When it comes to movies, a great ending can make or break the experience. A good ending ties together a great story and provides a satisfying closure. However, a bad ending can be a source of immense disappointment for the viewers. With that in mind, here is a list of some of the worst movie endings of all time that will leave you disappointed.
The Wailing
The Wailing is a 2016 South Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin. It tells the story of a mysterious stranger who arrives in a small rural village in South Korea and brings with him a strange disease that leads to violent and murderous behavior. While the film has its fair share of horror and suspense and is overall quite entertaining, its ending is confusing and unsatisfactory. Instead of providing an answer to the questions posed throughout the movie, it leaves viewers with a lot of unanswered questions and an unfitting score.
The Village
The Village is a 2004 horror film directed by the acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan. Set in an isolated village trapped in the 19th century, the film tells a story of mysterious creatures that live in the woods of the village. Like many of Shyamalan’s movies, its ending is quite surprising and leaves viewers with a lot of open questions that remain unanswered. The ending also fails to explain the mysteries of the village which leads to a very unsatisfying and illogical conclusion.
The Happening
The Happening is a 2008 science fiction thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Mark Wahlberg as a science teacher trying to solve the mystery of a strange phenomenon that causes mass suicide in the region. Just like its predecessor, The Happening has its fair share of surprises, though the ending once again fails to provide an adequate explanation for the many mysteries presented throughout the film. It has a rather twisted and strange resolution and ultimately leaves viewers feeling dissatisfied.
I Am Legend
I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic movie based on the novel of the same name. It stars Will Smith as a survivor who is one of the few people still alive after the destruction caused by a deadly virus. The movie is quite powerful and haunting, but its ending is very underwhelming. Despite having a number of twists throughout, I Am Legend fails to provide an adequate resolution which leaves viewers feeling disappointed.
The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions is the third and final installment in The Matrix trilogy. It features an epic battle between the human resistance and the machines for the control of the Matrix. While the first two movies are hailed as some of the best science fiction movies of all time, the third movie lacks the excitement and intensity of its predecessors. Its ending, in particular is quite unfulfilling and fails to provide enough closure for the entire trilogy.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame is the final installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Avengers series. It follows the Avengers as they attempt to undo the damage caused by Thanos. Despite being one of the most highly anticipated movies of all time, the ending of Avengers: Endgame was met with criticism from many fans of the franchise. While it does provide a satisfactory conclusion for the long and complex story, it doesn’t live up to the high expectations set for it.
The Grey
The Grey is a 2011 action and survival drama directed by Joe Carnahan. It stars Liam Neeson and heavy favorite among film fans, but its ending is often mentioned as a huge letdown among viewers. The film follows a band of oil workers who find themselves stranded in Alaska and then hunted by a pack of wolves. Despite the movie sustaining its intensity right till the end, the ending is quite abrupt and leaves viewers feeling frustrated and wanting more.
Lincoln
Lincoln is a 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on the life of Abraham Lincoln, the movie follows the president as he fights to pass the 13th Amendment which abolishes slavery. Throughout its runtime, the movie is powerful and emotional but its ending fails to capture the same intensity as the rest of the movie. Instead, the movie ends rather abruptly with a few uplifting scenes which leave viewers, and especially those who know the history of Lincoln, feeling a bit unsatisfied.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the third and final installment of the highly acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. It wraps up the entire story in a very lengthy and drawn-out finale. While the movie does provide closure to the many plot lines, its ending is overlong which leads to audiences feeling exhausted by the time the movie actually ends.
The worst movie endings of all time can leave viewers feeling frustrated and disappointed. While some of these endings fail to provide closure to the story, others just fail to live up to the hype and expectations that the movie has built up throughout its runtime. Despite all the disappointment, these movies are still a great source of entertainment and can be used as a learning experience to understand what makes a good ending and what makes a bad ending.
