Dealing in speculative and futuristic concepts, sci-fi has been pushing the boundaries of reality ever since the genre first made its way to the silver screen. While this state of affairs allows for an array of remarkable stories that could never take place in the real world, it also means that the genre is capable of producing some of the most disturbing endings that cinema has to offer, bestowing a laundry list of hypothetical nightmarish fates upon many of its greatest characters in the film’s final act.
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From confusing endings that leave viewers in a state of existential befuddlement to shocking final twists that blow the audience’s collective mind, there’s no set form to a terrifying sci-fi movie conclusion. The one common trait that these film endings all share is an innate ability to scare their viewers silly, depicting such a hellishly unenviable end to proceedings that the audience find themselves counting their lucky stars that they don’t inhabit the universe being depicted onscreen.
You are watching: 10 Most Terrifying Sci-Fi Movie Endings, Ranked
10
Knowing (2009)
Directed By Alex Proyas
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Knowing
pg-13
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Release Date
March 20, 2009
Runtime
121minutes
Director
Alex Proyas
Writers
Alex Proyas
Cast
See All
-
Nicolas Cage
-
Rose Byrne
Released in 2009, Knowing is a Science Fiction and Thriller starring Nicolas Cage. The story, from Ryne Douglas Pearson, sees humanity “knowing” when upcoming diasters and apocalyptic events will happen thanks to a strange piece of paper covered with numbers.
Studio(s)
Entertainment One
Distributor(s)
Entertainment One, Summit Entertainment
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2009’s Knowing may have only received middling reviews from critics, but the Nicolas Cage-led movie features what is arguably one of the most unsettling endings in sci-fi history. While a number of survivors escape on interstellar arks, the film’s ending sees the entire world destroyed by a cataclysmic solar flare. Cage’s protagonist is left with no recourse but to hug his remaining family, embracing in the final seconds before all life on Earth ends in a fiery instant.
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Depicting entire cities crumbling beneath an apocalyptic wall of flame, the ending to Knowing is an awe-inspiring visual spectacle, shocking viewers into silence through the scale of the sheer destruction unfolding onscreen. It’s every child’s nightmare of all life on Earth suddenly ending given form on the silver screen, erasing humanity’s footprint from the universe in such an abrupt manner it was like they had never existed.
9
Ex Machina (2015)
Directed By Alex Garland
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Ex Machina
R
Sci-Fi
Drama
8.8/10
Release Date
April 10, 2015
Runtime
108 minutes
Director
Alex Garland
Writers
Alex Garland
Cast
See All
-
Alicia Vikander
-
Domhnall Gleeson
Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems.
Studio(s)
A24
Distributor(s)
A24, Universal Pictures
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Widely regarded as one of the finest sci-fi movies of the 2010s, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina received rave reviews from critics upon release in 2015. Chronicling a programmer’s attempts to perform the Turing test on a humanoid AI, the film ends with Alicia Vikander’s android turning the tables on her human captors. Garland gleefully lures his audience into a false sense of security by subtly humanizing Ava throughout the movie, shattering the viewer’s perception in devastating fashion by ultimately underlining her inhuman nature.
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Ex Machina Academy Award Wins & Nominations |
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|---|---|
|
Best Original Screenplay |
Nominated |
|
Best Visual Effects |
Won |
Ex Machina’s conclusion sees Ava trick Domhnall Gleeson’s Caleb into thinking she has romantic feelings for him, using his emotions to engineer her escape. After she repurposes parts from other androids to take on an appearance indistinguishable from a real human, Caleb is left trapped in the room originally used to confine the android, presumably left to starve to death as the vengeful AI escapes and makes herself at home in human society.
8
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Directed By Ridley Scott
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Alien: Covenant
R
Thriller
Adventure
Sci-Fi
16
9.1/10
Release Date
May 19, 2017
Runtime
123 Minutes
Director
Ridley Scott
Writers
dante harper, John Logan, Jack Paglen, Michael Green
Prequel(s)
Aliens
Cast
See All
-
Michael Fassbender
David
-
Katherine Waterston
Walter
Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover an uncharted planet. Initially seeming like a paradise, the planet soon reveals dark secrets. Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, and Billy Crudup lead the cast in this science fiction horror film, which serves as a direct sequel to Prometheus and continues to explore the origins of the Alien species.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Studio(s)
20th Century
Distributor(s)
20th Century
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The sequel to 2012’s Prometheus, 2017’s Alien: Covenant boasts what is contentiously the Alien franchise’s most harrowing ending. After the film’s protagonists have made their escape from the android David’s planet of nightmares and resumed their journey to Origae-6, all appears to be well as the movie draws to a close, compounding the levels of sheer horror as Ridley Scott whips the rug out from under his audience.
Alien: Covenant boasts an IMDb rating of 6.4.
David is revealed to have replaced the Covenant’s android Walter, taking advantage of their identical appearances. Katherine Waterson’s Daniels realizes his deception too late, clocking on just as David places her and the remaining survivors in cryosleep. Things get even worse from there, as Michael Fassbender’s devious android barfs up two facehugger embryos, locking them in cold storage with the colonist’s counterparts to rubber stamp one of modern sci-fi’s most appalling endings.
7
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
Directed By Philip Kaufman
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Invasion of the Body Snatchers
PG
Sci-Fi
Horror
9.3/10
Release Date
December 22, 1978
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Philip Kaufman
Writers
W.D. Richter
Cast
See All
-
Jeff Goldblum
-
Donald Sutherland
1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers was directed by Philip Kaufman and is an adaptation of the popular 1955 Sci-Fi novel, The Body Snatchers. The Horror and Sci-Fi release features a race of mysterious alien creatures that travel to Earth and begin taking over the bodies of unsuspecting humans.
Studio(s)
United Artists
Distributor(s)
United Artists
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Playing host to a disturbing sci-fi conclusion for the ages, 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers serves as the second cinematic adaptation of Jack Finney’s 1955 novel, The Body Snatchers. The sci-fi masterpiece revolves around a group of aliens surreptitiously replacing humans with perfect biological copies, the only difference being that these clones are completely lacking in human emotion.
|
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Adaptations’ Rotten Tomatoes Approval Ratings |
|
|---|---|
|
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) |
98% |
|
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) |
93% |
|
Body Snatchers (1993) |
71% |
|
The Invasion (2007) |
20% |
A preeminent case study in cultivating cinematic unease, Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ central premise is already the stuff of bad dreams long before the film’s conclusion rolls around. Phillip Kaufman saves his hellish final twist for last, revealing that Donald Sutherland’s protagonist Matthew Bennell has also been replaced by the movie’s antagonistic invaders. Bennell’s abhorrent facial expression as he unleashes one of the aliens’ trademark howls is legitimate nightmare fuel, a harrowing audiovisual spectacle compounded by the fact that he has just identified one of the few remaining humans for assimilation.
6
Us (2019)
Directed By Jordan Peele
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Us
R
Horror
Mystery
Thriller
8.5/10
Release Date
March 22, 2019
Runtime
116 Minutes
Director
Jordan Peele
Writers
Jordan Peele
Cast
See All
-
Lupita Nyong’o
-
Winston Duke
Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Us follows the Wilson family; Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) and her husband Gabe (Winston Duke), and their children, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex). When visiting a remote lakeside cabin, the Wilson family is beset by exact doppelgangers of themselves, who quickly disclose that they mean their counterparts harm. The Wilson family is forced to fight for their lives against twisted mirror images of themselves, not realizing that there are more doppelgangers out there.
Main Genre
Horror
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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The second feature film outing from Jordan Peele, 2019’s Us blends sci-fi with fully fledged horror to produce an unforgettable cinematic experience. Peele’s sophomore effort is renowned for its disturbing twist ending, unmasking Lupita Nyong’o’s Adelaide Wilson as one of the movie’s “Tethered”; the ghoulish doppelgängers who share a soul with their human counterparts but are forced to live out a subterranean shadow existence.
Peele ups the horror factor even further by implying that Evan Alex’s Jason has ultimately become aware of his mother’s deception…
A flashback reveals that the real Adelaide was subdued and trapped underground by her villainous alter-ego during a childhood encounter, with the “Tethered” version of Wilson gleefully assuming her place in the human world. Peele ups the horror factor even further by implying that Evan Alex’s Jason has ultimately become aware of his mother’s deception, compounding the terrifying aura of the movie’s ending by deliberately leaving this unsettling story thread ambiguous.
5
The Thing (1982)
Directed By John Carpenter
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The Thing
R
Horror
Sci-Fi
Mystery
11
9.5/10
Release Date
June 25, 1982
Runtime
109 minutes
Director
John Carpenter
Writers
Bill Lancaster
Prequel(s)
The Thing
Cast
See All
-
T.K. Carter
-
David Clennon
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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A seminal sci-fi entry from John Carpenter, 1982’s The Thing depicts a group of researchers’ petrifying encounters with the iconic movie’s titular creature, an extra-terrestrial entity capable of assuming the physical form of its victims. Set against the backdrop of Antarctica, The Thing is notorious for its ambiguous ending, an indescribably eerie scene that takes the form of an uneasy truce between Kurt Russell’s MacReady and Keith David’s Childs.
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The movie concludes with the sole survivors sharing a bottle of whiskey as they slowly freeze to death, unsure as to which of them is really the Thing. Inviting speculation that has raged on to this day, Carpenter’s cryptic ending simultaneously elevates the movie’s quality while providing an appropriately harrowing conclusion to such a disturbing tale. The idea that the movie’s tormentor is sitting there bold as brass, waiting for its final victim to let their guard down, is too unsettling for words.
4
Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Directed By Franklin J. Schaffner
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Planet of the Apes
G
Sci-Fi
Adventure
6.5/10
Release Date
April 3, 1968
Runtime
112 minutes
Director
Franklin J. Schaffner
Writers
Rod Serling, Michael Wilson
Prequel(s)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, dawn of the Planet of the apes movie, War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Cast
See All
-
Kim Hunter
-
Charlton Heston
Planet of the Apes follows astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) who awakes from suspended animation to find his ship crash-landing on a mysterious planet. He soon discovers that the planet is inhabited by talking apes, who have enslaved their native human population. As the only human with the capacity for speech, he resists the oppressive ape regime, all the while hoping that he can eventually find his way home.
Studio(s)
20th Century
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Serving as the catalyst for the wildly successful Planet of the Apes movie franchise, 1968’s original installment, Planet of the Apes, still retains its status as the series’ finest offering, despite concluding in inimitably upsetting fashion. The movie leads its audience to believe that the titular planet could be located anywhere in the deepest recesses of space, hammering home the devastation when Franklin J. Schaffner reveals that the action has been taking place on Earth the whole time.
Crumbling landmarks are all that remains of a world where humans ruled supreme, their only home in the universe replaced with an unforgiving world where they are no longer even the dominant species.
Planet of the Apes’ iconic twist ending sees Charlton Heston realize his appalling circumstances after coming across the destroyed Statue of Liberty. This seminal conclusion remains one of the genre’s most devastating examples because it ruthlessly strips the final remnants of humanity’s sense of identity away. Crumbling landmarks are all that remains of a world where humans ruled supreme, their only home in the universe replaced with an unforgiving world where they are no longer even the dominant species.
3
12 Monkeys (1995)
Directed By Terry Gilliam
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12 Monkeys
r
Mystery
Sci-Fi
Thriller
9.5/10
Release Date
January 5, 1996
Runtime
129minutes
Director
Terry Gilliam
Writers
Chris Marker, David Webb Peoples, Janet Peoples
Cast
-
Joseph Melito
-
Bruce Willis
In 12 Monkeys, convict James Cole (Bruce Willis) travels back in time to learn the origin of a man-made virus that has unleashed worldwide chaos in the future. Terry Gilliam’s 1995 sci-fi movie, which boasts a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, Madeleine Stowe, and David Morse, is based on Chris Marker’s 1962 short film La Jetée and originated a 2013 TV series adaptation.
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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Boasting one of cinema’s best depictions of time travel, 1995’s 12 Monkeys sees Bruce Willis’ James Cole sent back in time to obtain information about a virus that wiped out 99% of life on the planet. Throughout the movie, Cole experiences disturbing flashbacks of a shooting at an airport, foreshadowing the macabre ending that Terry Gilliam uses to conclude his lauded sci-fi movie with.
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Desperately pursuing the individual carrying the virus through an airport, Cole is shot and killed by a security officer. As he lies dying, Willis’ protagonist sees his younger self in the crowd, revealing that his flashbacks have been depicting his own death. Not only does Cole fail to prevent the virus from wiping out humanity, but he is locked in an inescapable time loop, doomed to watch himself die over and over again while his crucial mission crashes and burns endlessly. Cheerful stuff.
2
Life (2017)
Directed By Daniel Espinosa
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Life
R
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Horror
8.5/10
Release Date
March 24, 2017
Runtime
104 Minutes
Director
Daniel Espinosa
Writers
Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese
Cast
See All
-
Ryan Reynolds
-
Alexandre Nguyen
Life, directed by Ted Demme, follows two strangers, portrayed by Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, who are wrongfully convicted in 1932. Their journey through the American penal system leads them to develop a strong friendship inside prison, enduring challenges and changes throughout the 20th century.
Main Genre
Sci-Fi
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Sony
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Bearing remarkable similarities to the Alien movie franchise, 2017’s Life chronicles the murderous rampage of a predatory extra-terrestrial entity dubbed “Calvin” aboard the ISS. Daniel Espinosa’s star-studded sci-fi horror also happens to play host to one of the genre’s most terrifying endings. An attempt to fire Calvin into deep space using an escape pod during the movie’s climactic sequence backfires spectacularly; the alien splashes down to Earth instead, presumably heralding the end of humanity.
In addition to Rebecca Ferguson, Life’s ensemble cast also includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Ryan Reynolds.
However, it somehow gets even worse from there. Rebecca Ferguson’s Miranda North was meant to return to Earth in a separate escape pod, but collides with debris en route, leaving her vehicle spinning uncontrollably into the recesses of outer space. The notion of drifting endlessly into the void towards one’s own death, unable to do anything more meaningful than scream in abject horror, is an utterly harrowing one, a state of affairs mirrored perfectly by North’s howls of despair.
1
The Mist (2007)
Directed By Frank Darabont
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The Mist
R
Sci-Fi
Horror
7.5/10
Release Date
November 21, 2007
Runtime
126 minutes
Director
Frank Darabont
Writers
Frank Darabont
Cast
See All
-
Laurie Holden
-
Thomas Jane
Stephen King’s terrifying novel is brought to the screen with The Mist – a horror-thriller film directed by Frank Darabont. When a small town suddenly sees a giant rolling fog arrive, they show mere curiosity. But when people begin to die mysteriously within, several survivors hold up in a grocery store as they attempt to find a way out and survive – unfortunately, the dangers don’t just come from outside- they also come from within.
Studio(s)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor(s)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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An adaptation of Stephen King’s novella of the same name, The Mist’s ending is arguably the most devastating conclusion that science fiction has ever witnessed. Apparently surrounded by monstrous creatures with their escape vehicle completely out of gas, Thomas Jane’s David makes the harrowing decision to mercy-kill the car’s occupants with their remaining ammunition, a group that includes his young son, Billy. Unfortunately for David, the movie’s titular mist clears moments later, revealing the U.S. Army arriving on the scene to rescue survivors.
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Jane’s protagonist’s appalling sacrifice is rendered utterly meaningless, with his devastated screams mirroring the reaction of the movie’s horrified audience. Remarkably, Frank Darabont’s macabre conclusion was an original creation for his take on King’s source material. The novella actually ends on a hopeful note as David hears a potential survivor over the radio, compounding the shock factor and desolating emotional impact that the live-action sci-fi adaptation levies instead.
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Category: Entertainment