7 Most Confusing Movie Endings That'll Haunt Your Thoughts

True art is never simple, and the most extraordinary films often lack a definite conclusion that gives you all the answers about the characters and plot. That's not to say that these endings aren't rewarding — they really are! But there are still lots of ways you can interpret them.

Here's our list of seven films with the most puzzling finales.

7. Looper (2012)

The sci-fi action thriller follows two versions of the same protagonist, Joe, who is tasked to kill his older self from the future. Eventually, Joe decides to fulfill the mission by committing suicide, which may seem logical — except that this would erase the entire timeline with both Joes. The film is great, but many viewers were confused by the ending.

6. Enemy (2013)

The neo-noir thriller reaches the furthest corners of our subconsciousness. In the end, the main heroine turns into a giant spider. Is this transformation supposed to symbolize the fear of women, fear of commitments and expectations, or fear of existence itself, suggesting we are all caught up in the chaotic web of life?

5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Dr. Bowman finds an alien monolith and travels to Jupiter to investigate it. He is transported through time and space under the protection of higher beings and is reborn as a Star Child. Does the finale represent human evolution or our helplessness in the face of the cosmos? There have been hundreds of interpretations of the cult classic, and you're free to come up with your own.

4. Jacob's Ladder (1990)

This is one of the most difficult movies to watch because it literally puts you in the mind of a dying man as he approaches his demise. We'll never know whether Jacob and his unit were really drugged, or if the last scene was just another hallucination of his brain trying to rationalize the last few seconds.

3. Midsommar (2019)

Whether you think the ending is happy or not, it certainly doesn't provide a clear answer. Did Dani become a victim of a cult, or did she manage to truly emancipate herself by getting out of a toxic relationship?

2. American Psycho (2000)

Was Patrick Bateman a serial killer, or was his mind corrupted by money and power? The former is probably true, and he was subconsciously trying to convince himself he wasn't a murderer. But was he?

1. Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko is certainly one of the most cryptic films ever made. The teenage protagonist is suffering from symptoms of schizophrenia and makes friends with a hallucination, Frank, who wears a large bunny costume and tells him the world will end in 28 days. In the finale, the 28 days unwind and we see the character die from an accident that he had escaped at the very beginning.