[[quoteright:330:[[Film/WhiteChristmas https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/white_christmas_happy_ending.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:Classic style happy ending.]]

->''"The popular preference for a story with 'a happy ending' is not, or at least was not, a mere sweet-stuff optimism; it is the remains of the old idea of the triumph of the dragon-slayer, the ultimate apotheosis of the man beloved of heaven."''
-->-- '''Creator/GKChesterton'''

%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.

Most stories just end ''happily'', with the villain defeated (or the basic problem ''resolved'') and [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin the heroes triumphant]]. It remains the most common type of ending, even if it can be [[TrueArtIsAngsty disdained by some]]. [[OmnipresentTropes Far, far too common to provide examples]].

[[{{Subtrope}} Specific types]] of Happy Ending include:

* HappilyEverAfter - for when just being happy isn't quite enough
* HappyEndingOverride - a subversion of the Happy Ending where it's undone in the sequel
* EarnYourHappyEnding - for when the Happy Ending comes after much darkness and angst
* DeusExMachina - when the Happy Ending is forced upon the story by an outside force that wasn't previously introduced
* EsotericHappyEnding - when the 'happy' ending doesn't sound like one
* ShockAndSwitchEnding - when the SuddenDownerEnding is subverted.
* SurprisinglyHappyEnding - when the characters were expecting something else
* EverybodyHelpsOutDenouement - when the story ends with all the characters coming together post-climax to make the world a better place.

Contrast DownerEnding. Compare BittersweetEnding.

Has nothing whatsoever to do with HappyEndingMassage.

As this is an {{Omnipresent Trope|s}}, '''no examples please.'''

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