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->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani's face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.''
->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
to:
->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani's face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.''
->'''FADE''\\
'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
->'''FADE
'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
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* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' ends on the [[DawnOfAnEra dawn of a new Age]] after the Dark One's defeat and TheChosenOne Rand's [[FakingTheDead apparent]] HeroicSacrifice. Away from the celebrations and mourning, Rand rides off, laughing in delight that his [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne duty]] is complete and he's free to [[WalkingTheEarth explore the world]].
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Correction to a mistake I made in my previous edit.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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Misplaced, moving to the correct tab
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mind-screw and torment she'd endured, Mima still has a positive outlook.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mind-screw and torment she'd endured, Mima still has a positive outlook.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mind-screw and torment she'd endured, Mima still has a positive outlook.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mind-screw and torment she'd endured, Mima still has a positive outlook.
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* ''Series/DoctorWho:
to:
* ''Series/DoctorWho:''Series/DoctorWho'':
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The monologue scene and the smile are two separate scenes, and she gives the monologue to another character who isn't Howard.
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* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through... but she still doesn't lose it.
to:
* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through... but she still doesn't lose it.
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Added example(s), Alphabetizing example(s)
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* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' ends with Superman flying up into the sky and smiling at the camera.
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* ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'': As reporters gather to cover the death of Joe, Norma, in the depths of her delusion, thinks they're there to report on her return to the silver screen. In the closing shot, Norma says 'All right, Mr. [=DeMille=], I'm ready for my closeup" and advances towards the camera with a demented grin on her face. The camera then goes out of focus, as if the sight of her madness were too much to bear.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' ends with Superman flying up into the sky and smiling at the camera.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' ends with Superman flying up into the sky and smiling at the camera.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': "Stimpy's Invention" ends as Ren, finally freeing himself from the control of the [[MindControlDevice Happy Helmet]], has Stimpy in a stranglehold, telling him that he's never been angrier in his entire life. Then suddenly, Ren smiles, because he realizes that being angry is what makes him happy. The parting shot is a close-up of Ren's demonic grimace, accompanied by [[LaughingMad mad laughter]].
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Added wick to The Hero Dies
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This trope is not GoOutWithASmile, where a character smiles as they die (or its more sinister cousin, DyingSmirk). On rare occasions, if the work ends with the character's death, the two tropes may overlap, but it's very unusual. It's more commonly a feature of the GroupPictureEnding.
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This trope is not GoOutWithASmile, where a character smiles as they die (or its more sinister cousin, DyingSmirk). On rare occasions, if the work [[TheHeroDies ends with the character's death, death]], the two tropes may overlap, but it's very unusual. It's more commonly a feature of the GroupPictureEnding.
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* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids will be making history!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
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* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids will be making history!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, However, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
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* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mindscrew and torment she'd endured, Mima still has her positive outlook.
to:
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mindscrew mind-screw and torment she'd endured, Mima still has her a positive outlook.
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* ''Film/IngridGoesWest'' ends on a smile spreading across Ingrid's face as, after attempting suicide on camera (which she also did while smiling before she passed out), she sees that her Instagram account has been flooded by followers and affection since news of her suicide attempt went around.
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* ''Film/IngridGoesWest'' ends on with a smile spreading across Ingrid's face as, after attempting suicide on camera (which she also did while smiling before she passed out), she sees that her Instagram account has been flooded by followers and affection since news of her suicide attempt went around.
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* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Whiplash}}''. The final shots of the movie are of Andrew and Fletcher smiling at each other as Fletcher finally shows approval for Andrew's performance. However, the scene is cut so that the audience don't actually see Fletcher's mouth (just the rest of his face moving). We do see Andrew smiling, though, as he continues playing.
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* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Whiplash}}''. The final shots of the movie are of Andrew and Fletcher smiling at each other as Fletcher finally shows approval for Andrew's performance. However, the scene is cut so that the audience don't doesn't actually see Fletcher's mouth (just the rest of his face moving). We do see Andrew smiling, though, as he continues playing.
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* ''Literature/MillyMolly'': "Milly, Molly, and Alf" ends on Alf winning a prize at school and the last sentence is "[[NotSoStoic Suddenly... Alf smiled]], what's more, he was lost for words". Since previously Alf had been established as TheStoic and never lost for words, this goes to show he's exceptionally happy.
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* ''Literature/MillyMolly'': "Milly, Molly, and Alf" ends on with Alf winning a prize at school and the last sentence is "[[NotSoStoic Suddenly... Alf smiled]], what's more, he was lost for words". Since previously Alf had been established as TheStoic and never lost for words, this goes to show he's exceptionally happy.
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** Final serial of season 7 [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E4Inferno "Inferno"]] ends with the Third Doctor informing Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elizabeth Shaw that his TARDIS is now fully operational and therefore he can leave his exile on Earth calling Brigadier "pompous self opinionated idiot" as he dematerializes... [[CrossingTheBurnedBridge except that he returns a few seconds later]] revealing that he landed in the rubbish pit a few hundred yards away. While Brigadier is quick to remind Doctor all the names he called him earlier they both leave to lift the TARDIS up while camera stays in the garage. Leaving final shot to be Liz Shaw barely holding laugh.
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** Final The final serial of season 7 [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E4Inferno "Inferno"]] ends with the Third Doctor informing Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elizabeth Shaw that his TARDIS is now fully operational and therefore he can leave his exile on Earth calling Brigadier "pompous self opinionated self-opinionated idiot" as he dematerializes... [[CrossingTheBurnedBridge except that he returns a few seconds later]] revealing that he landed in the rubbish pit a few hundred yards away. While Brigadier is quick to remind Doctor of all the names he called him earlier they both leave to lift the TARDIS up while the camera stays in the garage. Leaving the final shot to be Liz Shaw barely holding a laugh.
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* ''Film/UncleBuck'': The [[https://atriflefurther.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/screenshot2012-04-04at12-49-18am.png final shot of the film]] shows Buck raising his hand to say goodbye to his family, a soft but genuine smile on his face. It reflects the fact that Buck has finally reconciled with his relatives and that there are hopeful changes ahead for all of them.
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* ''Series/WonderWoman'' almost always ended with the title character smiling.
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* ''Series/TheBrittasEmpire'':
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS2E7NewGenerations New Generations]]" ends with Brittas walking into his office and giving a smile, having heard that his wife Helen has become pregnant with twins and pleased to see that his legacy will continue in the form of biological offspring.
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS4E1NotAGoodDay Not a Good Day]]" ends with Brittas giving another smile after finding out that, in spite of the nightmarish day he had involving Roman WarReenactors, he was able to give a StrugglingSingleMother and child a nice day out through his rules and policies.
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS7E8CurseOfTheTigerWomen Curse of the Tiger Women]]", the final episode of the series, ends with Brittas smiling to the side as he utters his "I have a Dream..." CharacterCatchphrase, showing how even though the events of the series were AllJustADream, his Dream of making the world a better place still remains.
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS2E7NewGenerations New Generations]]" ends with Brittas walking into his office and giving a smile, having heard that his wife Helen has become pregnant with twins and pleased to see that his legacy will continue in the form of biological offspring.
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS4E1NotAGoodDay Not a Good Day]]" ends with Brittas giving another smile after finding out that, in spite of the nightmarish day he had involving Roman WarReenactors, he was able to give a StrugglingSingleMother and child a nice day out through his rules and policies.
** "[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS7E8CurseOfTheTigerWomen Curse of the Tiger Women]]", the final episode of the series, ends with Brittas smiling to the side as he utters his "I have a Dream..." CharacterCatchphrase, showing how even though the events of the series were AllJustADream, his Dream of making the world a better place still remains.
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!!Examples
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[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': The last scene has Jotaro smiling as he looks at the group photo before looking out the window as the plane flies back home.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'': In the ending, after Okuyasu heard a rumor about Rohan shoplifting, Koichi dismisses it, while Josuke smiles at both of them and saying to head out together.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'': In the epilogue, Johnny carries Gyro's coffin onto a ship to be taken back to his home country, smiling while praying they both have a safe voyage.
[[/folder]]
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': The last scene has Jotaro smiling as he looks at the group photo before looking out the window as the plane flies back home.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'': In the ending, after Okuyasu heard a rumor about Rohan shoplifting, Koichi dismisses it, while Josuke smiles at both of them and saying to head out together.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'': In the epilogue, Johnny carries Gyro's coffin onto a ship to be taken back to his home country, smiling while praying they both have a safe voyage.
[[/folder]]
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* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The end of the story of Part 1 (collectively called "The Moon's Origin and Finality") has the protagonist Kiana smiling towards the camera while pointing at it, similar to her portrait at the icon of the app.
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* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': In the ending scene, after Ann sees Ayane had [[SleepCute fallen asleep]] moments after getting Ann to do a BridalCarry with her, she does a warm smile deciding it's time to call it a day before heading back home.
* ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The end of the story of Part 1 (collectively called "The Moon's Origin and Finality") has the protagonist Kiana smiling towards the camera while pointing at it, similar to her portrait at the icon of the app.
* ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The end of the story of Part 1 (collectively called "The Moon's Origin and Finality") has the protagonist Kiana smiling towards the camera while pointing at it, similar to her portrait at the icon of the app.
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* ''VideoGame/WorldsEndClub'': The last scene has Pochi [[ThankingTheViewer thanking the player]] for helping everyone, giving a smiling thumbs-up.
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* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': In the GrandFinale of ''[[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture Future]]'', Steven has a smile as he drives away from Beach City.
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* ''Webcomic/TheLessThanEpicAdventuresOfTJAndAmal'': The last chapter has Amal [[IWillFindYou go looking]] for TJ to rekindle their relationship. At the end, he finds the place where TJ had hoped to get a new job, walks inside, and [[https://tjandamal.com/comic/499.html grins]] at [[AmbiguousEnding something unseen]].
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* ''Webcomic/TheLessThanEpicAdventuresOfTJAndAmal'': The last chapter has Amal [[IWillFindYou go looking]] for TJ to rekindle their relationship.relationship after TJ's disappearance. At the end, he finds the place where TJ had hoped to get a new job, walks inside, and [[https://tjandamal.com/comic/499.html grins]] at [[AmbiguousEnding something unseen]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': At the end, Aku has been defeated for good, and Jack has returned home to his own time. Unfortunately, the woman he loves, Ashi, was a daughter of Aku, and Jack destroyed Aku from a time before she was ever conceived, causing a case of eventual RetGone for her, though they at least get to say goodbye. Jack wanders off alone into the wilderness, where he comes across a tree that is shedding cherry blossom petals. The series closes with Jack giving a WistfulSmile at the close of the story.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of Squidward leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of Squidward leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
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* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': At the end, Aku has been defeated for good, and Jack [[Characters/SamuraiJackJack Jack]] has returned home to his own time. Unfortunately, the woman he loves, Ashi, was a daughter of Aku, and Jack destroyed Aku from a time before she was ever conceived, causing a case of eventual RetGone for her, though they at least get to say goodbye. Jack wanders off alone into the wilderness, where he comes across a tree that is shedding cherry blossom petals. The series closes with Jack giving a WistfulSmile at the close of the story.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidwardTentacles Squidward Tentacles]] leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidwardTentacles Squidward Tentacles]] leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
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* ''Series/MadMen'' ends with Don Draper meditating on a hillside as a smile creeps onto his face, then the show cuts to the famous "hilltop" Coca-Cola ad, the implication being that Don just came up with the idea.
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Added image
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* ''Series/DoctorWho:
** Final serial of season 7 [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E4Inferno "Inferno"]] ends with the Third Doctor informing Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elizabeth Shaw that his TARDIS is now fully operational and therefore he can leave his exile on Earth calling Brigadier "pompous self opinionated idiot" as he dematerializes... [[CrossingTheBurnedBridge except that he returns a few seconds later]] revealing that he landed in the rubbish pit a few hundred yards away. While Brigadier is quick to remind Doctor all the names he called him earlier they both leave to lift the TARDIS up while camera stays in the garage. Leaving final shot to be Liz Shaw barely holding laugh.
** Final serial of season 7 [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E4Inferno "Inferno"]] ends with the Third Doctor informing Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elizabeth Shaw that his TARDIS is now fully operational and therefore he can leave his exile on Earth calling Brigadier "pompous self opinionated idiot" as he dematerializes... [[CrossingTheBurnedBridge except that he returns a few seconds later]] revealing that he landed in the rubbish pit a few hundred yards away. While Brigadier is quick to remind Doctor all the names he called him earlier they both leave to lift the TARDIS up while camera stays in the garage. Leaving final shot to be Liz Shaw barely holding laugh.
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* The TeenGenius narrator of ''Literature/TheCuriousIncidentOfTheDogInTheNightTime'', who has difficulty expressing emotion, demonstrates his response to the book's HappyEnding with a smiley emoji.
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* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through...but she still doesn't lose it.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. "The End" shows up over a shot of Marion's car being pulled out of the water, but the shot directly before that is of Norman, in full KubrickStare, smiling eerily at the camera as "Mother" takes over.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. "The End" shows up over a shot of Marion's car being pulled out of the water, but the shot directly before that is of Norman, in full KubrickStare, smiling eerily at the camera as "Mother" takes over.
to:
* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through... but she still doesn't lose it.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. [[TheEnd "TheEnd" End"]] shows up over a shot of Marion's car being pulled out of the water, but the shot directly before that is of Norman, in full KubrickStare, smiling eerily at the camera as "Mother" takes over.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. [[TheEnd "The
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[[/folder]]
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----
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* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids are going to be big!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
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* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids are going to will be big!" making history!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies The protagonist dies.]]
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies The protagonist dies.]]]]]]
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after [[spoiler:The protagonist dies.]]
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after [[spoiler:The [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies The protagonist dies.]]
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However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending on how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
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However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - -- usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - -- or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending on how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
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[[folder: Advertising]]
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[[folder: Films - Animated]]
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[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]
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* ''Film/NightsOfCabiria'': Cabiria's life gets essentially ruined - her money is stolen, she loses her house, and she has nothing left except her clothes. Then, as she's walking down the street, she passes a group of partygoers cheering and singing. Looking at them, she smiles and the film ends.
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* ''Film/NightsOfCabiria'': Cabiria's life gets essentially ruined - -- her money is stolen, she loses her house, and she has nothing left except her clothes. Then, as she's walking down the street, she passes a group of partygoers cheering and singing. Looking at them, she smiles and the film ends.
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* ''Film/TheShining'': The final shot of the movie is of the [[SpookyPhotographs photograph]] taken of the New Year's ball at the Overlook - which now features Jack, seemingly sucked back into time, smiling in the front of the crowd.
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* ''Film/TheShining'': The final shot of the movie is of the [[SpookyPhotographs photograph]] taken of the New Year's ball at the Overlook - -- which now features Jack, seemingly sucked back into time, smiling in the front of the crowd.
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[[folder: Literature]]
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[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
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** [[Recap/BlackMirrorHangTheDJ "Hang the DJ"]] ends with Frank and Amy locking eyes across the bar and smiling at one another - depicting their first in-person meeting after the app declared them to be each other's OneTrueLove.
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** [[Recap/BlackMirrorHangTheDJ "Hang the DJ"]] ends with Frank and Amy locking eyes across the bar and smiling at one another - -- depicting their first in-person meeting after the app declared them to be each other's OneTrueLove.
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->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.''
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->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s Dani's face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.''
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->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.
-->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
--->'''Creator/AriAster''', ''Film/{{Midsommar}}''
-->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
--->'''Creator/AriAster''', ''Film/{{Midsommar}}''
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->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful. \n-->'''FADE ''
->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
--->'''Creator/AriAster''', -->-- '''Creator/AriAster''', ''Film/{{Midsommar}}''
->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
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However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
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However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending on how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after Makoto Yuki dies.
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* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after Makoto Yuki [[spoiler:The protagonist dies.]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc2001'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc2001'': ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc2001'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
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[[caption-width-right:586: Well, it's [[TheUnsmile kind of a smile, anyway.]]]]
->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.
-->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
--->'''Creator/AriAster''', ''Film/{{Midsommar}}''
People love it [[WhenSheSmiles when a character, especially the protagonist, smiles.]] It helps them to believe that everything is going to work out okay, or that they've figured something out that will save the day. So it makes sense, regardless of the precise tone of the ending, to conclude with a smile.
This trope is not GoOutWithASmile, where a character smiles as they die (or its more sinister cousin, DyingSmirk). On rare occasions, if the work ends with the character's death, the two tropes may overlap, but it's very unusual. It's more commonly a feature of the GroupPictureEnding.
Or, at least, that's the more optimistic version of this trope: a smile that signifies a happy ending, whether that happiness is [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding surprising]] or [[BittersweetEnding soured with bitterness.]] In a BittersweetEnding, it might be a WistfulSmile, as the character mourns what has been lost while also celebrating the gains.
However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
In visual media (especially TV and film), it's common for the smile to [[BreakingTheFourthWall break the fourth wall.]] In horror examples, this will show that TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou, whereas in more optimistic endings, it will suggest that the characters are aware of the audience's engagement in them and want to reassure them that it's going to be okay.
Contrast OffIntoTheDistanceEnding, which is a similar way to show the characters moving on (and may overlap if they smile before walking away). Compare the EverybodyLaughsEnding, though if a single character laughs, that may fall under this trope.
As an EndingTrope, this trope is Administrivia/SpoilersOff, and '''all spoilers will be unmarked.'''
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Advertising]]
* An infamously creepy and now lost commercial for the Filipino flower shop ''Encarnacion Bechaves'' ended with a woman smiling at the camera holding up a flower.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids are going to be big!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' ends with the eponymous robot exploding, but then starting to rebuild himself. We see different body parts, ending on the head, which smiles.
* The very last shot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'' is a zoom-in on the titular heroine smiling brightly on her boat, as the new chief of Motunui.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mindscrew and torment she'd endured, Mima still has her positive outlook.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' ends with the Mad Titan Thanos sitting down at his cabin on a remote planet, watching the sunset and smiling to himself as he rests following [[TheBadGuyWins the success of his plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe.]]
* The final shot of ''Film/Barbie2023'' is of Barbie (now gifted with human attributes) telling a receptionist that she's here to see her gynecologist and beaming proudly.
* ''Film/{{Brazil}}'': The last we see of Sam is him strapped to the chair, having been presumably tortured to the point of insanity, humming and smiling with a ThousandYardStare. His torturer gets up and walks away in frustration, and the movie ends.
* ''Film/CityLights'' ends on the Tramp smiling after the blind girl (who has since been cured) answers his question and says that she can see.
* ''Film/CODA2021'' ends with Ruby leaning out of the car window, signing "I love you so much" to her family, and smiling to herself before she puts her head back in and drives away to Berklee.
* The last moments of ''Film/CoolHandLuke'' is of the photograph of the smiling Luke with the two women. The final shot zooms in on Luke's smile to suggest that, although he has been killed, the cruelties of prison life weren't enough to destroy his spirit. It can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjMW9JDSkXU here.]]
* ''Film/ACureForWellness'': Lockhart smiles as he bikes away with Hanna at the end because they are safe, and also because he has gained some modicum of revenge for his father's suicide.
* Happens twice in the UK cut of ''Film/TheDescent.'' The last we see of Sarah in the cave is of her wearing a small [[TheUnsmile unsmile]] as she descends into madness and falls into a fantasy of being reunited with her daughter Jessica. When the credits roll, they also happen over the [[GroupPictureEnding picture of the whole group taken earlier]], in which they're smiling, now with much more horrifying implications since they are all almost certainly dead.
* ''Film/{{Fido}}'': The movie ends with the titular character smiling. This counts as both a genuine HappyEnding and a somewhat subversion of one, what with the RefugeInAudacity BoyMeetsGhoul themes reaching their logical conclusion.
* ''Film/TheGraduate'': Subverted by the LeaveTheCameraRunning nature of the ending. The movie ''seems'' like it's going to end when Elaine and Benjamin jump on the bus together, beaming. As the shot goes on, both of their smiles fade to more contemplative and uncertain expressions before the movie (actually) ends.
* ''Film/TheHole'' ends with Liz smiling as she blames Philippa for what happened and manages to escape unscathed and without any charges. An alternate ending ''also'' ends with a smile, this time as Liz (now a blonde), meets a boy at her new school who is implied to be a ReplacementGoldfish for her previous obsession, Mike.
* ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5Aj1PSceoo ends with Bruce Banner in his remote cabin trying to meditate]]. Then his eyes start to glow green (signalling his upcoming transformation) and he smiles. It's left to the viewer to decide whether this is a good thing (Banner starting to control his transformation) or a bad thing (Banner is losing control to the Hulk, who is becoming more malicious). The door is left open for whichever direction the creators wanted to take the character in the Avengers movie.
* ''Film/TheIndianInTheCupboard'' concludes with a slow close-up on Omri, slowly breaking into a smile. He's initially sad that he'll no longer see Boone or Little Bear again, but this gets eclipsed by the knowledge that those two men are in their rightful place, living the lives that they understand and can navigate.
* ''Film/IngridGoesWest'' ends on a smile spreading across Ingrid's face as, after attempting suicide on camera (which she also did while smiling before she passed out), she sees that her Instagram account has been flooded by followers and affection since news of her suicide attempt went around.
* ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'' ends with Claudia Gator smiling into the camera and BreakingTheFourthWall after almost two hours of being a BrokenBird (such as reliving abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her father), to suggest that she's finally [[EarnYourHappyEnding earned some sort of happy ending.]]
* ''Film/{{Midsommar}}'': Having broken into hysterical sobs at the sight of her ex-boyfriend Christian being burned alive, Dani, now crowned as the May Queen, smiles, either because she's a WomanScorned, she's completely lost her mind, she's found her new family, or she's too high to understand what's happened.
* ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart2'' ends with Katniss smiling as she holds her baby and looks out at Peeta playing with their other child.
* ''Film/NightsOfCabiria'': Cabiria's life gets essentially ruined - her money is stolen, she loses her house, and she has nothing left except her clothes. Then, as she's walking down the street, she passes a group of partygoers cheering and singing. Looking at them, she smiles and the film ends.
* ''Film/Oldboy2003'': Subverted. Oh Dae-su embraces Mi-do after his meeting with the hypnotist and smiles... but it's unclear if his memories of the [[SurpriseIncest horrifying revenge]] Lee Woo-jin manipulated him into have truly been erased, and Dae-su's grin becomes a pained grimace.
* ''Film/TheOmen1976'' ends with Damian turning around and [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou smiling at the audience]] because the Satanists' plan has worked out and he's now in the care of the U.S. President. It also strongly suggests that Damian was aware of the plot in his name even though he's only five years old.
* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through...but she still doesn't lose it.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. "The End" shows up over a shot of Marion's car being pulled out of the water, but the shot directly before that is of Norman, in full KubrickStare, smiling eerily at the camera as "Mother" takes over.
* Played with in ''Film/SaintMaud''. Maud is shown at first overcome, then slowly beaming with joy as she apparently ascends to heaven in a burst of light. But, just as the movie goes to credits, there's a split-second flash of the reality: Maud screaming in agony while she burns to death.
* ''Film/SawII'' ends with Jigsaw, badly beaten and bloodied, eking out a small grin as Eric [[ClusterFBomb curses out his apprentice,]] Amanda, offscreen.
* ''Film/SheDevil'' ends with Ruth smiling triumphantly as she walks through crowds of other women on the city street, apparently indistinguishable from them despite the plan she enacted.
* ''Film/TheShining'': The final shot of the movie is of the [[SpookyPhotographs photograph]] taken of the New Year's ball at the Overlook - which now features Jack, seemingly sucked back into time, smiling in the front of the crowd.
* ''Film/Smile2022'': In the final scene of the movie, the main character Rose has been possessed by the entity that has been haunting her and after pouring gasoline onto herself subsequently sets herself on fire with her ex-boyfriend Joel watching in horror. Throughout this sequence, Rose has a creepy smile on her face which was also seen on Laura, the young woman who committed suicide under the entity's influence earlier in the movie while she was in Rose's office.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' ends with Superman flying up into the sky and smiling at the camera.
* Subverted in ''Film/TheSpectacularNow.'' The closing seconds show Amy smiling at seeing Sutter again, but the smile fades from her face as she opens her mouth to talk to him. The audience never learns what she says, so we don't know if she's choosing to take him back, chewing him out, rejecting him, or something completely different.
* ''Film/{{Us}}'': While the camera pans out and shows us the Tethered doing the Hands Across America as Red had planned, the last we see of protagonist Adelaide is of her giving her son, Jason, a small, triumphant smile, as she either remembers or comes to terms with the fact that ''she'' was Tethered and [[KillAndReplace replaced her own "original".]] The movie ends with Jason pulling down his mask, seeming afraid of her, and of Hands Across America happening outside their car.
* ''Film/VeronicaMars'': Though it's a BittersweetEnding, the final shot is of Veronica sitting down at her desk in Mars Investigation, smiling to herself. It's left ambiguous if this is because she's back where she should be (in Neptune) or if she's given in to her destructive impulses.
* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Whiplash}}''. The final shots of the movie are of Andrew and Fletcher smiling at each other as Fletcher finally shows approval for Andrew's performance. However, the scene is cut so that the audience don't actually see Fletcher's mouth (just the rest of his face moving). We do see Andrew smiling, though, as he continues playing.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/MillyMolly'': "Milly, Molly, and Alf" ends on Alf winning a prize at school and the last sentence is "[[NotSoStoic Suddenly... Alf smiled]], what's more, he was lost for words". Since previously Alf had been established as TheStoic and never lost for words, this goes to show he's exceptionally happy.
* In ''Literature/PleaseDontTellMyParentsImASupervillain'' and sequels ''Moon'', ''Henchmen'', and ''Believe'', [[MadScientist Penny Akk]] ends the book with [[EvilLaugh maniacal laughter]] at how things turned out well for her.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BlackMirror'':
** [[Recap/BlackMirrorHangTheDJ "Hang the DJ"]] ends with Frank and Amy locking eyes across the bar and smiling at one another - depicting their first in-person meeting after the app declared them to be each other's OneTrueLove.
** [[Recap/BlackMirrorJoanIsAwful "Joan is Awful"]] ends with Joan and Annie beaming as they talk warmly to each other in the coffee shop, suggesting that Joan's managed to break her spiral of self-hatred thanks to Annie's intervention.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': The very last shot of the series is of Buffy staring off into the distance, and when Dawn asks what they're going to do next, [[AndTheAdventureContinues our hero just smiles]], and we SmashToBlack.
* ''Series/{{Euphoria}}'': Though it's pretty subtle, as she walks through the school and away at the end of Season 2, Rue smiles to herself while reminiscing in voiceover that she stayed clean for the rest of the school year.
* ''Series/{{Fargo}}'': Season Five ends with Ole Munch (TheStoic, The ImplacableMan, and TheComicallySerious all rolled into one brutal thug) breaking into a tearful smile when Dot offers him a homemade biscuit. It's implied to be the first time he's been happy in over five hundred years.
* ''Series/{{Fleabag}}'': Though Fleabag has [[BreakingTheFourthWall broken the fourth wall]] all series, the final shots of Seasons 1 and 2 are of her smiling at the camera, to bring about some closure and peace after her unhappiness (or, at least, in Season 2, since the Priest rejected her, she's still found some hope.)
* ''Series/TheLeftovers'': Each season ends with a [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding surprisingly happy]] MaybeEverAfter that shows a character smiling:
** Season 1 looks like it's going to have a DownerEnding, as Nora leaves Kevin a letter telling him that she's leaving him forever because she'll never recover from her grief. It's implied she may be planning to commit suicide. Then she turns around and sees baby Lily on Kevin's doorstep (Wayne and Christine's baby, left for him by Tom). As Nora picks Lily up, she starts to smile, then she turns around and says to Jill and Kevin (returning from the blaze of the Guilty Remnant): "Look what I found!" Season 1 then ends with Nora smiling at Kevin.
** After the town of Miracle/Jarden is taken over by the Guilty Remnant and burns, Season 2's final scene starts with Kevin sobbing, having escaped a liminal dreamworld. And then he realizes that he's surrounded by his whole family (Laurie, Tom, Jill, Nora, Matt, and Mary) who have all, through various coincidences and luck, made their way through Miracle and been reunited. Kevin smiles, even as he cries, and Nora smiles back.
** In Season 3 (and the GrandFinale), Nora and Kevin are reunited again after Nora went to Australia and left Kevin following their argument (and possibly found the Departed. [[AmbiguousSituation Maybe.]]) The final shots of them in the series are of them smiling at each other, rekindling their hope for a new start or second chance.
* ''Series/{{Motherland}}'': The final shot of the first Christmas special is of Julia's children waking her up ''screaming'' that Santa has been. Julia, who usually sports a forced [[TheUnsmile Unsmile]], beams with genuine delight at hearing her children so happy.
* ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory'': The [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] final scene has Charlotte and George gazing into each other's eyes, each with an adoring smile, though hers is {{tearful|smile}}. They're still HappilyMarried after all these decades together, but George's mental illness has worsened to the point where he doesn't even know what year it is or who his family members are most of the time--but in this moment, George recognizes his dear Charlotte, and remembers their first meeting. To add an extra emotional punch to the gut, the scene briefly flickers to their younger selves smiling at each other, before coming back to the present moment.
* The first season of ''Series/SonOfACritch'' ends with Mark reclining with a contented smile on his face as he listens to the MixtapeOfLove that Fox gave him before they parted for the summer.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Music]]
* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbxjkhO7f58 this]] SongParody of "Let it Go" from ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', titled "I Said No", the end has the little girl, who had previously been [[BrattyHalfPint throwing a tantrum]] because her dad wouldn't let her eat [[SweetTooth the Halloween candy she wanted]], smiling after he decides to allow her to have just one piece.
* The video for ''Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller'' famously ends with Jackson comforting his girlfriend, the events of the video seemingly having been AllJustADream... only to suddenly turn to the camera and grin madly, revealing he has the werecat-like eyes from earlier in the video. Cue EvilLaugh from Creator/VincentPrice and FadeToBlack.
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic:
** The music video for "[[Music/WeirdAlYankovicIn3D Eat It]]" ends with Al suddenly turning around to reveal that he has [[AnimalEyes yellow cat eyes]] and a SlasherSmile, in a ShoutOut to ''Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller''.
** The music video for "[[Music/{{Alpocalypse}} Skipper Dan]]" ends with the titular Skipper Dan smiling while taking a photo with a family of tourists. It's [[AmbiguousSituation unspecified]] as to whether [[EarnYourHappyEnding he's finally happy with his job]], or if he's a StepfordSmiler.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The end of the story of Part 1 (collectively called "The Moon's Origin and Finality") has the protagonist Kiana smiling towards the camera while pointing at it, similar to her portrait at the icon of the app.
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' ends with Liu Kang exiting Madam Bo's teahouse with a grin on his face, proclaiming that Earthrealm is safe with his champions.
* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after Makoto Yuki dies.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheLessThanEpicAdventuresOfTJAndAmal'': The last chapter has Amal [[IWillFindYou go looking]] for TJ to rekindle their relationship. At the end, he finds the place where TJ had hoped to get a new job, walks inside, and [[https://tjandamal.com/comic/499.html grins]] at [[AmbiguousEnding something unseen]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'':
** Played for LightmareFuel at the end of "Spell it Out" -- the episode involves Lucy seemingly cursing her siblings into [[LostVoicePlot not being able to speak]] as {{revenge}} for them ignoring her, but then they reveal that they just had laryngitis from yelling. Then, at the end, [[CreepyChangingPainting the painting of Great Grandma Harriet smiles]], hinting that either [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane the spell was real all along]], Harriet's ghost is around, or both.
** "Really Loud Music" ends with a final shot of a smiling Luna, having given up her chance at a record deal but happy to keep her true image.
* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': At the end, Aku has been defeated for good, and Jack has returned home to his own time. Unfortunately, the woman he loves, Ashi, was a daughter of Aku, and Jack destroyed Aku from a time before she was ever conceived, causing a case of eventual RetGone for her, though they at least get to say goodbye. Jack wanders off alone into the wilderness, where he comes across a tree that is shedding cherry blossom petals. The series closes with Jack giving a WistfulSmile at the close of the story.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of Squidward leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
[[/folder]]
[[caption-width-right:586: Well, it's [[TheUnsmile kind of a smile, anyway.]]]]
->''A SMILE finally breaks onto Dani’s face. (For some, this smile might recall the photo of Dani in her parents' bedroom at the beginning of the film.) She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful.
-->'''FADE TO BLACK.'''''
--->'''Creator/AriAster''', ''Film/{{Midsommar}}''
People love it [[WhenSheSmiles when a character, especially the protagonist, smiles.]] It helps them to believe that everything is going to work out okay, or that they've figured something out that will save the day. So it makes sense, regardless of the precise tone of the ending, to conclude with a smile.
This trope is not GoOutWithASmile, where a character smiles as they die (or its more sinister cousin, DyingSmirk). On rare occasions, if the work ends with the character's death, the two tropes may overlap, but it's very unusual. It's more commonly a feature of the GroupPictureEnding.
Or, at least, that's the more optimistic version of this trope: a smile that signifies a happy ending, whether that happiness is [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding surprising]] or [[BittersweetEnding soured with bitterness.]] In a BittersweetEnding, it might be a WistfulSmile, as the character mourns what has been lost while also celebrating the gains.
However, because a smile is so commonly associated with happiness, it's almost as common for this trope to be PlayedForHorror, either because the villain is the person smiling - usually a SlasherSmile or a PsychoticSmirk - or because the circumstances are so dire and unnerving that it may be a BrokenSmile, or because it suggests all really is lost. In these cases, it will be a component in a DownerEnding or BolivianArmyEnding, or one where TheBadGuyWins, depending how intense the ending is. It can also overlap with NoEnding if the lack of dialogue leaves it [[AmbiguousEnding ambiguous]] what happened next.
In visual media (especially TV and film), it's common for the smile to [[BreakingTheFourthWall break the fourth wall.]] In horror examples, this will show that TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou, whereas in more optimistic endings, it will suggest that the characters are aware of the audience's engagement in them and want to reassure them that it's going to be okay.
Contrast OffIntoTheDistanceEnding, which is a similar way to show the characters moving on (and may overlap if they smile before walking away). Compare the EverybodyLaughsEnding, though if a single character laughs, that may fall under this trope.
As an EndingTrope, this trope is Administrivia/SpoilersOff, and '''all spoilers will be unmarked.'''
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Advertising]]
* An infamously creepy and now lost commercial for the Filipino flower shop ''Encarnacion Bechaves'' ended with a woman smiling at the camera holding up a flower.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films - Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' concludes with studio mogul L. B. Mammoth declaring "Get a picture, boys. These kids are going to be big!" as he embraces Danny and Sawyer on stage. Mammoth is smiling because he's found new talent, while Danny and Sawyer are smiling because they're no longer relegated to the background chorus. Although, there is TheStinger where wicked Darla Dimple grimaces at the audience because she's been demoted to janitor.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' ends with the eponymous robot exploding, but then starting to rebuild himself. We see different body parts, ending on the head, which smiles.
* The very last shot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'' is a zoom-in on the titular heroine smiling brightly on her boat, as the new chief of Motunui.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': The last shot before the credits is Sulley smiling widely as he opens Boo's door and hears her call him "kitty" again.
* ''Anime/PerfectBlue'' concludes with songstress-turned-actress Mima Kirigoe leaving a sanitarium. One nurse wonders if she has seen the real Mima, but another nurse claims that it must be a lookalike. Once Mima is in her car, she regards the audience in her rearview mirror, smiles cheerily, and states, "Nope, it's the real me." This signals that despite the mindscrew and torment she'd endured, Mima still has her positive outlook.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' ends with the Mad Titan Thanos sitting down at his cabin on a remote planet, watching the sunset and smiling to himself as he rests following [[TheBadGuyWins the success of his plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe.]]
* The final shot of ''Film/Barbie2023'' is of Barbie (now gifted with human attributes) telling a receptionist that she's here to see her gynecologist and beaming proudly.
* ''Film/{{Brazil}}'': The last we see of Sam is him strapped to the chair, having been presumably tortured to the point of insanity, humming and smiling with a ThousandYardStare. His torturer gets up and walks away in frustration, and the movie ends.
* ''Film/CityLights'' ends on the Tramp smiling after the blind girl (who has since been cured) answers his question and says that she can see.
* ''Film/CODA2021'' ends with Ruby leaning out of the car window, signing "I love you so much" to her family, and smiling to herself before she puts her head back in and drives away to Berklee.
* The last moments of ''Film/CoolHandLuke'' is of the photograph of the smiling Luke with the two women. The final shot zooms in on Luke's smile to suggest that, although he has been killed, the cruelties of prison life weren't enough to destroy his spirit. It can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjMW9JDSkXU here.]]
* ''Film/ACureForWellness'': Lockhart smiles as he bikes away with Hanna at the end because they are safe, and also because he has gained some modicum of revenge for his father's suicide.
* Happens twice in the UK cut of ''Film/TheDescent.'' The last we see of Sarah in the cave is of her wearing a small [[TheUnsmile unsmile]] as she descends into madness and falls into a fantasy of being reunited with her daughter Jessica. When the credits roll, they also happen over the [[GroupPictureEnding picture of the whole group taken earlier]], in which they're smiling, now with much more horrifying implications since they are all almost certainly dead.
* ''Film/{{Fido}}'': The movie ends with the titular character smiling. This counts as both a genuine HappyEnding and a somewhat subversion of one, what with the RefugeInAudacity BoyMeetsGhoul themes reaching their logical conclusion.
* ''Film/TheGraduate'': Subverted by the LeaveTheCameraRunning nature of the ending. The movie ''seems'' like it's going to end when Elaine and Benjamin jump on the bus together, beaming. As the shot goes on, both of their smiles fade to more contemplative and uncertain expressions before the movie (actually) ends.
* ''Film/TheHole'' ends with Liz smiling as she blames Philippa for what happened and manages to escape unscathed and without any charges. An alternate ending ''also'' ends with a smile, this time as Liz (now a blonde), meets a boy at her new school who is implied to be a ReplacementGoldfish for her previous obsession, Mike.
* ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5Aj1PSceoo ends with Bruce Banner in his remote cabin trying to meditate]]. Then his eyes start to glow green (signalling his upcoming transformation) and he smiles. It's left to the viewer to decide whether this is a good thing (Banner starting to control his transformation) or a bad thing (Banner is losing control to the Hulk, who is becoming more malicious). The door is left open for whichever direction the creators wanted to take the character in the Avengers movie.
* ''Film/TheIndianInTheCupboard'' concludes with a slow close-up on Omri, slowly breaking into a smile. He's initially sad that he'll no longer see Boone or Little Bear again, but this gets eclipsed by the knowledge that those two men are in their rightful place, living the lives that they understand and can navigate.
* ''Film/IngridGoesWest'' ends on a smile spreading across Ingrid's face as, after attempting suicide on camera (which she also did while smiling before she passed out), she sees that her Instagram account has been flooded by followers and affection since news of her suicide attempt went around.
* ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'' ends with Claudia Gator smiling into the camera and BreakingTheFourthWall after almost two hours of being a BrokenBird (such as reliving abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her father), to suggest that she's finally [[EarnYourHappyEnding earned some sort of happy ending.]]
* ''Film/{{Midsommar}}'': Having broken into hysterical sobs at the sight of her ex-boyfriend Christian being burned alive, Dani, now crowned as the May Queen, smiles, either because she's a WomanScorned, she's completely lost her mind, she's found her new family, or she's too high to understand what's happened.
* ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart2'' ends with Katniss smiling as she holds her baby and looks out at Peeta playing with their other child.
* ''Film/NightsOfCabiria'': Cabiria's life gets essentially ruined - her money is stolen, she loses her house, and she has nothing left except her clothes. Then, as she's walking down the street, she passes a group of partygoers cheering and singing. Looking at them, she smiles and the film ends.
* ''Film/Oldboy2003'': Subverted. Oh Dae-su embraces Mi-do after his meeting with the hypnotist and smiles... but it's unclear if his memories of the [[SurpriseIncest horrifying revenge]] Lee Woo-jin manipulated him into have truly been erased, and Dae-su's grin becomes a pained grimace.
* ''Film/TheOmen1976'' ends with Damian turning around and [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou smiling at the audience]] because the Satanists' plan has worked out and he's now in the care of the U.S. President. It also strongly suggests that Damian was aware of the plot in his name even though he's only five years old.
* ''Film/{{Pearl}}'': Pearl ends the movie by going on a rant to Howard (who has just returned from war) about her own lost dreams and how she never wanted to have children. Because Pearl still has delusions of being a star, she finishes the monologue by breaking into an enormous smile, which she then holds as the credits roll. Her smile therefore becomes increasingly strained and painful as tears start to come through...but she still doesn't lose it.
* Downplayed in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. "The End" shows up over a shot of Marion's car being pulled out of the water, but the shot directly before that is of Norman, in full KubrickStare, smiling eerily at the camera as "Mother" takes over.
* Played with in ''Film/SaintMaud''. Maud is shown at first overcome, then slowly beaming with joy as she apparently ascends to heaven in a burst of light. But, just as the movie goes to credits, there's a split-second flash of the reality: Maud screaming in agony while she burns to death.
* ''Film/SawII'' ends with Jigsaw, badly beaten and bloodied, eking out a small grin as Eric [[ClusterFBomb curses out his apprentice,]] Amanda, offscreen.
* ''Film/SheDevil'' ends with Ruth smiling triumphantly as she walks through crowds of other women on the city street, apparently indistinguishable from them despite the plan she enacted.
* ''Film/TheShining'': The final shot of the movie is of the [[SpookyPhotographs photograph]] taken of the New Year's ball at the Overlook - which now features Jack, seemingly sucked back into time, smiling in the front of the crowd.
* ''Film/Smile2022'': In the final scene of the movie, the main character Rose has been possessed by the entity that has been haunting her and after pouring gasoline onto herself subsequently sets herself on fire with her ex-boyfriend Joel watching in horror. Throughout this sequence, Rose has a creepy smile on her face which was also seen on Laura, the young woman who committed suicide under the entity's influence earlier in the movie while she was in Rose's office.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' ends with Superman flying up into the sky and smiling at the camera.
* Subverted in ''Film/TheSpectacularNow.'' The closing seconds show Amy smiling at seeing Sutter again, but the smile fades from her face as she opens her mouth to talk to him. The audience never learns what she says, so we don't know if she's choosing to take him back, chewing him out, rejecting him, or something completely different.
* ''Film/{{Us}}'': While the camera pans out and shows us the Tethered doing the Hands Across America as Red had planned, the last we see of protagonist Adelaide is of her giving her son, Jason, a small, triumphant smile, as she either remembers or comes to terms with the fact that ''she'' was Tethered and [[KillAndReplace replaced her own "original".]] The movie ends with Jason pulling down his mask, seeming afraid of her, and of Hands Across America happening outside their car.
* ''Film/VeronicaMars'': Though it's a BittersweetEnding, the final shot is of Veronica sitting down at her desk in Mars Investigation, smiling to herself. It's left ambiguous if this is because she's back where she should be (in Neptune) or if she's given in to her destructive impulses.
* Zigzagged in ''Film/{{Whiplash}}''. The final shots of the movie are of Andrew and Fletcher smiling at each other as Fletcher finally shows approval for Andrew's performance. However, the scene is cut so that the audience don't actually see Fletcher's mouth (just the rest of his face moving). We do see Andrew smiling, though, as he continues playing.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/MillyMolly'': "Milly, Molly, and Alf" ends on Alf winning a prize at school and the last sentence is "[[NotSoStoic Suddenly... Alf smiled]], what's more, he was lost for words". Since previously Alf had been established as TheStoic and never lost for words, this goes to show he's exceptionally happy.
* In ''Literature/PleaseDontTellMyParentsImASupervillain'' and sequels ''Moon'', ''Henchmen'', and ''Believe'', [[MadScientist Penny Akk]] ends the book with [[EvilLaugh maniacal laughter]] at how things turned out well for her.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BlackMirror'':
** [[Recap/BlackMirrorHangTheDJ "Hang the DJ"]] ends with Frank and Amy locking eyes across the bar and smiling at one another - depicting their first in-person meeting after the app declared them to be each other's OneTrueLove.
** [[Recap/BlackMirrorJoanIsAwful "Joan is Awful"]] ends with Joan and Annie beaming as they talk warmly to each other in the coffee shop, suggesting that Joan's managed to break her spiral of self-hatred thanks to Annie's intervention.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': The very last shot of the series is of Buffy staring off into the distance, and when Dawn asks what they're going to do next, [[AndTheAdventureContinues our hero just smiles]], and we SmashToBlack.
* ''Series/{{Euphoria}}'': Though it's pretty subtle, as she walks through the school and away at the end of Season 2, Rue smiles to herself while reminiscing in voiceover that she stayed clean for the rest of the school year.
* ''Series/{{Fargo}}'': Season Five ends with Ole Munch (TheStoic, The ImplacableMan, and TheComicallySerious all rolled into one brutal thug) breaking into a tearful smile when Dot offers him a homemade biscuit. It's implied to be the first time he's been happy in over five hundred years.
* ''Series/{{Fleabag}}'': Though Fleabag has [[BreakingTheFourthWall broken the fourth wall]] all series, the final shots of Seasons 1 and 2 are of her smiling at the camera, to bring about some closure and peace after her unhappiness (or, at least, in Season 2, since the Priest rejected her, she's still found some hope.)
* ''Series/TheLeftovers'': Each season ends with a [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding surprisingly happy]] MaybeEverAfter that shows a character smiling:
** Season 1 looks like it's going to have a DownerEnding, as Nora leaves Kevin a letter telling him that she's leaving him forever because she'll never recover from her grief. It's implied she may be planning to commit suicide. Then she turns around and sees baby Lily on Kevin's doorstep (Wayne and Christine's baby, left for him by Tom). As Nora picks Lily up, she starts to smile, then she turns around and says to Jill and Kevin (returning from the blaze of the Guilty Remnant): "Look what I found!" Season 1 then ends with Nora smiling at Kevin.
** After the town of Miracle/Jarden is taken over by the Guilty Remnant and burns, Season 2's final scene starts with Kevin sobbing, having escaped a liminal dreamworld. And then he realizes that he's surrounded by his whole family (Laurie, Tom, Jill, Nora, Matt, and Mary) who have all, through various coincidences and luck, made their way through Miracle and been reunited. Kevin smiles, even as he cries, and Nora smiles back.
** In Season 3 (and the GrandFinale), Nora and Kevin are reunited again after Nora went to Australia and left Kevin following their argument (and possibly found the Departed. [[AmbiguousSituation Maybe.]]) The final shots of them in the series are of them smiling at each other, rekindling their hope for a new start or second chance.
* ''Series/{{Motherland}}'': The final shot of the first Christmas special is of Julia's children waking her up ''screaming'' that Santa has been. Julia, who usually sports a forced [[TheUnsmile Unsmile]], beams with genuine delight at hearing her children so happy.
* ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory'': The [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] final scene has Charlotte and George gazing into each other's eyes, each with an adoring smile, though hers is {{tearful|smile}}. They're still HappilyMarried after all these decades together, but George's mental illness has worsened to the point where he doesn't even know what year it is or who his family members are most of the time--but in this moment, George recognizes his dear Charlotte, and remembers their first meeting. To add an extra emotional punch to the gut, the scene briefly flickers to their younger selves smiling at each other, before coming back to the present moment.
* The first season of ''Series/SonOfACritch'' ends with Mark reclining with a contented smile on his face as he listens to the MixtapeOfLove that Fox gave him before they parted for the summer.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Music]]
* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbxjkhO7f58 this]] SongParody of "Let it Go" from ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', titled "I Said No", the end has the little girl, who had previously been [[BrattyHalfPint throwing a tantrum]] because her dad wouldn't let her eat [[SweetTooth the Halloween candy she wanted]], smiling after he decides to allow her to have just one piece.
* The video for ''Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller'' famously ends with Jackson comforting his girlfriend, the events of the video seemingly having been AllJustADream... only to suddenly turn to the camera and grin madly, revealing he has the werecat-like eyes from earlier in the video. Cue EvilLaugh from Creator/VincentPrice and FadeToBlack.
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic:
** The music video for "[[Music/WeirdAlYankovicIn3D Eat It]]" ends with Al suddenly turning around to reveal that he has [[AnimalEyes yellow cat eyes]] and a SlasherSmile, in a ShoutOut to ''Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller''.
** The music video for "[[Music/{{Alpocalypse}} Skipper Dan]]" ends with the titular Skipper Dan smiling while taking a photo with a family of tourists. It's [[AmbiguousSituation unspecified]] as to whether [[EarnYourHappyEnding he's finally happy with his job]], or if he's a StepfordSmiler.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd'': The end of the story of Part 1 (collectively called "The Moon's Origin and Finality") has the protagonist Kiana smiling towards the camera while pointing at it, similar to her portrait at the icon of the app.
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' ends with Liu Kang exiting Madam Bo's teahouse with a grin on his face, proclaiming that Earthrealm is safe with his champions.
* The final frame of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is Aigis smiling to S.E.E.S. after Makoto Yuki dies.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheLessThanEpicAdventuresOfTJAndAmal'': The last chapter has Amal [[IWillFindYou go looking]] for TJ to rekindle their relationship. At the end, he finds the place where TJ had hoped to get a new job, walks inside, and [[https://tjandamal.com/comic/499.html grins]] at [[AmbiguousEnding something unseen]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'':
** Played for LightmareFuel at the end of "Spell it Out" -- the episode involves Lucy seemingly cursing her siblings into [[LostVoicePlot not being able to speak]] as {{revenge}} for them ignoring her, but then they reveal that they just had laryngitis from yelling. Then, at the end, [[CreepyChangingPainting the painting of Great Grandma Harriet smiles]], hinting that either [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane the spell was real all along]], Harriet's ghost is around, or both.
** "Really Loud Music" ends with a final shot of a smiling Luna, having given up her chance at a record deal but happy to keep her true image.
* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': At the end, Aku has been defeated for good, and Jack has returned home to his own time. Unfortunately, the woman he loves, Ashi, was a daughter of Aku, and Jack destroyed Aku from a time before she was ever conceived, causing a case of eventual RetGone for her, though they at least get to say goodbye. Jack wanders off alone into the wilderness, where he comes across a tree that is shedding cherry blossom petals. The series closes with Jack giving a WistfulSmile at the close of the story.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E15TheSecretBoxBandGeeks Band Geeks]]" ends on a [[FreezeFrameEnding freeze-frame]] of Squidward leaping with an expression of glee, having earned a [[{{pun}} sweet victory]] over his rival Squilliam.
[[/folder]]
