There’s a particular frustration every movie lover knows too well: getting pulled into a film—hooked by the characters, the visuals, the tension—and then, just when it’s time for the payoff… boom. It fizzles out. They so nearly reach greatness but just fall short of reaching the other side. You are left feeling as though you are observing an Olympic athlete trip over the final hurdle. And while we still remember the journey, we cannot help but speculate how great these films might have been—if only they’d landed successfully. And here it is. A top ten list of movies—some new, some classic—that had it all coming their way, but blew it on the ultimate conclusion.
1. La La Land – Bittersweet or Just Bitter?
Yes, that last montage was expertly photographed. And yes, we get the whole “realism over fairy tale” thing. But after watching Mia and Sebastian fight so hard for their dreams and each other, that silent nod at the end felt like a gut punch, without much closure. Maybe they didn’t need a fairytale, but something about it felt… incomplete. Just one small moment of reconnection could’ve hit the emotional mark better.
2. Tenet – All Brains, No Heart
Christopher Nolan swung for the fences with this one. The concept? Mind-blowing. The execution? Slick. But by the end, it felt like we needed a whiteboard to understand what just happened. And while the action was top-tier, the characters were oddly hollow. If the final act had offered some emotional anchor, it might’ve stayed with audiences for longer, for reasons beyond confusion.
3. War of the Worlds – Survival, Served Too Neatly
Everything was working—the panic, the eerie silences, the alien destruction. But the reunion at the end? Too tidy. After all that destruction, suddenly all their characters are alive and in one piece? It took away the emotional stakes from the movie. A more realistic, possibly even agonising ending could’ve made the movie truly unforgettable.
4. The Fault in Our Stars – Love and Loss, Lightly Tied Up
This one stings. The performances were strong, and the love story was deeply touching. But the ending felt like it was trying a bit too hard to be poetic. Hazel’s grief didn’t linger—it was rushed, wrapped in a neat monologue. Letting her sit with the silence a bit longer might have left more of a mark.
5. The Shining – Eerie, But Vague
No doubt, The Shining is legendary. That unsettling atmosphere, the descent into madness, the unforgettable visuals. But that final photo? It raised more eyebrows than goosebumps. Kubrick wanted mystery, but a few more breadcrumbs could’ve given the ending that punch it deserved, without explaining too much.
6. Deep Blue Sea – Shark Wins the Script
Hear me out—this is a guilty pleasure, and it knew what it was: a wild, smart-shark movie. But the decision to kill off the lead female scientist after everything? That one stung. It felt like a cheap jolt instead of a satisfying resolution. Sometimes, letting the right character live is the bold move.
7. Gehraiyaan – Real to Ridiculous
This one started strong—moody, emotional, very grounded in its portrayal of flawed relationships. But that pivot into thriller territory toward the end? It felt like a different movie. It tried to shock instead of conclude. A quieter, more reflective ending could’ve carried so much more emotional weight.
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8. Atrangi Re – All Magic, No Real Healing
The film tried to mix fantasy and mental health, which is risky and admirable. But the ending waved a magic wand and solved everything too neatly. In real life, healing is messy. If the film had acknowledged that—even a little—it might have landed its message with more power.
9. Don’t Worry Darling – So Much Build-Up, So Little Bang
From the start, this film had style and mystery. Florence Pugh delivered, no doubt. But then came the twist—and instead of fireworks, we got a sparkler. The escape sequence felt rushed, and we never really understood the “why” behind the world. With more time to unpack the ending, it could’ve gone from decent to disturbing.
10. Murder Mubarak – Glamorous, But Predictable
The appearance? Perfect. The setup? Intriguing. But when the mask was finally pulled off, the surprise failed to meet expectations. A mystery either thrives or dies on surprise, and this one played it safe. A darker or more emotionally striking twist might have pushed the movie from fun to powerful. Endings Matter. Period.
Let’s face it—nobody remembers a film just for the opening scene. The ending is what echoes. It’s what fans debate over, what memes get made from, what lingers in the gut. These ten films weren’t bad—not even close. But they left us wondering what could have been. A perfect ending doesn’t need to tie everything up. Sometimes, it just needs to feel earned.
Writer- Subham Choudhary