Everyone likes closure, so when a film ends with a cliffhanger, we have no choice but to hold out until the sequel is released. Let’s look at some movies that left us clinging on for the next installment.
The Empire Strikes Back
It was a defining moment in movie history: the shocking revelation of Darth Vader’s true identity and Han Solo’s fate frozen in pesky carbonite. The Star Wars saga’s second installment left audiences desperate for resolution. Did we have any choice but to hold out for Return Of The Jedi? No. We didn’t.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
It was one of the best cliffhangers any movie had seen in modern times. It ended with the love-to-hate Captain Jack Sparrow being dragged to the depths by the Kraken, leaving audiences wondering if he will survive. We won’t ruin it for you. You’ll have to watch the sequel.
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster ends with the surviving characters flying away from the island and leaving the dinosaurs behind. Nuking them would have been too straightforward and wouldn’t have left us guessing what could happen next.
Iron Man
When Tony Stark declared to the world that he was Iron Man, we knew the sequel would open up the challenges this disclosure would bring. What was doubly clever was that it departed from the typical superhero secret identity trope. We knew he had it coming in spades.
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo and Sam’s departure from the fellowship to continue their journey to Mount Doom with Gollum left viewers anticipating the trials and tribulations of their quest in the subsequent Lord of the Rings installments. As the pair looked out over Middle-Earth, wondering if they’d see the fellowship again, viewers had the same question.
Twilight: New Moon
The second film in the Twilight saga ends with Bella (Kristen Stewart) racing to save Edward (Robert Pattinson) from the menacing Volturi. They might have saved themselves this time, but we anticipate they’ll have more trouble from the Italian nemesis. This sets the stage for the epic confrontation in the next installment.
The Maze Runner
The first film in the Maze Runner series ends with the characters escaping the maze but discovering that they are still part of a larger experiment. The sudden ending didn’t go down with fans. Many felt it had set up the future sequels well but failed to offer closure to the original movie.
Now You See Me 2
The sequel to Now You See Me ends with the revelation that Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) has secretly orchestrated both films’ events, leaving audiences eager for answers in future installments. The cliffhanger ending adds a twist to the magical caper and opens up to a sequel.
Back To The Future: Part II
The second film in the Back to the Future trilogy ends with Marty (Michael J. Fox) waking Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and discovering that danger lies in the future. There was only one thing for it: they had to go back to the future. ‘To Be Continued’ was the parting gift while we anticipated the final installment.
Batman: The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel ends with the Joker’s fate left uncertain as he falls from a building, satisfied that Batman has been forced to kill his beaming arch-rival. After his arrest, was he left to rot in Arkham Asylum? The ambiguity left audiences wondering what his next move would be.
Frozen
Elsa’s discovery of her ice powers and newfound acceptance, coupled with Anna’s reconciliation with Kristoff, hinted at the sisters’ continued adventures. Even animations leave us hanging, and we were left to discover more about Elsa’s abilities in Frozen II. Waiting never bothered us anyhow.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The penultimate film in the Harry Potter series left us with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) obtaining the Elder Wand and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) vowing to continue his quest to destroy the Horcruxes. Young Harry and his two sidekicks had a lot of unfinished business.
The Bourne Identity
The first film in the Bourne series ends with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) escaping from his pursuers and setting out to uncover his true identity. We sense that he’s returning to the only life he’s ever known, which is uncertain, but it sets the stage for the action-packed sequels.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) rescue from the Quarter Quell arena and the revelation of District 13’s existence set the stage for a rebellion in Panem. Even if you’d read the books, you were still left hungry for the unfolding of the revolution. It was enough of a whirlwind to leave fans questioning the sequel.
Fast Five
There was the reveal of Letty’s (Michelle Rodriguez) survival and return, coupled with Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) enlisting Dom’s (Vin Diesel) help to take down a new threat. The ending left viewers eagerly anticipating further globe-trotting heists from Fast & Furious 6.
The Matrix Reloaded
The second film in the Matrix trilogy ends with Neo (Keanu Reeves) encountering the Architect, who reveals that he is not the first ‘One.’ We had to keep watching to discover the true nature of the Matrix and Neo’s role within it. It was a small miracle if you could keep up at this stage.
Kill Bill
Quentin Tarantino’s martial arts revenge saga ends with The Bride (Uma Thurman) confronting O-Ren Ishii in an epic snow fight (Lucy Liu), setting the stage for the epic showdown in the sequel. The cliffhanger ending leaves audiences keen to see how The Bride’s quest for vengeance unfolds.
Thor: Ragnarok
As Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his allies embarked on their journey to Earth, the typical Marvel mid-credits scene teased the impending threat of Thanos and the looming conflict that would unfold in Avengers: Infinity War. Viewers had no choice but to remain invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s franchise.
