Some films offer tidy conclusions, while others end abruptly at the most exciting moment. These open endings are memorable because they present a clear, unresolved situation – sometimes hinting at a continuation that never happens, or leaving the final outcome to the viewer’s imagination.
This list highlights twenty movie cliffhangers that end on unresolved plot points. For each one, we explain what happened in the final scene and what important questions were left unanswered – whether it involved a precarious situation like a bus about to fall off a cliff, a hero in an uncertain state, or a sequel setup that never came to fruition.
‘Inception’ (2010)
The movie ends with Cobb back home, spinning his top to determine if he’s in reality. The top continues to spin as his children look at him, but the scene cuts before we see if it falls – leaving the audience to question whether he’s truly awake. Earlier in the film, the top is shown to reveal if someone is dreaming, so its outcome is key to understanding what’s happening.
As a film buff, one of the things that always gets me about *Inception* is that the movie never actually tells us if the top falls over. We don’t see a definitive answer in the film itself, and it’s never clarified in any of the sequels or follow-ups. It leaves you wondering if Cobb truly made it back to reality, or if he’s still stuck within a dream. It’s brilliantly ambiguous, but still… I really want to know what happened!
‘The Italian Job’ (1969)
The final shot shows a coach loaded with gold perched on a mountain road, with the team positioned at one end and the treasure at the other. Their leader assures them he has a plan for retrieving both the gold and the crew, but the scene ends before they can put it into action.
As a movie fan, it really bugs me that we never got a sequel! The first film sets up this whole plan, and then… nothing. We’re left wondering what happened to the gold and if their scheme even worked. It’s a total cliffhanger, and honestly, there’s no official ending to the story – it just stops. It’s frustrating!
‘The Thing’ (1982)
With their base ruined, two men, MacReady and Childs, are left stranded in the snow, unable to trust each other or get warm. An alien creature can flawlessly copy people, and the movie concludes with them quietly sharing a drink as the last of the fire fades.
As a critic, I have to say the film frustratingly leaves us hanging. We never find out if either of the men carried the alien organism with them, or if help ever came. The movie doesn’t offer any closure about their fate, leaving their survival and the threat the organism poses completely up in the air. It’s a bold choice, but one that left me wanting more answers.
‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Boba Fett captures Han Solo by freezing him, and the heroes become separated as the Rebel fleet gathers. Luke’s Jedi training remains incomplete, and the shocking truth about his family is revealed but left unresolved within the movie itself.
The film ends with the characters aboard a medical ship as the hunt for Han Solo is just starting. The movie doesn’t resolve what will happen to Han or what the group will do next, leaving those questions open for future adventures.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
The movie ends with a devastating loss, as half of all living beings, including beloved heroes, disintegrate before the eyes of those left behind. The remaining characters are left stranded on different planets, with no hope of fixing the situation during the course of the film.
The movie ends with a distress signal, but doesn’t offer any solution to the disaster that occurred. What happened to those who vanished, and how to reverse the events, remain unanswered by the film.
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
When Doc Brown shows up, he urgently asks Marty and Jennifer to join him, explaining that their children are facing trouble. They take off in the DeLorean, speeding into the future, and the movie concludes as the car disappears into the timeline.
The film concludes by hinting at a future storyline, but doesn’t show any of it. The central family conflict and how it will be resolved remain unanswered by the movie’s end.
‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
After learning John Blake’s complete name, he uses the provided coordinates to locate the secret entrance to the Batcave. This discovery suggests he’s the one destined to carry on the legacy.
The movie doesn’t reveal what happens after this, or how the people of Gotham react to having a new protector. We don’t see what Blake does with this knowledge, or if he ultimately embraces the role of a hero.
‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004)
After arguing with Bill, Beatrix flees with her daughter. The film subtly contrasts this with an earlier scene where Beatrix suggested a young girl might naturally seek revenge later in life, leaving that idea unresolved by the story’s end.
The movie doesn’t show what happens to the child as an adult – whether they try to find Beatrix or live a different life. The story leaves the possibility of future consequences intentionally open-ended.
‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ (2014)
Harry Osborn starts gathering equipment for a new team, and a shadowy figure is seen walking through a lab filled with suits. Meanwhile, Spider-Man unexpectedly clashes with Rhino, but the scene cuts to black before we see how the fight unfolds.
The hinted-at storyline with these villains is never revisited, and the final cliffhanger isn’t resolved. Their intended development and the resulting fight are left incomplete.
‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993)
Daisy rushes into the apartment, fully equipped for action, and urgently asks the plumbers to come back – there’s another problem. The scene ends with all three of them prepared to head out again.
The story isn’t continued in any sequels, and the issues caused by Daisy are never addressed in another film. We don’t find out what the new danger is, or what happens to the characters afterward – everything is left open-ended.
‘The Golden Compass’ (2007)
The story concludes with the team launching into a rescue mission by air. While this chapter ends, it sets up a bigger conflict involving powerful figures and other realms, clearly hinting at what’s to come next in their adventure.
This movie series didn’t follow through with its planned storylines. We don’t get to see the rescue mission finished, the rebellion fully play out, or what ultimately happens to the main characters.
‘Alita: Battle Angel’ (2019)
Alita quickly rises to fame as a motorball player, dramatically raising her weapon towards the floating city as Nova observes from above. The movie clearly establishes a future showdown between them, hinting at a journey towards the skies.
The movie doesn’t show what happens to Alita after her initial journey, or how she confronts the person pulling the strings from above. The story leaves her future and the expected big battle unresolved.
’28 Weeks Later’ (2007)
A radio broadcast and a sequence of quick cuts confirm the infection has spread to a large city in Europe. The film revisits an airplane seen previously, suggesting the disease has now crossed international borders.
The story doesn’t show what happens after the outbreak spreads, and the fate of the continent is left unknown. The series doesn’t offer any closure regarding the new outbreak or its consequences.
‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ (2008)
The team quits the Bureau, and Liz reveals to Hellboy that she’s expecting twins. The film concludes with them driving off into the unknown, without any clear idea of what the future holds.
This storyline doesn’t follow these characters any further, and we don’t see what happens to the family, the Bureau, or how the team adapts to upcoming challenges.
‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ (2018)
Jake Pentecost declares that humanity will now bring the battle directly to the enemy. The movie introduces advanced technology and a fresh determination to expand the war beyond our planet.
The story doesn’t show what happens next with the dangerous mission into enemy territory. We don’t see the planned attack or how the new strategy plays out on screen.
‘Eternals’ (2021)
Arishem, a powerful cosmic being, appears above Earth and takes several of the Eternals away to evaluate their past deeds before leaving with them. Meanwhile, Dane Whitman discovers an ancient blade connected to his family history, but a mysterious voice cautions him against pursuing it.
No movie has yet shown the pivotal moment of judgment or Dane’s initial training with the sword. The story also leaves the fate of the captured Eternals and the future of those remaining unanswered.
‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ (2016)
A powerful, unified consciousness reaches out to humans, urging them to band together and fight back against a threatening force known as the harvesters. The story ends with the characters determined to take the battle beyond Earth.
A third movie isn’t planned to continue the story of the space war. The alliance building and initial attack against the enemy remain unresolved.
‘Green Lantern’ (2011)
After the credits, Sinestro takes off his ring and puts on a yellow one, instantly changing how he looks and what he’s capable of. This hints at the arrival of a powerful new enemy.
A follow-up movie with these same characters wasn’t made. We don’t see how the new ring affects the Corps or what battles it leads to in any later films.
‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ (2016)
A team retrieves samples from a hidden lab and puts them in a case marked with the logo of a known enemy. This discovery hints at dangerous genetic research and the emergence of a fresh danger.
Subsequent movies in the series don’t show that organization’s plan actually happening. The hinted-at story and the villain connected to it are never fully explained or concluded within the films.
‘The Incredible Hulk’ (2008)
Dr. Samuel Sterns is accidentally exposed to blood containing gamma radiation, and starts changing physically while smiling. This moment introduces a character who will become incredibly intelligent due to the mutation, and suggests he may become a future enemy.
As a film buff, I’ve always found it interesting how this movie handles the aftermath of that lab accident. Instead of showing the actual transformation and any fight that would happen because of it, they just *tell* you it happened. It’s a bit of a jump – they skip over what would be a really dramatic sequence, leaving it all off-screen. It’s a different approach than most continuations, that’s for sure.
Share the unresolved endings you still think about in the comments.
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2025-09-27 13:18