10 Best Sci-Fi Movie Cliffhangers
3. Planet Of The Apes (1968)
The ending of the original 1968 version of Planet of the Apes has become so iconic that it was in fact spoiled on the actual poster itself.
If you’re one of the few people who haven’t seen it, the film centres on astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston), who gets stranded on what he perceives as an alien planet that has been over-run by humanoid apes.
After running away and escaping his captors, he discovers the remains of the Statue of Liberty washed up on the shoreline. Taylor is soon heartbroken, as he discovers that he in fact travelled forward in time, and that he was on Earth all along.
Hailed as one of the greatest twists not just in sci-fi, but in film history, this cliffhanger is simple and effective, and works so well. Also, much like Inception and The Thing, it makes you rethink everything you’ve just seen, and that is exactly what a good twist is supposed to do.