These are films where the last moments of the film are simply astounding. If you think there has been an omission, please be sure to mention it in the comments – and link to youtube if you can. WARNING: This is essentially a list of spoilers – continue at your own risk.
15. The Asphyx 1973
This is not a hugely well known film but the ending is ultra creepy. A Victorian scientist and his assistant discover the secret of death: everybody has a kind of personal “death spirit”, the “asphyx”; when somebody is about to die, this “asphyx” comes in to claim his victim. If it can be caught at the right moment, immortality follows! The scientist succeeds in capturing his own asphyx, but when he starts experimenting on his daughter, he accidentally kills her. The assistant, his daughter’s fiance, commits suicide; the scientist, wanting to die with them, tries to set his asphyx free again, but has forgotten the cipher code to the safe in which the spirit is kept. He is doomed to live forever. The ending: you see the immortal scientist walking down a 1970s road looking his age (around 120-140) – he can’t die – but he can age. To make matters worse, he accidentally walks in front of a car! I couldn’t find the last scene so I have included the trailer.
14. The Blair Witch Project 1999
You either love it or you hate it – but there is no denying that this is one of the most chilling endings of a horror film ever. When I first saw it I had the pleasure of not having discovered it was fake and I will admit it – I nearly cried. You never once see the witch in this film but in this scene her presence is felt with intensity.
13. Batman Begins 2005
I loved Batman Begins – I think it is the best of the movies, and this last scene was outright awesome! Just as the great movie comes to a close, we are given a quick taste of what is to come: The Joker! One of the most famous enemies of Batman. I don’t know about you – but I can’t wait!
12. The Silence of the Lambs 1991
“I’m having an old friend for dinner” – this has to be one of the best ending lines of a movie ever. You just have to love this film – it is all good and no bad.
11. Carrie 1976
If you not seen this film, rent it for Halloween – it is one of the great horrors. In this final scene, we see one of the school companions of Carrie White laying flowers on her grave. If you have seen this film – you will know why this scene is here – if you haven’t – you will soon!
10. The Usual Suspects 1995
For two hours, Kevin Spacey’s spineless Verbal plays helpless lamb being lured to Chazz Palminteri’s slaughter. But with the drop of a coffee cup, and the shaking off of a limp, the true identity of a criminal mastermind is revealed.
9. Casablanca 1942
Okay – it is one big cliche, but this is probably the most memorable scene in any movie – it is certainly one of the most quoted. It has to be on the list.
8. The Godfather 1972
“Don’t ask me about my business!” – Michael, the otherwise gentle boy in the family becomes Don. His wife Kay asks him what his “business” is and he rebukes her. This dark ending to one of the greatest films ever made, foreshadows the secrets and horrors to come in the sequel. I find the very last section of this to be a very moving scene as the upper legions of the family come to pay their respects to the new Don. It gives me chills!
7. Boogie Nights 1997
“You’re a fucking star.” says Mark Wahlberg as he unexpectedly pulls out his penis in this final scene (remember, the penis is the focal point of much of the film but it is never shown on screen until this moment). For obvious reasons this scene has been slightly edited (only via an overlay) so it is not banned from youtube. The final scream is not in the film – it was added for humor presumably.
6. Rosemary’s Baby 1968
This scene is here because it is one of the most annoying scenes I have ever seen in film history! I just couldn’t believe it. I literally yelled at the screen: “throw it out the window!” – but Mia didn’t listen. An amazing film from an amazing director.
5. Bonnie and Clyde 1967
This one is not for the faint of heart. Here we see the last two minutes of Bonnie and Clyde full of unyielding shock and violence.
4. Planet of the Apes 1968
When I first saw this film as a kid I was blown away by this ending – I ended up renting the rest of the movies and the whole set is now one of my prize collections! This scene comes at the end when the main character realizes that all along he has been on earth in the future – a wonderful twist and an amazing ending.
3. Se7en 1995
It really doesn’t get much more dramatic than this. In the final scene we see the killer (Kevin Spacey) set the scene to become his own last victim. This is one for the moral dilemmas list. What would you do?
2. Fight Club 1999
Just when you thought the major twist was a shock, we get another one – bigger than before. This has to be one of the weirdest “romantic” moments in film history.
1. Dr Strangelove 1964
“Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!”. This is a masterful ending to a masterful work by Stanley Kubrick. You just have to love his choice of music.
Wheres SAW 1 ?!! that had the best ending in the history of movies!
I’ve seen all these movies, and I would have to agree with them all, except possibly Fight Club. I genuinely thought the build-up to the end was much better than the ending itself, and I left the cinema feeling slightly disappointed. =(
I’d have to add the ending of Cruel Intentions to that list. The deliberate twisting and quick changing emotions would put it as one of my favourite, and most amazing movie endings!
Try "Dangerous Liaisons" for an adult version of that Teen-Movie!
I personally would have put The sixth Sense on this list, I may be berrated for saying that though. Also The Usual Suspects would have been tops for me.
Ryan: Cruel intentions is the spawn of Satan! I hate it as much as I hate John Malkovich
Juggz: I considered the sixth sense.
Jaime: youll have to explain your hatred for John Malkovich, I just don’t see how anyone can hate him. I have been a fan of his ever since In the Line of Fire.
jfrater: Cruel Intentions was a good movie. I think the endding to Wild Things should have been on here… that was twistedly amazing…gads
I haven’t seen all of these movies but the ones I have certainly deserve to be here.
There are movie here with surprise /twist endings and “amazing” endings. It would be interesting to separate these categories with two lists. (Just a thought)
Some other movies that came to mind are The Sixth Sense & Sleuth
Juggz: to be honest I can’t explain it – I just cringe whenever I see him act.
Ravyn: I considered that too – I enjoyed that film a lot (Wild Things – not Cruel Intentions)
Blogball: I did another list a while back of top 10 movie twists
how about “Unbreakable”
i think “Se7en” has the best ending ever. i skimmed through this list because of the spoilers, but i love the new batman.
did you see the ‘trailer’ for “The Dark Knight” yet?
Since you included Casablance, I would have to include another old movie, Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, starring the ever delightful Marlene Dietrich as the witness. What you discover at the end just absolutely blows you away.
dalandzadgad: unbreakable was a good one – I liked that film.
WildSquirrel: I haven’t seen it – I will now that you have given it such a rave review though! Thanks
The list is alright, but how about endings in movies like Saw, Saw 2, The Departed, The 6th Sense, American Beauty, The Devil’s Advocate, Friday The 13th, The Omen , Damien Omen,…
all these movies have WTF endings.
Say Anything!!!! Best ending!
Dawn – the ones you mention are all great – but that would give us a list of 24 – I have to draw the line somewhere or I would spent a week on one list
i personally didnt like the ending to the departed, ok lets just shoot everyone in the head and end it. all though i did like what matt damon’s character finds waiting for him in his appartment
Jamie I am disappointed you hate Cruel Intentions. It does happen to be one of my favorite movie endings as Ryan mentioned above. Just the slow motion scene as Sarah Michelle Gellar is “found out” and they discover her necklace that hides her cocaine all with Bittersweet Symphony playing, all dialogue is silenced. It’s so awesome.
Here is the Cruel Intentions ending if anyone is interested….
Jackie: I think I was put off it because of the very false characters – they are portrayed as coming from a wealthy socialite family but they behave like none I have ever met. Les Liaisons Dangereuses has been badly maligned by this adaptation (and the Dangerous Liaisons adaptation starring John Malkovich). Having said that – I do think the ending is good – we always love to see someone like Kathryn get their comeuppance.
Memento had a great ending. Or beginning, I guess. Sort of a slow twist, but it’s one of those that sink in right as the credits start to roll.
No “requiem for a dream”?? That ending was intense!
deedee0323: it’s already on the Top 10 Depressing Scenes in Cinema
9000: I was very very close to including it.
I would have added Primal Fear to this list. Awesome turn-around at the end.
Jamie I keep meaning to see Les Liaisons Dangereuses, I will add it on my list of movies to rent soon.
Jackie: you will love it
Dan: Totally – and it includes one of my favorite actors – Edward Norton
jfrater: totally love Ed Norton. I think he is underrated as an actor!
Dan: He is one of those actors where I will pick up any movie he is in because you can be sure it will be great
i’m glad the sixth sense isn’t on this list there was no twist ending it was pretty obvious from the start hell i figured it out watching the treailers
trailers ,,,, damn my spelling sucks
JJ: it is on another list I think – but having had one too many wines I don’t remember which
If you search you will find it. BTW, you are far smarter than dumb ole me – I didn’t realise until the very last most obvious minute 
JJ: erm… don’t look too closely at some of my spelling on the lists
Here you go Jamie
Top 15 Great Movie Twists
Ravyn: oh great – thanks
This is a pretty ambitious list and I think you definitely nailed some of these. However, I would remove Batman Begins, Usual Suspects, Carrie, Asphyx, and Rosemary’s Baby for:
The Mexican Shootout finale in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_jDWUTwmM
Pulp Fiction
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Rudy (I can watch two seconds of this and feel my eyes starting to well up already)
Hmmm… I can see why this is so hard. Here are some more:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Citizen Kane
The Graduate
Rocky
Dumb and Dumber
Say Anything
The Bicycle Thief
Running On Empty
Dazed and Confused
Shawshank Redemption
How did you narrow it to just 15?
Jamie: Anytime
… now go drink another 
Top notch list! I have to see The Asphyx now.
Nobody mentioned Brazil or 12 Monkeys? That almost hurts my tender little feelings!
There’s a French movie called Diva that had a great twist ending, too.
What about the Prestige
Borg: wow – you certainly went to a lot of trouble – I love your list – thanks
Oh – though shame on you for removing the Asphyx – if you saw the ending – and not the trailer I included, you would understand why it is here.
Ravyn: oops – too late – already done that
Richard: haven’t seen Diva but definitely considered the other two – Brazil is great.
Jon: I am ashamed to say that I haven’t seen the prestige yet – despite the fact that Christian Bale is one of my favorite British actors. I will watch it ASAP.
you forgot the crying game lmfao.
Gr8flDdFn: oh – that came so close to being included! But I seem to recall the famous scene was not at the very end but a little earlier.
question….
What part after the ‘main twist’ are you talking about in Fight Club? The fact that the buildings blew up… am i missing something…
I think one of my favourite endings is from The Illusionist.
This increases my desire to someday see Fight Club.
Fight club has one of the best endings to a film i have ever seen
The ending is staring you in the face for about 3 quaters of the movie, you only realise this when you see it again, sheer brilliant
I love the ending in boondocks saints too:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=o9VfPSytawc
Evan: Thanks for ruining The Departed for me! I guess I should have known better than to read any of the comments !
jfrater: Once again, another great list!
Total Recall??
Brazil should be on the list for that ending scene where he escapes with the woman he loves and suddenly it cuts away and you see that he’s really still in the interrogation/torture room.
The Prestige? THAT was an awesome ending. Blew my mind.
the original saw has to be included….
How about Hide and Seek???
I definitely have to agree with The Blair Witch Project. I didn’t have the knowledge of it being fake when I watched and that ending managed to scare me in a world full of movies that can’t.
Love this list!! I totally thought Blair Witch was real when i saw it too, i kept thinking “WHY THE HELL IS NO ONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS!?” Then felt quite silly when i realized it wasnt real
And not to be the spelling police, but you went a little willy nilly with the spelling of Se7en.
Pete: the main twist is the fact that the two main characters are the same person.
i no what sshould of been there was a ending to this koren film called old boy the ending of it was just fantastic
The thing I love about the ending of Blair Witch is how subtle it was. You really had to pay attention to get it, otherwise you wouldn’t understand why a guy standing up against a wall would be so scary. The movie never went for cheap shocks, in fact you never saw the witch, all the scares were in your own mind.
I can see why The Prestige isn’t listed. Good film and all, but I could see the ending coming from a mile away.
And, with all due respect, I think you’re missing the point with Rosemary’s Baby. It was about the power of the motherhood bond. It had to end that way.
“A Boy and his Dog” – http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0072730/ – ‘Nuff said.
good list, i like it, however i have to say i liked the ending to “Crywolf”. One of the best ending made in a while. im not gonna share it, cuz im not huge on spoilers.
Borg: exactly – that is the secret to its success. In a way the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre is like that – you don’t see the brutality – it is implied.
rp: I understand your point – but I was still incredibly annoyed
Ben: I haven’t seen it – I notice it stars Don Johnson – should that be putting me off?
mike: I haven’t see that – I will see if I can get hold of a copy! Thanks.
I guess you forgot The Sixth Sense ending and Oldboy (the famous Korean movie)
Have any of you people seen any Hitchcock? He was a master at the surprise ending. Try Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, etc. Just because something’s recent doesn’t mean it’s better.