Poll: All Ends Well That Ends With a Smile

Results of 1,082 votes:

1. 1.
   

   #5

    

   By killing the main character through one of the most audacious and shocking middle plot twists, Hitch transfered our interest from Marion Crane to Norman Bates. But because of his looks, his easy-goi…
2. 2.
   

   Charles Chaplin in City Lights (1931)

    

   The blind girl, now cured, after giving the rose to the Tramp, understands that he is the "rich man", the Charming Prince who haunted her dreams. The Tramp is anxious, and timidly asks her i…
3. 3.
   

   Jack Nicholson in The Shining (1980)

    

   Jack Nicholson again... the hotel has always been an integral part of Jack Torrance's evolution: all work and no play drove him crazy, the ghosts of the past taunted him into killing his family, he st…
4. 4.
   

   John Candy in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

    

   ll the parts aren't equally funny, many became archetypal considering the appeal of the two comedic sub-genres; road and buddy movies, but the magic of the film is to grow slowly in your heart, to hav…
5. 5.
   

   Robert De Niro in Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

    

   Max resurrects in Noodles' life and asks him, as a redeeming act of vengeance to kill him for he took his money, his girlfriend, his life. Max could easily accept, but he can't afford to lose his prid…
6. 6.
   

   Emma Stone in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

    

   (suggested by peaspot) Riggan is now in a hospital room after shoting his nose that make his last play a huge success. He sees birds flying outside the window. He opens it and stands on the ledge. Whe…
7. 7.
   

   Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross in The Graduate (1967)

    

   The ending is a hymn for immaturity, for this excitement that makes life enjoyable, freedom to make our own mistakes, believing that it's never 'too late'... and the fading smile at the end while they…
8. 8.
   

   #15

    

   The celebration of the iconic superhero, with John Williams' triumphant fanfares close the epic 1978 film, and Superman flashes a smile that seems to break the fourth wall, but it's not the actor smil…
9. 9.
   

   Uma Thurman and Perla Haney-Jardine in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

    

   The morning after Bill's death, we find Bea with B.B. in a motel. This time, BB doesn't watch 'Shogun Assassin' but a simple cartoon, showing that things are changing for the better. And in the bathro…
10. 10.
    

    Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)

     

    Luke's demise is his last victory because they killed him but never really "reached" him. And he still inspires the working chain-gang to believe that no chains are solid enough to stop them…
11. 11.
    

    #18

     

    (suggested by peaspot) ""Black Swan" is all about duality, we're both angels and devils, we're black and white swan, we're Nina and Lily … but perfection can be built on duality, but on…
12. 12.
    

    F. Murray Abraham and Brian Pettifer in Amadeus (1984)

     

    God put a term to Salieri's malicious scheme by killing his divine protégé and letting Salieri alive witnessing his creations falling in the abyss of memories. As a victim of God's vengeance, Salieri …
13. 13.
    

    Giulietta Masina in Nights of Cabiria (1957)

     

    After such a heart-breaking climax, this was the "City Lights"-like ending the movie needed: the ultimate triumph of the faith in human spirit. Cabiria, a character so desperately needing lo…
14. 14.
    

    Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt (2002)

     

    It's about a man trying to look at the right side of life, if not the bright, giving it a direction that would help him to end it the best way. It all comes to an end, so let's live what's left to th…
15. 15.
    

    Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

     

    "Kramer vs. Kramer" is the coming-of-realization story of two persons; trying to improve themselves over their selfish motives, in the name of their love for Billy and maybe what's left of t…
16. 16.
    

    Jonathan Pryce in Brazil (1985)

     

    (suggested by peaspot) All of Sam's adventures of the past few minutes, including the happy ending, apparently are all only products of Sam's delusions. As we now realize, is Sam having become catato…
17. 17.
    

    #11

     

    The power of the film is to consolidate the Addams' status as outcasts no matter how hard they try to fit. And it all comes to a point where we want the Addams to be back to their 'normal' abnormal li…
18. 18.
    

    #21

     

    The film' genius is reached during the alternate reality sequence featuring a Jesus who rejected his duty and surrendered to Satan by choosing to live normally, have children and wives and die peacefu…
19. 19.
    

    Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)

     

    Last but not least, the fourth-wall breaking smile and wink from the adorable Barbare Harris, the last Hitchcock shot ever. The wink is reproduced in the movie poster, coming this time from the Maste…
20. 20.
    

    Roseanne Barr in She-Devil (1989)

     

    What elevates the film above the basic standards of comedy is that the characters play like archetypes, but they change for the best. The ending has something very inspirational: the look on Roseanne …
21. 21.
    

    Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

     

    The bittersweet last shot shows Cecilia, as one of these poor souls, not heroic in their acts, but in their faith in people, despite the encountered treacheries and deceptions. The ending reminds of &…
22. 22.
    

    #9

     

    "Manhattan" is the realization of a man who loved intellectuality and intellectualized love, and lost everything: his job, his girl, out of false impulses, he recollects all the things that …