Endings are hard. How many times have you watched a movie that nails the first 80% before falling apart at the ending? I’m looking at I Am Legend, a good movie that collapsed in the final moments. That’s why when a film nails its ending, it should be praised.
These seven movies have perfect endings, in my opinion. Some end with shocking conclusions, while others feature satisfying final scenes. My top pick for a perfect ending is a movie I try to watch once a year around Christmas. Other conclusions in the top half of this list include an unexpected finale for a love story and a crime thriller that’s still talked about to this day.
There will be spoilers for each movie.
5
Knives Out
Who killed Harlan Thrombey?
Nothing like a whodunnit to convince yourself that you could have been a detective in another life. 2019’s Knives Out is Rian Johnson’s excellent murder mystery centered around the death of author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). It’s rare for a movie of this nature to reveal one of the major twists so early—nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) accidentally injects Harlan with morphine. At least that’s what she (and the audience) were led to believe.
Thankfully, Detective Benoit Blanc, played by an enthusiastic Daniel Craig with a southern accent, is on the scene to clear things up and solve the case. I should have trusted myself and stuck with my original answer, that Ransom (Chris Evans) was the culprit. However, Johnson swayed me to think it was another family member. In the end, Ransom is arrested, and the rest of the selfish family is left to watch the newly exonerated Marta sip a cup of coffee from a mug that reads, “My House, My Rules, My Coffee!!”
4
Sinners
The Oscar-winning vampire movie with two endings
Is it too early to add Sinners to this list? The movie premiered in April 2025, but it’s already improving upon repeat viewings. Since it’s my list, Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning film makes the cut. Michael B. Jordan stars as Smoke and Stack, twin brothers who return from Chicago to open a juke joint in the Mississippi Delta. The duo manage to throw the party of the year before it becomes a house of horrors with the arrival of the vampire Remmick.
If you left when the credits began rolling, you were left with an ending that depicted Smoke’s death after killing KKK members and Sammie’s (Miles Canton) decision to leave for Chicago. However, Coogler snuck the true ending in the mid-credits scene: Stack and Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) visit Sammie (Buddy Guy) in 1992 to reminisce about that fateful night. What a beautiful meditation on mortality, freedom, and the preservation of the past. No notes, Mr. Coogler.
3
Heat
For me, the action is the juice
It took decades, but two of the most iconic actors of the last 50 years, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, finally shared the screen together in 1995’s Heat, Michael Mann’s legendary L.A. crime thriller. On one side of the aisle is Neil McCauley (De Niro), a master thief planning one final score before he sails off into the sunset. On the other side is Vincent Hanna (Pacino), an LAPD detective obsessed with taking Neil out.
In a battle between cop and robber, I’m siding with the latter, which, in this case, is Neil. Unfortunately, Vincent has the last laugh, as he kills Neil in the film’s closing moments to end their cat-and-mouse game. Neil lived by this motto: “Never get attached to anything you are not willing to walk away from in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” He broke that code by abandoning his escape plan to kill Waingro. It’s poetic justice. Neil had to lose.
2
La La Land
Here’s to the fools who dream
La La Land is my version of comfort food. At least once a year, I throw on La La Land, a film about love and ambition, because it makes me feel good. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are sensational together onscreen. I’m not the biggest musical person, but La La Land finds the right balance of song and dance to tell a beautiful story about dreamers.
If you’ve seen La La Land, then you know that Mia (Stone) and Sebastian (Gosling) do not end up together. Mia becomes a movie star, and Sebastian opens up a jazz club. The audience gets a taste of a happy ending in the epilogue, as it depicts what would have happened if the couple’s professional success grew with their relationship. Unfortunately, Mia and Sebastian knew their goals would take them in opposite directions, so they had to separate. The perfection of this finale lies within the realism of their bittersweet farewell. Just like Mia will forever love Sebastian, I will always appreciate this last shot.
1
It’s a Wonderful Life
Thanks for the wings!
It’s a Wonderful Life has the rare distinction of being a perfect movie from start to finish. Frank Capra’s Christmas drama explores the value of one’s life through the eyes of George Bailey (James Stewart). It’s Christmas Eve in 1945, and while George contemplates suicide, he’s visited by Clarence (Henry Travers), a guardian angel who shows George’s impact on others and what would have happened if he had never been born. In the end, George wishes for his life back and learns to appreciate what he has.
Clarence’s final note to George still tears at my heartstrings even if I’ve seen it so many times. “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” There’s no rule that says you have to watch this movie during the holiday season, but it’s the ideal Christmas movie, especially when it plays on NBC. I’m glad It’s a Wonderful Life still reminds people that life’s worth living.
Searching for niche shows to watch
It’s easy to go on a streaming service and spend hours searching for a show to watch. Instead of wasting time scrolling, I have some recommendations to share. Try watching Industry or Better Call Saul if you want a show that got better after its first season. If you enjoy The Bear, Hulu just released a surprise prequel episode featuring a road trip shared by Mikey and Richie.
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Yes, via Prime membership or $9/month
- Simultaneous streams
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