, where everyone dies in a total bloodbath and the hero takes an arrow to the face—it's not a bullet, but still🤷

If you view movies as actual pieces of art, stay away from action flicks meant to boost your mood. There are plenty out there that just leave you feeling miserable and convinced that people are absolute trash😁

Harold Perez8 said:**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**

The Mist has such an epic ending🤣 I mean, who would even remember that movie if it didn't end like that?
A Million Dollar Baby and The Warlords also have those heartbreaking finishes. In Death, maybe the lead doesn't die, but you've got that villain just taking out the good guy in the woods😢. Then there's Gran Torino and The Last of the Mohicans—they're right up there with Braveheart; they aren't "happy" endings, sure, but it’s not like evil wins in the end either. And Apocalypse Now? Every single scene feels like it’s heading toward a disaster🙏. Don't even get me started on Dr. Strangelove...🤣

Take 300, for example—all that stylized carnage where characters drop like flies and the hero takes an arrow to the face. It isn't a bullet, but still🤷.

If you look at movies as actual works of art, my advice is to steer clear of action flicks if you're looking for a moral boost. There are plenty of them that just leave you feeling miserable—like humanity is basically trash😁.

I'm with you—that ending in The Mist is easily one of the best ever put to film

And the ending of The Thing... man, that's it. That's what I'm talking about. Those are real endings👍👍👍👍

Harold Perez8 said:The Mist has an epic ending🤣 Who’d even remember that movie without an ending like that?

Hell of an ending, yeah. 🙏🙏
But honestly, I’d still remember it just because of that obsessive old lady constantly preaching about God. I was so on edge watching her that I almost threw my TV out the window...😳

Jeremy Jones said:Hell yeah, absolutely. 🙏🙏
But honestly, I’d probably only remember that movie because of that obsessive woman who won't shut up about God. Seriously, she was getting under my skin so much during the film that I felt this sudden, intense urge to just chuck my TV right out the window. 😳

Man, that woman was driving me absolutely insane, for real.

granitemarlin38 said:Man, that woman was getting on my last nerve... seriously...

When the guy in glasses asked about the bullet to the forehead, I nearly lost it...🤣🤣

Easily one of the most annoying characters I've ever seen on screen.☕

P.S. - 2:45 is the best part. 😉

Jeremy Jones said:When that guy with the glasses asked him about taking a bullet to the forehead—man, I almost lost it. Seriously, I was hovering right on the edge there. 🤣🤣

Hands down one of the most grating roles I’ve ever sat through—honestly, just pure irritation from start to finish.☕

P.S. — You really have to check out the 2:45 mark—that’s where the whole thing just pops. It's easily the best part. 😉

Haha, honestly, one of the most satisfying sights in that whole movie was finally seeing her get taken out.

There are two characters in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* who absolutely drive me up the wall—just total nerve-wracking types that get under my skin. It’s that nurse, too... man, she had my blood pressure hitting the ceiling. Seriously, I was sitting there just fuming.
😠😠