Poll: Happy Endings?

[Rocksa]

No, movies don't have to have a happy ending to be great films. Most times the unhappy or uncertain endings are the much better way to go. For instance, I couldn't have seen The Mist ending any other way than what it did without ruining it. Likewise, films like The Descent, Wicker Man, Quarantine, and Dawn of the Dead (the bit after the credits) would simply not work with a happy ending. It's the tragedy that makes these films great. That being said, that doesn't mean that there's no place for a happy ending in movies, plenty of movies would likewise be destroyed by not having a happy ending of some sort.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

No, films don't always need happy endings. If you can guarantee before you watch a film that everything will work out alright in the end then there's no point watching said film in the first place. That having been said, there's equally little point in watching a film where everything is guaranteed to go arse-over-tit.

A balance is required here, although because the current Hollywood leanings are towards happy endings (ok, >90% is slightly more than a leaning) I enjoy the films that end on a dark note because they're all the better for being unexpected. And because I'm dead inside.

 

[Blazing Steel]

snip

I'm curious, what was your friend's argument?

Also, a happy ending isn't always necessary but more often than not, a sad ending doesn't feel like much of an ending at all.

His argument that was that if the movie had a "bad" ending it left you depressed or disapointed. Or as he put it: "It made watching the movie pointless because they killed off most of the main charactors."

I also think he's completely wrong and that seems to be the general view.

NOTE: He's not the smartest person I know.

 

[Nannernade]

As long as it isn't a huge cliff hanger like that movie Knowing (Which was so full of plot holes it wasn't even funny) I really don't see why you would need a happy ending, sure if it's a certain genre of movie it'd be welcomed more openly than to a genre where it rarely happens. Basically I like those endings where it goes oh... shit... like that movie Phonebooth that was an awesome movie. ^^

 

[Enigma6667]

The Descent.It's one awesome movie that makes you think that the ending is a good one.And then it completely fucks you over by having the last shot one of the main protagonists lying in some place with both legs broken,and the monsters are closing in.

They completely screwed that aspect up with the sequel.

In all honesty, it depends on the tone of the movie. The Wicker Man (Original), [REC] (The original foreign movie that Quarantine remade and wasn't as good as), The Descent, and The Mist (ESPECIALLY The Mist) had great endings that were really jarring in how they affected you. Other than that, happy endings are okay as long as they aren't put their half-assed just for the sake of trying to be a crowd pleaser.

 

[ImSkeletor]

No

Spoiler: 12 monkeys

12 Monkeys had a really sad ending. Cole dies and past Cole is forced to watch and have the same happen to him and 12 monkeys is my favorite movie.

 

[Valksy]

Wow, interesting question.

Umm. I'm going to have to sit on the fence on this one because my emotional side is usually more gratified by happy endings, but intellectually and as a storyteller I can see the merit in an end that is at best bittersweet and at worst excrutiating.

Take Thelma and Louise. I was devasated by that ending but can see why it was done. Or the Green Mile (book or film). I stood in a cinema lobby with a good hundred or so people on a preview night and people were just sobbing - that was a powerful fucking ending with no real alternative and yet emotionally I didn't want it and would have done anything for it to be different.

So I suppose it is which part of me is in ascendency.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

The easiest way for a movie to please me is to make me emotionally attached to the main characters, then kill every single one of them.

 

[benoitowns]

How did you enjoy Paranormal Activity, it sucked!

 

[Slayer_2]

On Topic: Nope, see Saving Private Ryan, a movie that ends with almost the whole squad dying, but it is still a great movie.

Off Topic: Personally, I thought Paranormal Activity was trash, horrible camera (even intentionally, it's still bad), predictable "made ya jump!" scenes that failed to do their job, and a cast of about 5 people, only about two of any importance.

 

[The Austin]

The greatest movie in the history of history (my personal opinion) didn't have a happy ending.
I'm not going to tell you which movie it is, so I don't spoil anything.

But the ending was bittersweet. Not good, just revealing.

 

[Arcticflame]

No. Case in point knocking on heaven's door (the german film).

 

[Hardcore31]

I agree that most shit movies have happy endings, but happy endings in good movies are interesting. When pulled correctly, the happy ending can actually make us think that the movie we just saw was better than what it would have been had it another ending (this is why some people dont like movies with happy ending like Shawshank Redemption or Field of Dreams that much, mainly critics, cuz they dont get that affected by the ending, but i loved those movies).


To the OP: Congratulations on writing the most misleading thread title ever.