20 Most Intense Movie Endings Of All Time

1. Whiplash (2014)

And finally, our #1 spot goes to not a moment of abject cinematic horror or an awesome action sequence, but the climactic drum solo performed by ambitious jazz drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) during the anxiety-inducing finale of Damien Chazelle's instant classic, Whiplash.

As abusive jazz instructor Terence Fletcher (an Oscar-winning J.K. Simmons) attempts to publicly embarrass Andrew at the climactic jazz performance by forcing him to play a song he doesn't know, Andrew fires back by playing the notoriously challenging piece "Caravan" to sweaty-palmed perfection.

Outside of the movie's context the sheer complexity of the performance alone would be enough to make it nerve-wracking to watch, but as the finale to Andrew's battle against Fletcher, it rises to a whole other level, with Teller and Simmons' wordless performances in the final stretch only enhancing the intensity.

It's that rarest of movie scenes that'll leave you holding your breath, digging your nails into your seat and then finally able to let out a sigh of relief when it's all over. Incredible.

What are your favourite intense movie endings? Shout them out in the comments!