Q&A: What's the Difference Between Ironic Endings and Ambiguous Endings?

Original Post Date: September 19, 2011 - Robert McKee discusses the pros and cons of straightforward, ironic, ambiguous, and open endings.

[@saltech3444]

Ironic ending: The Godfather Part Two (1972) - Michael reflects on the fact that he saved his family by destroying his family. Open ending: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - the Rebels reflect on the fate of Han Solo, the revelation from Darth Vader that may or may not be a lie, and the movie ends. Ambiguous ending: The French Connection (1971) - fade to black and a gunshot. Once Upon A Time In America (1984) - Noodles takes a puff of opium, lies back, and gives a beatific smile.

[@zanshibumi]

I often listen to you imagining you're not a wise man speaking about characters, but a god speaking about human lives. The care and loving you express about us makes me want to believe there was such an entity. To know that all ills that befall me, are meant to build a satisfactory story arc.

[@nikilambropoulos7300]

Human lives in Greece of crisis get through all sort of endings simultaneously...

[@Hardeleiar]

It would be helpful to have some examples... I am a bit confused in the middle because I thought Inception as an ambiguous, now i know it is open because it is clear on how we can interpret it.

[@nikhilagnihotri5029]

I would say Inception is ambiguous. We are not given adequate material to make a choice for the destiny of character. Blue Valentine I would say is like an open ending, where the choice seems clear. Also, Inception would be a rare movie where there is beauty to the ambiguity.

[@gr2192]

@@nikhilagnihotri5029 Inception is open, because the possibilities are been defined: we know that (SPOILER) He could be in a Dream (negative ending) OR not (positive ending), but we can choose, and the movie gives us the material to know those possibilities. Same thing with the Batman Trilogy, where the movie defines the possibilities of the ending. Honestly... I can't think to an ambiguous ending 🤔