The Art of Ending Things

Nothing lasts forever. But when a piece of pop culture nails the ending? That’s a finale that will endure.

the art of ending things

The 101 Greatest Endings in Movies History

Good finales offer catharsis. The best deny us closure altogether. By Alison Willmore, Angelica Jade Bastién, and Bilge Ebiri

q&a How The Descent Ended Up With Two Famously Bleak Endings Writer-director Neil Marshall breaks down his horror film’s alternate conclusions — and which one he thinks is the worse fate. By Rachel Handler
oral history No, They Weren’t Dead the Whole Time An oral history of Lost’s daring, divisive finale, our last truly communal broadcast TV experience By Jen Chaney
jokes 8 Comedians Break Down Their Favorite Stand-up Closer Ever Featuring jokes by Gary Gulman, Maria Bamford, Dave Chappelle, and more. By Dan Reilly

what could have been A Brief History of the Alternate Movie Endings Lost to Time That is, until a few of them made their way onto DVDs as bonus material. By Jason Bailey
legacies The Greatest Godfather Ending of Them All Coppola closed his trilogy with a grandiose, explosive ending that works not just as a finale to a single film, but to the entire series. By Bilge Ebiri