**WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS**
First, we need to define what exactly is a “satisfying ending”. I think the meaning would be different for everyone. In my personal opinion, it doesn’t necessarily mean a happy one, but more like a complete conclusion to great a story that doesn’t leave any loose ends. It’s that feeling of relief at the end of it that puts a smile on your face. I decided to choose five of my list of movies with satisfying endings.
1. The Martian (2015. dir. Ridley Scott)
After being stuck alone on Mars for several months with very limited resources, astronaut Mark Watney is finally rescued by his crew in a mission that not only seemed impossible but also put their lives at high risk. All the stress and tension of the extremely calculated plan to make it work finally paid off when Commander Melissa Lewis grabbed him and brought him back to the ship safe and sound, while everyone watching at home all around the world cheered for him.
2. Mulan (1998, dir. Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook)
The brave soldier Mulan finally gets recognized for saving China from the Huns. When she thought she was going to be murdered for being a woman surpassing a male soldier, the Emperor praised her and all China bowed to honor her in a scene that gives me goosebumps every time I see it.
3. Argo (2012, dir. Ben Affleck)
That part when they are about to escape at the airport still remains for me as one of the most nerve-wracking scenes I have seen in a film and all that mental stress finally goes away in such a relief when the flight attendant announces they have cleared Iranian air space. They can finally breathe and hug each other as they knew they have been saved. It was also satisfying to know that Tony Mendez finally got some recognition for his heroic act and was awarded in secret an Intelligence Star, which he couldn't take home or even share with his own family until the mission was declassified in 1997.
4. Room (2015, dir. Lenny Abrahamson)
After being held captive for 7 years, Joy Newsome and her 5-year-old son are free to go home. The movie doesn’t end with them leaving the shed, but with little Jack wanting to say goodbye to the only environment he knew all his life. It's a heartbreaking scene but also brought some needed closure for both mom and son, who would then begin a new life together.
5. Spotlight (2015, dir. Tom McCarthy)
The story of how the Catholic church covered up the sexual abuse perpetrated on children by their priests for decades is finally exposed and published by a local Boston newspaper. The revealing story came as a bucket of freezing water for the thousands of devoted Catholics living in the region who blindly put their trust in these religious leaders. Knowing the truth wouldn’t stop the trauma that the victims were already suffering. However, it did allow more victims to speak and tell their stories as we saw at the ending when the phones wouldn't stop ringing at The Boston Globe offices and most of the calls were from victims.
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