10 Great Movies Ruined By Their Third Act

Prepare to be disappointed by these 10 great movies, as their final acts fail to live up to their potential, leaving fans and critics wanting more.

There are countless great movies out there, but these 10 films fall just short due to their poorly received final acts. The definition of a good movie may vary, but the general consensus often determines whether a movie is considered good or bad. While not every movie can win an Oscar, those aiming for the “good” label must provide satisfying endings that wrap up the narrative and leave audiences content.

However, achieving this is not always easy. Sometimes, a film may captivate viewers with its cast or premise, only to disappoint them with a lackluster ending. This is especially disheartening for movies that excel for the majority of their runtime, only to stumble in the final act. Whether due to an unfinished narrative or a failure to entertain, these 10 movies could have been exceptional if they had more satisfying conclusions.

10 Glass

M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass is the third and final film in his Unbreakable trilogy, and though it provides some excitement and typical Shyamalan plot twists, the final act is decidedly disappointing. The beginning of Glass is a fun watch, as David Dunn runs around the streets of Philadelphia, dishing out vigilante justice and chasing the Beast relentlessly, but the narrative ends up feeling hollow by the end of Glass. The conflicts between the superhumans and Dr. Ellie Staple feel contrived, and the plot twists are surprisingly cheap. As a result, Glass falls short of being the best work in Shyamalan’s accomplished career.

9 Downsizing

The 2017 film, Downsizing, is another movie that is entertaining for a time, before collapsing in its final act. Downsizing is a fascinating concept, following a fictional world where a Norwegian scientist figures out how to shrink organic material, allowing him to shrink humans down to about five inches in size. This interesting approach to preserving the planet is thought-provoking for a time, but when the end of Downsizing reveals that humans will soon be extinct anyway, it feels contrary to the movie’s premise. Not to mention, this ending seems to come out of nowhere, leaving audiences wondering what just happened.

8 Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman has the appearance of a great new superhero movie for the first two-thirds of its runtime, but by the film’s third act, things begin to unravel. Wonder Woman‘s ending doesn’t work for a few reasons. Firstly, the film spends so much time developing the characters, which it does a fantastic job of, that it doesn’t have enough time to craft a well-paced and reasonable ending. Things begin to happen rapidly in the final act as Diana is tossed into epic conflicts, seemingly out of nowhere. The end of Wonder Woman leaves audiences questioning what just happened.Wonder Woman zooms through its plot without adequately explaining the conflicts it presents. The movie leaves viewers wanting more clarity and depth.

7 The Grey

The Grey takes us on a thrilling journey with John Ottway, an expert on grey wolves, as he navigates the harsh Alaskan wilderness. The constant threat of wolves adds tension to the story, but as the survivors dwindle, Ottway finds himself alone in the wolves’ territory. The film ends with a climactic showdown between Ottway and the alpha wolf, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats, eager to know the outcome.

6 Planet Of The Apes (2001)

Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes remake leaves audiences puzzled with its ambiguous ending. Leo manages to return to Earth, only to discover that apes now rule the planet. The film hints at the cause of this shift in power, but fails to provide a satisfying explanation. Despite its strong moments, the confusing conclusion leaves a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

5 Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with its gripping storyline. However, the film struggles to deliver a satisfying conclusion. After all the intense events, the ending leaves viewers with unanswered questions. The lack of clarity in the final moments leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth, overshadowing the film’s overall impact.

In the movie Law Abiding Citizen, it’s hard to believe that Clyde, who is able to achieve so much from his prison cell, would be easily duped by Rice in the end. It feels unrealistic and somewhat like a betrayal to see Clyde lose after everything he goes through. While it may not be right for a man like him to go free after committing so many murders, it would have been more satisfying to see a darker and more fulfilling ending for Clyde.

Moving on to The Wolverine, it initially seems like it could be the best X-Men movie for a while. The film focuses on Wolverine’s character and the consequences of his powers, creating a grounded feel for a superhero movie. However, as the final act begins, the movie takes a detour from its promising course. The clash between Wolverine and Ichiro Yashida in a giant robotic samurai suit feels out of sync with the rest of the film, turning it into just another generic superhero movie. It’s a missed opportunity for what could have been a great movie.

In Lucy, the title character embarks on a quest to unlock the untapped potential of the human brain. While the concept is interesting, the film falls short in its execution, particularly in its ending. Once Lucy gains access to 100% of her brain, she transforms into a form of artificial intelligence, which contradicts the movie’s premise. It feels like a cheap way to wrap up the story and leaves the audience wanting more. Ultimately, Lucy fails to fully explore the intriguing concepts it introduces, resulting in a lackluster conclusion.

Lastly, we have Sunshine, featuring Cillian Murphy. The movie takes us on a journey to save the dying sun, and Murphy’s performance is captivating. However, the film’s ending leaves something to be desired. It doesn’t provide the closure or resolution that the story deserves. While the visuals and performances are impressive, the conclusion of Sunshine falls short of its potential.

Overall, these movies have their strengths and weaknesses, but their endings could have been more satisfying and impactful.

Sunshine takes us on a thrilling journey with a crew of astronauts who must reignite the sun to save Earth from freezing over. At first, the film captivates with its thought-provoking exploration of intriguing concepts, promising to become a science-fiction classic. However, the final act takes an unexpected turn that feels completely out of place, shattering the film’s premise and disrupting the atmosphere built in its earlier acts. Suddenly, the astronauts’ ship is invaded in the vastness of outer space, transforming Sunshine into a mere Star Trek imitation.

1 World War Z

World War Z is a gripping zombie disaster movie that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats throughout. However, the conclusion somewhat diminishes the impact of the rest of the plot. The protagonist, Gerry Lane, discovers that the zombies won’t attack sick humans, which isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but the execution feels anticlimactic. The majority of the film races forward with thrilling action, but the ending seems to lose momentum as if the writers realized they needed to wrap things up.