10 Biggest Downer Endings In Major Movies

Terry Gilliam seems to like ending things on a downer: who can forget his largely family friendly comic fantasy Time Bandits ending with the young hero's parents being blown to dust by a fragment of concentrated evil?

However, the ex-Python turned-Hollywood agitator reserved his grimmest conclusion for the film that has long been held up as his masterpiece (and quite rightly so): 1985's darkly comedic dystopian sci-fi fantasy, Brazil.

The film follows Jonathan Pryce as Sam Lowry, a low-level government bureaucrat who daydreams of a more exciting life, and inadvertently gets his wish when a clerical error sets in motion a bizarre chain of events which ultimately sees him declared an enemy of the state.

Things seem hopeless for Sam when he's taken in for torture and interrogation; which, just make it even worse, is to be performed by one of his oldest friends, Jack (Michael Palin). However, a daring rescue ensues, and it soon looks as though Sam has escaped to an idyllic happy ever after.

But as the devastating final moments reveal, it's just a dream. Sam is still strapped in Jack's chair, the torture having seen him totally lose touch with reality.

Controversially, US distributors Universal were unhappy with Brazil's ending and insisted on removing that final, bleak reveal. This led to a long and ugly legal battle between the studio and Gilliam.