17 Movie Endings So Ambiguous, Viewers Are Still Scratching Their Heads
WARNING: This post does contain spoilers for various films. We've placed the film title first so you can decide which you'd like to read!
Recently, we asked members of our BuzzFeed Community, "What's one movie you've seen that's so ambiguous that it's still got you scratching your head years later?"
You better believe they came through with some A+ answers! Here are just a few of the most popular responses shared:
1.The Whale (2022)
"The first movie to come to mind is The Whale! I adore Brendan Fraser, and he deserves all his accolades, but… SPOILER ALERT… When Ellie (Charlie’s daughter) is finished reading the essay, a bright light shines upon Charlie. Then, we go back to the beach flashback. Is it just a flashback? Does Charlie die? I don’t know WHAT TO THINK!"
Watch the trailer here:
2.Cast Away (2000)
"What was in that package with the angel wings on it, and why didn't Tom Hanks open it the whole time he was on the island? Why was it so important for him to return it to its rightful owner? And why did he say that the package 'saved his life?'"
Watch the trailer here:
3.Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
"Debate the merits of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 all you want, but that ending was twisted. Based on events and conversations throughout the film, arguments can be made on both sides for what truly went down: group hysteria made them go mad and kill people (then each other), or it all really happened and the witch framed the survivors with 'video proof.' Either way you slice it, there was no satisfying answer, and I doubt there ever will be."
Watch the trailer here:
4.Donnie Darko (2001)
"I’ll watch it when it’s on and genuinely enjoy it, but I have absolutely no idea what the fuck is happening."
Watch the trailer here:
5.The Quiet Girl (2022)
"A recent one, but The Quiet Girl (one of the international film nominees at the Oscars this year). It’s about a little Irish girl from a big family who sends her off to relatives for the summer because they aren’t willing to take care of her at the time, and while she’s gone, she learns what it’s like to actually be loved and cared for by people. The end is fully ambiguous, and the audience has no clue if her ending is happy or not; it was rough."
Watch the trailer here:
6.Triangle of Sadness (2022)
"Does the boyfriend reach his girlfriend in time to prevent her murder?"
Watch the trailer here:
7.Sommersby (1993)
“'A farmer returns home from the Civil War, but his wife begins to suspect that the man is an impostor.' 30 years later, my wife and I still disagree about what happened."
Watch the trailer here:
8.We Need to Do Something (2021)
"Watched it one slow weekend night on Hulu. I still have no idea wtf was that dog/tongue/monster thing or what happened in the end. It’s quite an interesting (but poorly-acted) mind-melter! I highly recommend if you like being annoyed and frustrated trying to solve something."
Watch the trailer here:
9.The Station Agent (2003)
"I have seen that movie twice, and I still do not know how it ends, except they’re all sitting around and talking? Ugh. I think because of that, I hate indie movies."
Watch the trailer here:
10.Downsizing (2017)
"I started watching one movie, and somewhere I blinked, and it became an entirely different movie."—Lunamyluna
Watch the trailer here:
11.Hell or High Water (2016)
"Does Jeff Bridges’s character kill Chris Pine’s character, or does Chris Pine’s character kill Jeff Bridges’s character…"
Watch the trailer here:
12.The Thing (1982)
"Some believe they know, but I don't believe they do. That breathing thing? An earlier scene puts that to sleep."
Watch the trailer here:
13.National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
"What exactly was on Page 47 that was so 'life altering?'"
Watch the trailer here:
14.Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
"I also wonder about Welcome to the Dollhouse. Did Dawn ever find happiness, or was she destined to be an outsider forever?"
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15.No Country for Old Men (2007)
"Tommy Lee Jones's character talks about his dream, and then it cuts to credits."
Watch the trailer here:
16.Mulholland Drive (2001)
"Not necessarily the ending, but the whole thing. Great movie."
Watch the trailer here:
17.Don't Worry Darling (2022)
"Um, Don’t Worry Darling had me feeling plenty worried still."
