Ambiguous Endings

Have you ever gone to the movies and walked out after it was over, unsure about the ending. The movie Inception comes immediately to mind, with its spinning top. Does it fall, or does it continue to spin? Reality, or simply another dream? My friends and family have hotly debated that one on multiple occasions, and no matter how much we argue, we've never once been unanimous in our final verdicts.

However, Inception is far from the first movie that’s ending left me questioning. Here are a few (of the many) that I've thought about over the years:

The Graduate:

The ending of this movies is one of the most debated of all time. Their fading smiles as the bus drives away from the chapel haunts movie goes world-wide, making them wonder what happens after the final scene? Will Elaine and Benjamin stay together, or is their relationship already doomed? 

The Breakfast Club:

Ah, The Breakfast Club. It's one of those movies that appears to end on a high note, but in fact remains quite unclear. What happens the following Monday at school? Will the Breakfast Club remember what they learned about each other and what they shared, or will they revert back to their original behavior? 

The Break-Up:

I can't say that this movie affected me the way the others did, but as I had a debated the ending the other day with a family friend I thought I'd include it for consideration. When Brooke and Gary run into one another at the end of the film, is that an implication that they'll get back together,or is it merely an act of closure?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:

I've spent a great deal of time thinking about this movie since I first saw it my freshman year of college. And I've wondered over and over again, what happens after the credits? Do Joel and Clementine repeat their original mistakes? Are they doomed to the same fate they forcefully removed from their memories?

I couldn't even begin to guess how much time I've spent thinking about these films, wondering, re-watching for clues, debating. What about you guys? What are your thoughts on these five movies? Do you also find yourself questioning what happens next? Are there any others that you would add to this list? 

*** For the record, my answers are:

Inception: Yes, the top falls (meaning it’s real).

The Graduate: The realize they've made a mistake and leave one another.

The Breakfast Club: As Claire suspected, they revert back to who they were before their emotional breakthroughs.

The Break-Up: No, they don't get back together. In fact, from the bags he's holding and his general demeanor, I think Gary is in a relationship with someone else. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: They’re doomed to the same ending they originally had.