Writing Great Endings to Your Screenplay: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Screenwriters

A well-crafted screenplay ending can leave a lasting impression on your audience, resonating with them long after the credits have rolled. It's the culmination of your characters' journeys, the resolution of their conflicts, and the final statement on the themes you've explored throughout your story.

The Third Act: Writing a Great Ending to Your Screenplay

by Drew Yanno

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Writing a great ending is not an easy task, but it's one of the most important. It's what will determine whether your screenplay is remembered or forgotten.

The Importance of a Great Ending

There are several reasons why your screenplay needs a great ending. First, a satisfying ending will leave your audience feeling satisfied and entertained. They'll feel like they got a complete story and that their time was well spent.

Second, a great ending will help you sell your screenplay. Producers and agents are more likely to be interested in a screenplay with a strong ending. They know that a well-crafted ending is essential for a successful film.

Finally, a great ending will help you build your reputation as a screenwriter. If you're known for writing great endings, people will be more likely to seek out your work in the future.

How to Write a Great Ending

There are many different ways to write a great ending. The best approach will vary depending on your story and your characters.

However, there are some general tips that can help you write a satisfying and unforgettable ending:

• Know your ending from the beginning. Before you start writing your screenplay, you should have a general idea of how it will end. This will help you stay on track as you write and make sure that your ending is consistent with the rest of your story.
• Build to a climax. The ending of your screenplay should be the culmination of everything that has come before. The action should build to a climax and then resolve in a satisfying way.
• Resolve your characters' conflicts. The ending of your screenplay should resolve the conflicts that your characters have been facing. This doesn't mean that everyone has to get a happy ending, but it does mean that the characters should come to terms with their problems.
• Leave a lasting impression. The ending of your screenplay should leave a lasting impression on your audience. It should be something that they think about long after the credits have rolled.

Examples of Great Endings

There are many great examples of endings in film history, but let's consider the iconic ending of "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) written by Frank Darabont.

In this movie, the main character, Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins),is serving a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. After many years in prison, Andy escapes and reunites with his friend, Red (played by Morgan Freeman).

The ending of the film is both satisfying and bittersweet. Andy gets his freedom, but he also knows that he will never be able to go home. Red is left behind in prison, but he has found hope in Andy's story.

Another example of a great ending is "The Godfather" (1972),written by Francis Ford Coppola. In this film, Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) becomes the head of the Corleone family after his father, Vito (played by Marlon Brando),is killed.

The ending of the film is a powerful and tragic statement on the corrupting influence of power. Michael has achieved his goal of becoming a powerful man, but he has also lost everything that was important to him, including his family.

These are just two examples of great endings in film history. There are many other great endings out there, but these two examples illustrate the importance of a satisfying and unforgettable ending.

Writing a great ending to your screenplay is a challenging but rewarding task. If you can do it, you will have a screenplay that is more likely to be produced, sold, and remembered.

Follow the tips in this guide and you will be well on your way to writing a great ending for your screenplay.

To learn more about writing screenplays, check out our other articles on the subject.

The Third Act: Writing a Great Ending to Your Screenplay

by Drew Yanno

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2295 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	180 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE