Movies that leave lingering unanswered questions

[PhysicalMediaMaestro]

Most movies attempt to end by answering all the questions they raised earlier. But there are instances where movies leave certain questions unanswered, and those questions linger in your mind and help keep the movie memorable. Here are a few movies that leave lingering unanswered questions:

"Blade Runner" (1982)-Was Rick Deckard a replicant himself?

"Addams Family Values" (1993)-After the villain's defeat, how did they all escape in the end?

"The Cable Guy" (1996)-Was Sam Sweet found guilty of murdering his twin brother?

"Inside Out 2" (2024)-Did Riley make the hockey team?

If you know of any other movies that leave lingering unanswered questions, please share them on this thread. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Martoto]

None of those lingered with me.

[Doctor Jack]

How did Madeline get out of the hotel in Vertigo?

[sandman slim]

eXistenZ:

[Show spoiler]"Are we still in the game?"

[apricissimus]

Total Recall:

[Show spoiler]Is Quaid dreaming or not?

[d2cheer]

^Yes

[Atomic Salad]

Originally Posted by d2cheer

^Yes

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by apricissimus

Total Recall:

[Show spoiler]Is Quaid dreaming or not?

[Show spoiler]yes, it's all in his head. There's enough things on the screens at Recall early in the film to show that.

Italian Job - how did they get off the cliff at the end. Michael Caine has technically already explained this and the plans for the abandoned sequel.

Phantasm saga - how much of it was real, and how much dream/vision/hallucination.

[EvaDK]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

[Show spoiler]yes, it's all in his head. There's enough things on the screens at Recall early in the film to show that.

[Show spoiler]Yep. Rachel Ticotins face appearing on the screen when Quaid picks his adventure at Total Recall - I don't think you can explain that unless you accept that Quaid is stuck in a dream.

The Thing

Lost Highway

No Country For Old Men

Anatomy of A Fall

The Wailing

Lost In Translation

[apricissimus]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

[Show spoiler]Yep. Rachel Ticotins face appearing on the screen when Quaid picks his adventure at Total Recall - I don't think you can explain that unless you accept that Quaid is stuck in a dream.

I think that's more of a plot hole. From a dramatic point of view (which is the best point of view), I think they wanted the ending to be ambiguous.

[d2cheer]

^The bright light at the end is a giveaway.

[Moonbeam]

Talking about dreams... Inception

[Maryona]

Why did it take so long to learn the wizard was a con artist in Wizard of Oz?

[Atomic Salad]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

[Show spoiler]Yep. Rachel Ticotins face appearing on the screen when Quaid picks his adventure at Total Recall - I don't think you can explain that unless you accept that Quaid is stuck in a dream.

[Show spoiler]Her face on the monitor IS the dream.

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by Maryona

Why did it take so long to learn the wizard was a con artist in Wizard of Oz?

Because it was the twist in the tail.

[Jay H.]

I've watched the movie numerous times over the past 23 years, and I still have various questions about Donnie Darko.

Honestly, that's how it should be.

[clamcakes]

Did Dr. Challis save the kids?

[stvn1974]

After the Joker dropped Rachel out of the window and Batman jumped to save her and they landed on the car what happened next?

The Joker is still upstairs with a bunch of hostages, did Batman call him and his men a cab or did they have jet packs under their clothes?

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by clamcakes

Did Dr. Challis save the kids?

The questions I have about that ending are:

- Why didn't it get reported when the "big giveaway" occurred in the Eastern, Central, and Mountain time zones?
- Where did he get the phone number?
- Were there only three channels showing it?
- Was the one phone number he called for all three of the channels?
- Why did the person on the other end take Dr. Challis at his word?

[RFK]

In 1999, director John Sayles did exactly that with a fade to black ending that put the audience in a state of Limbo. Limbo's ending brought a huge groan from most of the audience but I thought it was perfect. What did they expect from a movie called Limbo?