Top 20 Cheesiest Movie Endings

Some movie endings go so big on romance or redemption that they leave a syrupy aftertaste no one can forget. This list rounds up finales that lean into grand gestures, neat bows, or fairytale flourishes and simply describe what happens without judgment. From flying cars to last minute reunions, these conclusions have become part of pop culture shorthand for feel good wrap ups. Here is what each ending actually does on screen and how it caps the story.

‘Grease’ (1978)

The film closes with Sandy and Danny reconciling at a school carnival after each adopts the other’s style. They sing We Go Together while the senior class celebrates. As the music swells the pair climb into a restored red convertible. The car lifts off the ground and literally flies into the clouds as the credits begin.

‘Armageddon’ (1998)

Harry stays behind on the asteroid after swapping places with A J to ensure the bomb detonates. He says goodbye to his daughter via a video feed as the shuttle pulls away. The nuclear device explodes and the Earth is saved. Back home a military honors ceremony welcomes the surviving drillers and a wedding follows.

‘Love Actually’ (2003)

Multiple stories converge at a school holiday pageant and then Heathrow Airport. Mark silently confesses to Juliet with cue cards and walks away satisfied. Jamie proposes to Aurélia in a restaurant speaking halting Portuguese. The film ends with a montage of characters happily reunited as voices overlap at a busy arrivals hall.

‘The Notebook’ (2004)

Allie and Noah are shown as an elderly couple in a nursing facility while he reads their story to her. She briefly recognizes him and they share a quiet evening together. The camera lingers as they fall asleep holding hands. Nurses discover them side by side the next morning and the diary closes on their lifelong bond.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Batman tows an armed nuclear core over the bay and the device detonates far from Gotham. Bruce Wayne is later presumed dead and a public memorial honors Batman’s legacy. Lucius Fox learns the autopilot was fixed before the final flight. Alfred then sees Bruce at a café in Florence sitting peacefully with Selina.

‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (2008)

After the Akator chamber collapses Indy and company escape as a flying saucer disappears through a portal. Back on campus Indy and Marion tie the knot in a church filled with familiar faces. A gust of wind sends Indy’s fedora rolling down the aisle. Mutt picks it up but Indy takes it back as the doors swing open.

‘A.I. Artificial Intelligence’ (2001)

David spends centuries trapped under the ocean gazing at the Blue Fairy until future beings revive him. They reconstruct his home and create a single day with a copy of his mother. She wakes shares a birthday treat and gently fades as night falls. David lies beside her content as the lights dim and the mecha rest.

‘Click’ (2006)

Michael wakes up in a hospital and believes he has lost his family. He races outside in the rain to reconcile and collapses on the street. He then awakens in a Bed Bath and Beyond store realizing the remote adventure was a lesson. He runs home to cherish an ordinary dinner and hug his loved ones.

‘I Am Legend’ (2007)

Neville shepherds Anna and Ethan into a fortified lab room as infected swarm his townhouse. He passes the cure to them and triggers an explosive charge to stop the attackers. The pair drive north and arrive at a survivor colony. A gate opens and a church bell tolls as Anna presents the vial to the community.

‘Safe Haven’ (2013)

Katie builds a new life in a coastal town and bonds with widower Alex and his children. After a confrontation with her abusive husband she returns to Alex’s home and finds a letter. The note reveals her friend Jo was the spirit of Alex’s late wife guiding her. A family photo and a folded message confirm the reveal.

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

Cooper falls into the tesseract and communicates with Murph through a bookcase using gravity. Murph decodes the data and solves the equation to evacuate humanity. Cooper later wakes on a rotating station where an elderly Murph urges him to leave. He sets off to find Brand who is establishing a new colony.

‘Passengers’ (2016)

Jim and Aurora accept life on the ship after an early awakening. Jim discovers a way to use the medical pod to put Aurora back to sleep and offers it to her. She chooses to remain and they transform the atrium into a garden as years pass. The crew wakes at journey’s end to find a thriving habitat in the concourse.

‘Signs’ (2002)

The family pieces together that water is lethal to the intruders during a struggle in the living room. Merrill swings his baseball bat as glasses spill and the creature falters. Flashbacks align to show how past events prepared them for the moment. The final scene shows Graham wearing his collar again before a snowy window.

‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)

Edward rides in a white limousine to Vivian’s apartment building with flowers in hand. He climbs the fire escape despite a fear of heights and announces he has come to rescue her. She replies that she rescues him right back as they embrace. The closing narration sets their future as the city skyline shimmers.

‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2’ (2012)

A massive battle unfolds against the Volturi with shocking losses on both sides. The sequence is then revealed as a vision Alice projects to avert the fight. Convinced by the outcome Aro withdraws and the gathering disperses. Edward and Bella return home where she lifts her shield and shares memories in a quiet meadow.

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)

Rey defeats Palpatine on Exegol after channeling the strength of past Jedi. She returns to the Lars homestead on Tatooine and buries two lightsabers in the sand. A local asks her name and she replies after seeing twin suns on the horizon. She ignites a new gold bladed saber and walks toward the desert rim.

‘Serendipity’ (2001)

Jonathan and Sara miss each other repeatedly around New York until a chance skating rink moment finally aligns. A cashmere glove found on the ice confirms her identity. They meet on the rink at night as snowflakes drift down. The closing shot returns to the boxed copy of their book with a pressed five dollar bill inside.

‘Ghost’ (1990)

Sam helps Molly and Oda Mae survive one last threat in the apartment. A bright light opens and Sam becomes visible to Molly for a final farewell. He thanks Oda Mae and steps into the glow as a choir swells. Molly touches the air where he stood and says goodbye as the light fades.

‘The Princess Diaries’ (2001)

Mia reads a speech at the Genovian consulate and accepts her role as heir. She reconciles with her friends and arrives at the palace for a formal ball. A montage shows etiquette mishaps replaced by confident steps. The last scene reveals a nighttime view of the royal residence as she begins a new chapter.

‘The Matrix Revolutions’ (2003)

Neo confronts Smith in a rain soaked plaza and allows the system to purge the virus through him. The machines call off the assault on Zion after the link is restored. The Oracle and the Architect meet in a sunlit park and discuss the truce. Sati creates a dawn filled sky as the city rests under a fragile peace.

Share your picks for the cheesiest finales in the comments and tell us which endings you would add.