10 Greatest Cut To Black Movie Endings EVER

Nobody does a cut to black quite like Paul Thomas Anderson, enough that it's tough to pick just one from his illustrious filmography. But just barely edging out There Will Be Blood's hilariously grim ending, we have Magnolia's considerably more hopeful final shot.

The final scene is a two-minute single take slowly zooming in on the face of cocaine addict Claudia (Melora Waters) as her love interest Jim (John C. Reilly) tells her that he wants to explore a relationship with her.

The scene is set to Aimee Mann's Oscar-nominated song "Save Me," and reaches its glorious chorus just as Claudia stares directly into the camera lens and tearfully smiles, before Anderson suddenly cuts to black.

While we're left to ponder whether Claudia and Jim's relationship ultimately works out, it's a terrific and much-needed optimistic note on which to end the film, with Claudia finally cracking a smile after living through so much misery.

Combined with the entrancing long zoom and perfectly placed music, it's an all-timer ending for sure, and one of the greatest scenes Anderson has ever put to film.