21 of the Best Cliffhangers in Movie History
Stories have been leaving us hanging for about as long as we’ve been reading them, but the term “cliffhanger” only dates back to the late 19th century, with a Thomas Hardy serial that literally left its protagonist dangling from the bluffs. Back then, it was a trick for getting readers to buy the next volume of whatever literary magazine the story was published in. Today, it’s for setting up blockbuster sequels. The circle of life is a beautiful thing.
Cliffhangers were on Redditor blueXwho’s mind recently, after they watched Back to the Future Part II. “That scene with the mailman delivering the package and the final scene with the Doc make up one hell of an ending,” they told r/Movies, before asking, “What’s your favorite open-ended final scene of a movie, and did it pay off in a sequel? I am sure there are tons that were great but never came to fruition.”
In response, Reddit remembered their fondest “Seriously, that’s it?!” moments and the ones that can finish up aaaaaany time now.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The Matrix Reloaded
The Italian Job
The Empire Strikes Back
Halloween
Kill Bill: Volume 1
Before Sunset
Alien
Evil Dead II
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Dune
Patriot Games
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
John Wick: Chapter 2
Avengers: Infinity War
Cliffhanger
District 9
