Sci-fi movies can often be made or broken by their endings. Because of the nature of the genre, sci-fi films are often intensely story-driven; consequently, without a good ending, the narrative can feel unsatisfying. After all, a sour third act tends to be ed over some stellar moments in the first two acts.
The history of sci-fi is also deeply rich and there are plenty of endings to choose from. This article will take a look at five of the best, most iconic endings throughout the annals of sci-fi. However, they're also balanced out by five endings that fans would have liked to have seen go a little differently. It's not in the name of matching their preconceptions, though; rather, the poor endings are reflections of some shoddy decision-making.
Great Ending: The Martian
Against all odds, Mark Watney returned to Earth. The actual epilogue takes a bit of a time skip as Watney is shown to be a revered figure on the planet and at NASA.
Watney delivers a final monologue about the nature of the human spirit and the quest for survival against all odds. Of course, he then asks if anyone has a question and every hand in the room shoots up before cutting to the credits with disco music. It's a very fun ending.
Ended Differently: Artemis Fowl
Disney+ in May 2020. It might have been because those involved knew that any theatrical push would not have been met with much praise.
Artemis Fowl's ending felt completely tacked on and forced (is Artemis really an evil mastermind?) that was more in line with parroting the book than making logical sense with the preceding story. Fans of the original story might have preferred if the entire movie went differently.
Great Ending: Planet Of The Apes
Few movie endings are as iconic as the conclusion of the original Planet of the Apes. It sees George Taylor realizing that the planet is not all that it seems.
Taylor stumbles upon the apparent nuclear wasteland that has befallen the planet and finds a disheveled Statue of Liberty. It's an Earth-based revelation that drops Charlton Heston to his knees and the audience's jaws to the floor.
Ended Differently: Safety Not Guaranteed
At the time of Safety Not Guaranteed's original release, the ending actually seemed quite quaint for an indie film about time travel. It is left deliberately ambiguous as to the success of the time travel mission.
While there is nothing wrong with allowing audiences to draw their own conclusions, this ending, in particular, is developed exceptionally well. It seems more like a cop-out than an actual bow. Palm Springs handled a similar problem far better.
Great Ending: Back To The Future Part II
Basically every movie in the Back to the Future trilogy has a great ending, but the best belongs to the second film in the saga. It is revealed that Marty and Doc have another adventure in store after the latter entrusted the post office to deliver a letter to the former decades in the future.
The rain-soaked revelation that Doc planned for the perfect moment to deliver the letter to Marty, revealing he is in the old west, can still send chills down someone's spine.
Ended Differently: Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker
The ending of a Rise of Skywalker ending.
The entire movie could have afforded a revamp, but the ending is particularly troubling. It introduces a Kylo Ren kiss and redemption arc that feels entirely unearned and prompts Rey to honor the legacy of Leia on a planet she never experienced. It is a rough ending for cinema's most famous saga.
Great Ending: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is a classic example of a sci-fi movie, blended with romance, ending with the perfect balance of awe and ambiguity. It's not clear exactly how many times Joel and Clementine have made their way back to one another, but that's not important.
What matters is that their love endures beyond all technological inventions created to curb memory. It's beautiful how it depicts the capability of humans to still outshine that of their creations.
Ended Differently: Sunshine
Danny Boyle's Sunshine does not have quite the sci-fi ending that will live on forever. A mission to save humanity from the sun's dimming is already compelling enough and it makes for a thrilling, somewhat somber first half.
By the end, elements of a horror movie have been introduced, refocusing the entirety of the story. It doesn't suit the rest of Sunshine and changes the tone too late in the game.
Great Ending: Jurassic Park
It can be argued that no other sci-fi movie has ever had a better ending than Steven Spielberg made were absolutely the right ones.
Alan Grant is seen finally embracing the children he met as he looks out the window of the helicopter and sees birds flying over the ocean. After a dalliance with dinosaurs, birds are enough. It's a stunning final shot that will live on in film forever.
Ended Differently: Signs
Like Sunshine, Signs rushed to a climax built on terror and unforeseen antagonists. However, Signs also felt the need to possess a classic M. Night Shyamalan twist.
The twist doesn't work quite as well as in some other Shyamalan films, and it feels ultimately silly to have glasses of water be the weakness for the aliens. With so much tension and build-up, Signs ended with quite the whimper.
