With the end of the MCU’s phase four with Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverit looks like fans will have to wait for Phases 5 and 6 before another movie can wrap it all up satisfactorily like Avengers: Endgame did. Superhero fans have been spoiled with countless memorable endings in recent years, so it’s no surprise they now have high expectations.
Outside of the MCU, the Sam Raimi Spider Man movies and Nolan Black Knight trilogy proved that a movie doesn’t need end-of-universe stakes to have a stunning conclusion. That’s why, when it comes to the best superhero movie endings, Reddit had a lot of strong opinions.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
While the best movie endings are usually the most narratively satisfying, Avengers: Infinity War managed to make an impact by subverting all public expectations in this area. Instead, the movie’s choice to leave things on a cliffhanger and with the situation worse than ever was the perfect way to build anticipation for End of Game.
A Editor pointed out how entering the film blindfolded made it all the more shocking, saying that seeing the film in theaters for the first time “is something I will never forget”. While this may not have been a feel-good conclusion or even a conclusion at all, Infinity War is highly regarded for its bold approach alone.
Watchmen (2009)
watchmen is one of the most famous examples of a film where superheroes end up losing, but it’s the clever way it does so that sets it apart. With the cruel twist that Nite Owl and Rorschach’s efforts were in vain the entire time as it’s too late to stop Veidt’s plan, it was Nite Owl’s words that made the end stick with Redditors as mike wilson.
According to them, watchmen “comes to mind” when it comes to great superhero movie endings because of the power of Nite Owl’s speech to the villain where he tells him he didn’t idealize humanity but “the mutilated!” Instead of a moment of triumph, the audience can see the hero in utter defeat and that helps make for a memorable ending.
Unbreakable (2000)
M. Night Shyamalan is a director known for his fantastical endings and one of the movies that established that reputation was the brilliant Unbreakable. Editor Kalse1229 explains why the ending works so well because, while the twist “makes sense when you think about it,” they would’ve “never expected it to happen.”
Following a man who realizes he may have superpowers after surviving a car crash unscathed, the film has gained a cult fanbase, thanks to its uniquely realistic take on the superhero genre. However, a superbly executed ending that recontextualizes the events of the film is really what kept it alive in fans’ memories.
The Avengers (2012)
Although overshadowed by the resounding success of avengers series and many do not consider its conclusion on par with End of Game and Infinity Warthere is one thing he has about these movies as far as redditor is concerned StevelOverlord is concerned. This is how he essentially invented the playful Marvel post-credits scene.
They explain that it was funny because the heroes had “destroyed most of a town and totally saved the day, and now it’s all over, they’re chilling and eating noodles in a destroyed bar.” Most superhero movies that end with such big battles wouldn’t end on such a happy note, but that’s why The Avengers is so distinct.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Although the film itself received a much more lukewarm reception from critics than The black Knightthere are a decent number of fans who think The dark knight rises deserves more praise because it managed to deliver a satisfying ending to one of the most divisive and tortured Batmans on screen.
Although the suggestion has come up countless times, Redditor KookyGuy best summed up their feelings by saying that they “just want closure” and that “if any character deserved a happy ending, it’s Bruce Wayne”. For delivering both of those things despite Gotham City’s near-fall, fans have come to appreciate the film’s ending very much over the years.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In a way, the whole of End of Game was the end of a storyline that had been building for a long time in the MCU. Solving the arcs of countless characters while ending the giant threat of Thanos was no easy task, but Redditors love BlackDogDexter thought they couldn’t have done a better job.
They point out that few fans were “disappointed with the conclusion of a 22-film series,” and that’s an incredible feat in and of itself. With epic final battles as well as the simplicity of Steve Rogers getting the happy ending he deserved, fans found a lot to praise and not much to complain about in what could be the MCU’s best movie ending.
Logan (2017)
Although it is considered perhaps the best film of the x-men franchise, Logan is also a big departure from other all-action entries, thanks to a slower, heartier tone that’s exemplified by its emotional ending to send off the iconic superhero. A Editor sums up the powerful conclusion by saying that “Logan’s ending is one of the few times I teared up in a movie.”
The film wraps up the character’s arc so perfectly that those who aren’t normally emotional in movies and have no prior attachment to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will still likely be emotionally affected. On top of that, the token ending is the perfect understated contrast to the usual explosive endings of superhero movies.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Both The dark knight rises and batman begins were popular suggestions for superhero movies with great endings, but the consensus is that Nolan did his best with The black Knight. After going up against the Joker, who seemed to have the upper hand over Batman early on, the film had to deal with a hero forced to face his own shortcomings in his ending.
Editor KL2710 explained how Nolan achieved it in style with “Gordon explaining to his son why it has to be so” after Batman ran away as a criminal with “Hans Zimmer’s score piling up” and “the cut at the black at the right time”. “Everything worked seamlessly to create an ending that is still talked about today as one of the best.
Iron Man (2008)
Whereas Iron Man is a movie that was almost forgotten amidst the sheer number of MCU movies that have emerged since its release, its ending did something good that ensured it would stick with fans ever since. Editor Dorkside sums it up by saying “Iron Man really took me by surprise when he had Tony Stark reveal to the world that he was Iron Man.”
While that makes sense given Tony Stark’s personality, it’s something that completely defied superhero movie conventions in 2008. By not only revealing his identity, but doing so in triumphant fashion, Iron Man provided an unexpected and mostly crowd-pleasing ending that’s hard not to like.
Spiderman 2 (2004)
Spiderman 2 is one of the most beloved superhero movies ever made, so it’s no surprise that its ending is also considered one of the best. Editor Calhalen explains why it’s so perfect as Spider-Man is “defeated in every aspect of his life” for much of the movie, but, in the end, he’s helped by the civilians he’s worked so hard for save.
They consider it “powerful stuff that I don’t really see in superhero movies today” because it showed that people were really grateful to have a hero in the form of Spider- man. Along with his final showdown with Octavius and his reunion with MJ, the film’s ending satisfied every plotline it set up and finally resolved the issues that led to Spider-Man being in such bad shape. . That’s why few superhero movie endings have lived up to expectations.
