There’s nothing worse than investing two hours (or more) into a film, only to be met with an ending that leaves you groaning in frustration. While some movies stick the landing, delivering satisfying and emotional conclusions, others crash and burn, turning potential classics into cinematic punchlines. Whether it’s baffling creative decisions, nonsensical twists, or just sheer laziness, these films have gone down in history for their disastrously bad endings.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the most notorious movie endings of all time -ones that left audiences bewildered, critics rolling their eyes, and, in some cases, studio accountants weeping.
Be aware, spoilers do follow.
1. The Mist (2007) – The ultimate gut punch
Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella is an unrelenting horror masterpiece… until the final moments. Unlike King’s original ambiguous ending, Darabont opted for a bleak gut punch that saw protagonist David Drayton mercy-killing his son and fellow survivors, only for the military to arrive moments later, having solved the crisis. While some praised the sheer audacity, many felt the ending was needlessly cruel.
Box office impact
Despite its divisive ending, The Mist performed decently, grossing $57 million against an $18 million budget. But its legacy is forever tied to one of the most nihilistic endings in film history.
2. I Am Legend (2007) – The test audience tragedy
Will Smith’s post-apocalyptic blockbuster was on track to be a modern classic -until studio meddling happened. The film originally had an ending that aligned with the novel, where the ‘monsters’ were revealed to have their own society, and Smith’s character realises *he* is the villain in their eyes. But test audiences didn’t like it, so Warner Bros. replaced it with a standard Hollywood explosion-filled finale.
Box office impact
The film was a massive financial success, earning over $585 million globally. But fans still lament what could have been had the original ending remained intact.
3. The Devil Inside (2012) – When the movie just… stops
Few films have angered audiences quite like The Devil Inside, a found-footage horror film that builds to an eerie climax – only to abruptly cut to black and direct viewers to a website for “more information.” Yes, really, nope I’m not pulling your leg. The attempt at viral marketing backfired spectacularly, with audiences booing in cinemas and critics tearing it apart.
Box office impact
Despite scathing reviews and a dismal 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was a box office hit, grossing $102 million against a mere $1 million budget. Proof that bad endings don’t always mean financial disaster.
4. Planet of the Apes (2001) – Tim Burton’s WTF moment
Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes remake was already struggling under the weight of comparisons to the 1968 classic, but the ending truly sealed its fate. Instead of the Statue of Liberty twist, we got a nonsensical reveal where Mark Wahlberg returns to Earth, only to find it inexplicably ruled by apes. No explanation. No logic. Just a baffling setup for a sequel that never came.
Box office impact
The film performed well financially, grossing $362 million worldwide. However, its reception was so poor that Fox abandoned any plans for sequels, opting instead to reboot the franchise a decade later with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and creating one of the great trilogies of our time.
5. Now You See Me (2013) – The ‘magic’ twist that made no sense
This slick heist thriller had audiences hooked… right up until the ridiculous third-act twist. Revealing that FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) was the mastermind behind everything felt cheap and unearned, leaving many viewers scratching their heads. A film that was so stylish and fun suddenly lost its credibility in a matter of minutes.
Box office impact
Despite the ending, Now You See Me pulled off a magic trick of its own—grossing $351 million worldwide and spawning a sequel. Quality storytelling be damned, money talks.
6. The Dark Tower (2017) – Stephen King deserved better
Adapting Stephen King’s sprawling Dark Tower saga into a 95-minute film was always going to be a challenge. But few expected such a rushed, incoherent mess of an ending. Instead of an epic conclusion worthy of King’s magnum opus, we got a generic action climax that satisfied no one – especially fans of the books.
Box office impact
The film bombed, grossing just $113 million on a $66 million budget, and that was before marketing costs. Plans for sequels and TV spin-offs quickly evaporated, making The Dark Tower one of the biggest missed opportunities in modern cinema.
7. Game of Thrones (Okay, it’s TV, but still…)
While technically a TV series, Game of Thrones had such a cinematic presence that its final season deserves a mention. After nearly a decade of build-up, character arcs were rushed, logic was abandoned, and Bran Stark, one of the least compelling characters, was crowned king. The backlash was swift and brutal, proving that even the mightiest franchises can fall if they don’t stick the landing.
Box office impact
While Game of Thrones itself was a financial juggernaut, HBO’s attempts to follow it up (House of the Dragon notwithstanding) have faced scrutiny due to lingering fan distrust.
The art of a good ending
A bad ending can sour an otherwise great film, turning an all-time classic into a cautionary tale. Whether due to studio interference, rushed scripts, or just plain bad writing, these films serve as reminders of how crucial a satisfying conclusion really is.
But if there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s second chances, who knows how many of these endings will eventually be retconned in reboots and remakes?
What do you think is the worst movie ending of all time? Let us know in the comments!
