12 Movies With Way Happier Endings Than You'd Ever Expect

Not all of Steven Spielberg's films are home runs. But over time, even his weaker films have found appreciation. In the 2005 adaptation of The War Of The Worlds book, all the pieces are there for a grounded and contemporary alien invasion.

Following Ray (Tom Cruise) as he navigates a teenage son (Justin Chatwin) and daughter (Dakota Fanning) through the ensuing invasion, the "violence" is unimaginable as humans run (and fight each other) for their survival.

It's one emotional defeat after another for Ray as he watches the world around him descend into chaos, he all-but believes (and so do us viewing audience members) his son Robbie, has died trying to fight the aliens, and he's forced to murder another man to keep his daughter safe.

By the end of the movie, Ray is a wreck of a man who barely has any of his Tom Cruise charm left inside him. Ray and Rachel make it to Boston, where they reunite with loved ones, and as the tears start, it's revealed that Robbie survived what we were lead to believe was his dying moment.

It's an ending that cushions all the tragedy and destruction that occurred an hour and a half prior.