Welcome to my blog, where we’ll dive into the world of Hollywood movies and how they leave us hanging by the end with their shocking finales. As a certified movie buff, I’ve learned to decode the hidden messages behind the most unexpected twists in the story. In this blog post, we’ll uncover the meaning and context behind these endings, so grab some popcorn, and let’s begin!

The Final Revival 👋

Have you noticed how some movies end by bringing back a character who was presumed dead? Yes, they do it, and it’s called the “final revival.” This tactic is usually used to provide a sense of ultimate justice by giving the audience what they want. It’s a predominant theme in action and superhero films. For example, Iron Man 3’s post-credits scene showed The Mandarin, who was presumed dead, was alive and not just a fake persona. This means that the character can appear in future Marvel movies, giving fans the thrill to see their favorite characters continue their journey.

A superhero holding his hand up right before the final revival happens.

The Open-ended conclusion 🚪

This genre of movie finales leaves room for interpretation. Open-ended conclusions are becoming more prevalent in indie flicks and action movies. They are used to spark a conversation among viewers and leave them with questions that they can answer in their way. For example, The Italian Job left us wondering about whether they managed to complete the heist, and the spinning top in the final scene of Inception left us with questions about whether Cobb was still inside the dream or not.

A person standing at a crossroad, pointing in different directions, signifying the many interpretations that can be made from open-endings.

Everything comes back around 💫

Another twist we often see in movies is when the story comes full circle. It is where the plot returns to its starting point. The ending often mirrors the beginning and creates a sense of symmetry. In many cases, it occurs to demonstrate how the protagonist has changed as a character throughout the story. Forrest Gump’s ending with the feather floating away, and The Shawshank Redemption’s final scenes, where Red and Andy meet in Mexico, exemplify this type of finale.

A person standing in front of a mirror, symbolizing how movie endings often mirror the beginning.

The Sudden Twist 🤯

Nothing beats a plot twist that leaves audiences stunned. These twists are meant to shock us and make us question everything we’ve seen so far. For example, The Sixth Sense’s ending revealed that Bruce Willis’ character was dead all along. A newer example could be The Usual Suspects, where the story leads us to believe that the character Verbal is helpless, but the final twist shows that he had been manipulating everyone.

A person's face, mouth agape, with question marks all around, symbolizing how the sudden twist in the plot can shock and leave us with more questions.

The ambiguous ending 🤔

Ambiguous endings share similarities with open endings, but this time, it’s more subtle. It’s less about a definitive answer than a question posed to the viewers, and in most cases, it’s answered in the minds of the audience. It’s common in psychological thrillers and horror movies. For example, in the movie Black Swan, it is up to the viewer to decide whether everything that transpired was real or just part of Nina’s mental illness.

An image of a person gazing into the horizon, signifying how ambiguous endings are left up to the interpretation of the viewer.

Wrapping Up 💻

There you go, folks! We have decoded some of the most common and exciting movie finale types. Hollywood movies have so many facets, and the unexpected twists in movie finales are just one of them. Whether it’s an open ending or a sudden twist, we always get inspired by the character’s journey. These finales make us feel connected to the characters, and their journey remains with us, long after the credits roll.

The classic Hollywood sign, symbolizing the vast world of Hollywood movies and its many facets, including movie finales.