There are so many movies with absolutely brilliant endings. Movies like Se7en, The Usual Suspects, The Empire Strikes Back, Fight Club, et al.

The film that I'll be mentioning here is - Before Sunset.

Before Sunset is the 2nd film in the trilogy - Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

Now before going into why I consider this movie has one of the best, if not the best ending ever, let me tell you what the movie is about a bit.

The film picks up the story in Before Sunrise of the American man(Jesse) and a French woman(Céline), who met and spent a passionate night together in Vienna in 1995, before departing the next morning(Jesse going back to US and Céline back to France). They promised to see each other again 6 months later that winter in the same station.

Cut to 2004 when Before Sunset opens. It's nine years later. Jesse's a big time writer now. His new novel, This Time, was inspired by that night, and has become a bestseller. He does a book tour in Europe, with Paris being the last stop. He sees Céline there. Needless to say they didn't meet that winter.
And again as the title suggests Jesse has to catch his flght back that evening, hence the name Before Sunset.
Okay enough said.
Here's the ending scene of the movie -

Jesse and Céline goes back to Céline's apartment. They talk. She sings a song for him. A song on their one night. She makes him tea, while he plays a record from Nina Simone. Céline dances to the song, "Just in Time," as Jesse watches her. And finally she says -

Céline - Baby ... you are gonna miss that plane.
Jesse - I know.

The movie ends.

Now I know what you're thinking. This ain't the first open ended movie there is. Right??

Hold on though.

Let's go back to the very first scene of the movie.

Jesse is in Paris having a reading at the noted bookstore, Shakespeare and Company. One of the 3 journalists asks him whether the characters in his novel actually meet after 6 months as they promised, as the book didn't mention that.

Journalist - Mr. Wallace, the book ends on an ambiguous note. We don't know. Do you think they get back together in six months like they promised each other?

Jesse - I think how you answer that, you know, is... It's a good test, right, if you're a romantic or a cynic. Right?

Jesse to Journalist 1 - I mean, you think they get back together, right?

Jesse to Journalist 2 - You don't, for sure.

Jesse to Journalist 3 - And you hope they do, but you're not sure. That's why you're asking the question. Do you think they get back together?

So when you come back to the ending, where the movie ends with Jesse in Céline's couch, and we are left wondering what happens, you realize that the movie has already given us the hint at the very beginning.

If you're a romantic, your ending will be the one where Jesse misses his plane, and stays there with Céline.

If you're a cynic, you will see Jesse going back to US, to his family, to his responsibilities.

And if you're neither of the above, then you'll keep on wondering, till you see the third movie of course. :)

This is cinema at it's very best. Such a brilliantly crafted ending.

Please see this trilogy. you won't regret it... :)