15 Greatest Movie Endings Of The Decade
5. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
This might be considered something of a controversial one, but The Dark Knight Rises' final moments are the fitting end to Alfred's trilogy. Yes, Alfred's trilogy.
Judged in terms of Batman and his duty to Gotham, it's a little bit of a betrayal - which a lot of people were hung up on for a long time there - but this isn't just Batman, this is Christopher Nolan's take on the character and while he draws on the comics, he isn't limited by them. His character - and the dynamics that define him - is entirely different and after a serious of profound traumas, to see him achieve happiness is the right note to end on.
Bruce Wayne's story is one of a father attempting to get his son to turn away from the inevitable (with Alfred as the father figure) and seeing him and Bruce share a knowing smile across the cafe as we realise Batman survived the bomb is simple, deeply affecting cinema at its best.