Bringing a major movie franchise to an end is no easy feat. Finding a way to give every character/story a satisfying conclusion is surely a daunting task for any filmmaker, particularly when the series has been building for many years. Sadly, many final films tend to leave fans rather underwhelmed, with franchises wasting their best possible endings. Whether they felt rushed, incomplete, or had some other flaw altogether, so many finales have brought more disappointment than excitement upon their release.
Fortunately, this is not the case for every franchise. Every so often, a film comes around that serves as the perfect ending to a beloved series of movies. In the best movie endings, all the storylines are wrapped up, the character arcs are completed, and the audience can walk away feeling satisfied with what they just saw (even if they do feel a bit sad that the series has come to a close). While it is often fairly bittersweet when a beloved franchise comes to an end, these iconic series successfully managed to end on a positive note.
10 The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
Final Film: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
It is no secret that Batman is among the most well-known superheroes of all time. The Caped Crusader has appeared in numerous comic books, TV shows, and movies over the years, but few presentations of the character are as highly acclaimed as The Dark Knight trilogy. Released from 2005-2012, these three films chronicled the rise of Bruce Wayne as he evolved into the crime-fighting hero he is known as today. Although the bar was set incredibly high by Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the franchise did find a perfect conclusion in the form of The Dark Knight Rises.
Directed by Christopher Nolan (as were the two previous films), The Dark Knight Rises occurs several years after The Dark Knight, beginning with Bruce Wayne having finally retired from his role as the caped crime-fighter. Despite having been blamed for various major problems in Gotham, Bruce decides to resume the role of Batman one last time when the city needs him most. The film ends with him saving the day, gaining the admiration he deserves, and ultimately being presumed dead – which allows him to finally live the relaxing, private life he always wanted, a proper ending for the legendary hero.
9 Back To The Future (1985-1990)
Final Film: Back To The Future Part III (1990)
When thinking about film franchises of the 1980s, many minds will immediately turn to Back to the Future, the trilogy of fun, lighthearted sci-fi movies directed by Robert Zemeckis. These classic films are known for their lovable characters and clever adventures across different time periods. Although the sequels weren’t received quite as well as the original film, the franchise did manage to pull off a conclusion that left fans feeling satisfied with their time-traveling cinematic experience.
The final installment of the series, Back to the Future Part III, brought the franchise back to its roots, sending Marty and Doc way back into the past, and following their zany antics as they try to figure out how to return to their proper place in time. After an exciting climax, the film brings a happy, well-deserved ending to the stories of the main characters. Marty returns to his rightful home, ready to create a bright future for himself the proper way, and Doc flies off on another adventure beside his loving family, a happy departure for both characters.
8 Daniel Craig’s James Bond Movies (2006-2021)
Final Film: No Time To Die (2021)
With a large roster of actors having assumed the role, the James Bond franchise has gone through many different eras over the years. The most recent Bond era starred Daniel Craig as the titular secret agent, sending him on an assortment of world-saving missions across the globe. Craig played the role for an impressive fifteen years, starring as the character in five films, beginning with Casino Royale in 2006. Having portrayed Bond for so many years, Craig was determined to give the character a proper send-off.
Thankfully, such a send-off was achieved in the 2021 film, No Time to Die. No Time to Die ended with a bold decision that came as a surprise to many; after one final mission, the heroic agent was finally killed. In the process of defeating his final adversary, Bond is infected with a form of nanobots that would surely result in death to others if he were to return home. Knowing this, he bids his loved ones farewell, and selflessly sacrifices himself. This dramatic ending was a brave tribute to the character, presenting a powerful, bittersweet end to the era.
7 Harry Potter (2001-2011)
Final Film: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2
For a full decade, the Harry Potter franchise captivated a global audience with its magical stories of the wizarding world. Considering how much of a cultural phenomenon the franchise had become, there was certainly a great deal of pressure on the filmmakers to provide a proper adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s final book in the series. Although it required dividing the story into two separate films, the final chapter did give audiences the triumphant conclusion they craved.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 served as the climax of the entire series, leading the heroes into one massive final battle against Voldemort and his army. This explosive film dazzled its audiences, providing plenty of action, emotion, and mesmerizing magic. Deathly Hallows – Part 2 did not shy away from the darker side of the novel, including the deaths of several important characters, but still allowing for good to triumph in the end. With a touching epilogue, this final Harry Potter film encouraged viewers to reflect on just how far the characters had come.
6 The Wolverine Trilogy (2009-2017)
Final Film: Logan (2017)
In addition to appearing in several other X-Men movies over the years, the clawed mutant known as Wolverine was given a separate trilogy of films dedicated entirely to his story specifically. Although all the films were box office hits, the first two did not fare particularly well with critics. The final installment in the trilogy, however, impressed audiences and critics alike, providing a dramatic, emotional story that gave the character a powerful, bittersweet send-off.
Set in the future, Logan provides a bold new spin on the character, depicting an aging Wolverine (who goes by Logan) whose powers have begun fading away. The film follows Logan as he attempts to care for both a gravely ill Charles Xavier and a young mutant, Laura, who is being pursued by forces of no good. Ultimately, Logan ends up sacrificing himself to save Laura, a heroic, tearful final action for the iconic hero. As sad as they were to see him pass away, audiences were grateful that Logan’s story ended on the note that it did.
5 The Lord Of The Rings (2001-2003)
Final Film: The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
In 2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King set the bar for what a franchise finale could be. After the first two films in the trilogy received massive critical acclaim, Peter Jackson continued to exceed expectations with this final chapter in the story originally crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Return of the King managed to include a fitting ending to each character’s story, including the hobbits finally gaining some well-deserved respect for their bravery, Aragorn being crowned King of Gondor, and Frodo finally bidding farewell to Middle-earth.
The Return of the King proved to be not just one of the most well-respected final chapters in cinematic history, but one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and managed to win every single one of them, including Best Picture. Although the later Hobbit trilogy didn’t receive nearly as much praise, The Return of the King did provide fantasy lovers with an ending they could be content with for many years to come.
4 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014-2023)
Final Film: Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
In 2014, James Gunn introduced moviegoers to the underappreciated team of heroes known as the Guardians of the Galaxy. The oddball group of characters quickly became a fan-favorite, launching an entire trilogy of films in addition to appearing in various other MCU projects. Eventually, after nearly a decade in action, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 arrived to give a heartfelt farewell to the heroes. In order to do so, the film actually made the choice to look back before turning forward, finally presenting the emotional backstory of one of the main characters.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did include plenty of the humor that fans had come to expect from the franchise, but it also featured many emotional elements that had not been explored as deeply in the series up until that point. After one more battle together, the Guardians triumphed once again, being hailed as heroes, before ultimately deciding to head their separate ways. This bittersweet departure gave fitting conclusions to each character’s arc, choosing to prioritize having a proper ending over having a certain future, a bold decision that pleased many viewers.
3 Puss In Boots (2011-2022)
Final Film: Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Every so often, a sequel comes along that brings a franchise in an entirely new direction, offering a conclusion that few saw coming. To the initial surprise of many, one such film is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Expectations were not overly high for this 2022 movie, which served as the lone sequel to an animated film from eleven years before, which itself was a spin-off of another franchise. In spite of this, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish dazzled its audiences, not only with its emotional story, but with its impressive new animation style.
With many years having passed since the previous film, The Last Wish brought the main character in a new direction, focusing on an aging Puss who struggles to cope with the realization that he is down to his last life. Although the film did still include a good amount of humor, there was a much more emotional undertone that viewers had not anticipated, with the film touching heavily on themes of togetherness, age, and even death. Puss in Boots is likely to return for the upcoming Shrek reboot, but The Last Wish gave a perfect ending to his individual story.
2 Jackass (2002-2022)
Jackass Forever (2022)
Sometimes, a movie doesn’t need a complex story (or any story, for that matter) in order to be the perfect way to cap off its franchise. This is the case for Jackass Forever, the final installment (thus far, at least) in the Jackass franchise. For those unfamiliar, the Jackass films highlight a group of friends performing some of the most creative, hilarious, and dangerous stunts ever committed to film. Coming a full two decades after the original feature film, Jackass Forever brings back most of the original cast for one more explosive collection of death-defying acts.
While the Jackass franchise may not be for everyone, one has to admire the way it persistently manages to one-up itself. Jackass Forever is no exception, featuring stunts that somehow manage to be more mind-blowingly dangerous (and hilarious) than those of the previous films. To take things even further, the film also welcomes an array of celebrity cameos, bringing several recognizable faces in on the fun. The future of Jackass is currently uncertain, but fans can rest assured that the series will have concluded on a positive note if Jackass Forever does prove to be the final installment.
1 The Hunger Games (2012-2015)
Final Film: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Although the Hunger Games universe is still being expanded in the form of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping, the original series consisted of the first four films, with one being released each year from 2012-2015. The franchise plays out in a dystopian world in which teenagers are randomly selected each year to compete in a bloody battle to the death, with the entire nation being forced to watch as the event is broadcast live. In 2015, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 brought the explosive, triumphant finale fans had been waiting for.
Mockingjay – Part 2 follows Katniss as she leads a team of brave rebels on a dangerous mission to overthrow President Snow’s government, hoping to put a stop to the deadly games forever. Although the mission is not completed without several major tragedies, Katniss and her team prove successful, defeating Snow and ensuring that the deadly games will be played no more. The film ends on a long-awaited note of peace, finally signifying hope for a brighter future in Panem.
