Top 10 Cheesiest Movie Endings
Script written by Q.V. Hough
Top 10 Cheesiest Movie Endings
The cinematic finales that take our breath away for all the wrong reasons. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Cheesiest Movie Endings.
For this list, we’re not counting down the WORST movie endings but rather those that rely heavily on the cheese factor. We’re talking predictable yet sometimes random images that could possibly make you walk out of a movie during the actual ending.
#10: Apocalypse, How?
“Warm Bodies” (2013)
Beware of the Boneys! And beware of a bonehead ending too. In Jonathan Levine’s adorable tale of a depressed zombie hoping to get some tail, something named R pokes around all day and just so happens to forge a “relationship” with a hot little number that’s certainly an upgrade from the dead. As you can imagine, Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer’s characters find themselves in a sticky situation near the end, but the long-time zombie suddenly finds himself reinvigorated. Pretty convenient that the apocalypse comes to an end just in time for him to score.
#9: The Airport Cliché
“The Wedding Singer” (1998)
You can quote this movie all day, but tell us this, when was the last time you made it until the end? In case you’ve forgotten, Adam Sandler’s late ’90s classic about a struggling wedding singer takes a rather offensive turn at the 90 minute mark, as hungover Robby jets off to the airport – yes, THAT romcom cliché – and finds himself face to face with Mr. Rebel Yell of all people, Billy Idol. Robby’s love interest and her dick of a husband also happen to be there as well. What happens next is a lazily written conclusion in which Adam Sandler has to sing that last inevitable song, leaving some viewers all welled up and others holding onto their lunches.
#8: Force Fed Love
“Love Actually” (2003)
If you’re the kind of person who forms a heart symbol with your fingers in pictures, well you probably don’t realize the awfulness of this romcom’s cute little conclusion. Hey, we’re not hating on Love Actually, but when all is said and done after the intermingling narrative of this Christmas flick has tidied itself up, viewers are treated to an epilogue sequence of cheesy love multiplied by a whole lotta split screen action. We get it, love conquers all, but did we really need an editor to further demonstrate this concept again and again and again?
#7: I Love You, I Hate You, I Love You
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)
Let’s be honest, we all knew what was coming here. With Kate Hudson, you’ve got your trendy New York City columnist writing for a magazine called “Composure”, and then you’ve got Matthew McConaughey doing the whole detached yet curious routine that’s ideal in a cheese flick. In the end, the film didn’t actually bring anything new to the table – in fact, it reemphasized the myth that we’re all destined for that special moment, and the movie ended with one that’s both predictable and rich in cheddar.
#6: A Shining Example of Poor Taste
“Pretty Woman” (1990)
We’ve come a long way since the 90s, even if some cheesy endings still divide us, but can we just take a moment to process the gravity of this dreadful conclusion? Surely, you’re familiar with the story of a hooker gone high-rise, and yes, decades after its release, “Pretty Woman” continues to astonish most viewers thanks to Julia Roberts alone, but let’s talk about that knight on a white horse ending. You may not like to admit it, but part of you wanted Richard Gere to fall right onto his ass and not make you suffer all the way to the closing credits. But alas, the ol’ rich dude saved the day in true Hollywood fairy tale fashion.
#5: This Is The End
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011)
It can be said that many fans weren’t as satisfied as they were hoping to be in the final instalment of the wizarding franchise. After years and years of patience to the literary and cinematic brand, Harry Potter loyalists had to experience an unfortunate display of the ever-popular fast forward cliché. While we were all for our witch and wizard pals getting the happiest endings after their ordeals, couldn’t they have taken the cheesiness down a peg?
#4: Stick To The Boxing
“Rocky IV” (1985)
When Sylvester Stallone wrote this flick, he was surely feeling good after the first three instalments, so just imagine the bravado when he sat down to pen his “inspirational” final act. It wasn’t enough for Rocky just to beat Ivan Drago on his own Russian turf, no, Sly Stallone had to speak to the world through his bruised-up character and try convincing us that we can better ourselves. Being inspirational is one thing, but do you have to layer it on so thickly after you just pummeled your way to victory? Might be sending the wrong message there, Rocky.
#3: Advantage: Almost Every Other Movie
“Wimbledon” (2004)
Released in a year where 17-year-old Maria Sharapova captured the hearts of tennis fans by winning her first Grand Slam title, some ill-advised movie executives decided that it was time for Wimbledon to hit the big screen. Aptly titled “Wimbledon,” the film actually made a small profit, but most people remember it not for its first 90 minutes but for the bow-tie ending that could have been written by just about anybody. There’s a tricky serve to figure out, and with the help of a quirky romance with Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany unsurprisingly wins the titular event. Insert your tennis pun here, because you have a lot to work with.
#2: Crazy in Love, Melted in Cheese
“The Bodyguard” (1992)
Some romantic dramas just hit you hard when you’re least expecting it. Take Whitney Houston’s iconic film. The plot itself wasn’t all too bad, but towards the ending, you could see the cheese looming on the horizon. And unfortunately, it arrived via a 360-degree kiss shot probably more fitting for an Adam Sandler flick. We’ll always fall for the film’s charming moments, but there’s no denying there’s just as much craze as there is love in this flick.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Are You a Pothead, Skywalker?
“Return of the Jedi” (1983)
The Final Rose
“Titanic” (1997)
The Outlandish Outback
“Australia” (2008)
Meta and Mad
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
#1: Intergalactic Jazz Hands
“Grease” (1978)
Even if you’ve never actually seen this classic musical, you already know what’s coming. A whole lot of jazzing! Ok, maybe the final seconds of “Grease” are “hip” in their own unique way, and you can’t deny that it’s fun to watch, but can somebody please tell us why Sandy and Danny are sent flying through the sky like an intergalactic Thelma & Louise? What is happening here? Well, here’s what happened: somebody was writing the script and said “I don’t know, just have the Greased Lightning float up into the sky.” There must have been a lot of cocaine on set that day or some type of special sauce in all that grease.
Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the cheesiest movie ending? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.