With the darker aspects of the horror genre, it is rare for these movies to end in a way that puts a smile on the viewer's face. However, there are some horror movies that put aside the scares and grimness to deliver an ending that is actually quite funny.
In many cases, these horror movies have an element of comedy throughout the story and embrace that tone in the end. However, there are some that are quite serious and scary only to leave audiences with an unexpected gag in the end. The mixture of horror and comedy is a difficult balance to find, but these horror movie finales managed to end with a laugh.
Day Of The Dead (1985)
George A Romero's Day of the Dead introduces an interesting new take on the zombies with the character of Bub. This is perhaps the first likable zombie who is kept as a pet by Dr. Logan and even shows he's smart enough to salute Col. Rhodes.
Bub also gets the most satisfying moment in the movie's climax after learning that Rhodes killed Logan. Bub shoots the evil colonel, allowing a zombie horde to overtake him. As Rhodes is ripped apart, Bub gives him a hilariously condescending salute, proving he was much smarter than anyone realized.
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Despite the premonitions in Final Destination movies allowing the characters to save themselves, they learn it is not so easy to cheat death. However, Final Destination 2 adds a bit of dark comedy to the final moment of realization.
After thinking they've avoided death, the survivors join their friend Brian for a barbecue. But just as they learn Brian also avoided death recently, the barbecue explodes and kills him. It is a surprising stinger but it's also hard not to laugh when Brian's charred arm lands on the picnic table.
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
An American Werewolf in London is a wild movie that is filled with funny moments, but when the horror elements kick in, it is kept pretty serious. However, the finale of the movie goes so over-the-top with its violence and mayhem, it is clear the filmmakers are having a bit of fun.
The scene finds David transforming into a werewolf in the middle of London's crowded Piccadilly Circus. As the beast runs amok, tearing heads off and attacking people, everything turns into chaos with cars crashing and people being thrown around like ragdolls. In the end, the mass hysteria kills more people than the werewolf.
Scream (1996)
Though it is a scary movie in its own right, Scream also explores slasher movie tropes in really fun and clever ways. It was the first horror movie in which the characters were aware of the "rules" of slasher movies and referenced them throughout.
At the end of the movie, the final girl Sidney takes down the killer who happens to be her boyfriend, Billy. But while he appears to be dead, Randy reminds her the killer always comes back for one last scare. When Billy suddenly jolts up, Sidney coldly shoots him in the head, putting an end to his scares.
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's background in comedy served him well with his brilliant directorial debut, Get Out. The character of Rod provides comedic relief throughout much of the movie, but by the end, Chris Washington seems to be in a hopeless situation.
After escaping from the house, Chris attacks Rose only for flashing lights to appear. But in one of the best horror movie fakeouts, it is revealed to be Rod in his TSA car. After saving Chris, he delivers the perfect line, "I told you not to go in that house."
The Poltergeist (1982)
The haunted house movie, The Poltergeist is certainly not a comedy as much of the movie is a terrifying and harrowing experience. It follows a family who is haunted by a spirit who begins communicating with their young daughter through the television.
The family is able to escape the spirits as their house is destroyed. The movie ends with the exhausted family checking into a motel room and shoving the television outside. It is a surprisingly humorous final moment in a movie with few laughs.
Army Of Darkness (1992)
Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies always embraced a wacky tone along with the horror, but Army of Darkness really leans into the comedy. It follows the heroic Ash trapped in medieval times and still fighting the deadites.
In the final scene, Ash returns to the present and to his job at S-Mart. However, when a deadite shows up, he reverts right back to his badass hero mode. After killing the evil beast, Ash further cements his coolness with the line, "Hail to the king, baby," which ends the movie in a perfect cheesy way.
Death Proof (2007)
For much of Death Proof, Kurt Russell's Stuntman Mike appears to be a terrifying villain who kills women with his souped-up car. The final act of the movie finds him tormenting a trio of women on the highway only for things to take an unexpected turn.
The women eventually fight back against Stuntman Mike who is revealed to be a cowardly baby. Tarantino's trend of ultra-violent finales is kept intact as the women chase down their would-be killer and deliver the hilariously brutal beatdown he deserves.
The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Like Scream, The Cabin in the Woods is another horror movie that pays loving homage to the genre while also playing on its most overused clichés. It follows a group of teens who go to a secluded cabin where they are preyed upon by deadly forces. However, it also appears there is something else at play.
The finale reveals the whole scenario is a ritual to entertain bloodthirsty gods with elaborate sacrifices. But when the heroes release all of the horror movie creations in the facility, it turns to movie into a gloriously wild and fun ride ending with the destruction of the world.
Ready Or Not (2019)
Samara Weaving stars in Ready or Not as Grace whose wedding night turns bloody when she becomes the target of a deadly game of hide-and-seek with her husband's family. It is their belief that they must find and kill Grace before the morning to avoid an ancient curse.
Grace is able to survive until morning and the family reacts in embarrassment as the curse appears to be a lie. Then they suddenly start exploding in a bloody mess in a hilariously shocking moment. It is made even funnier by Grace's reaction as she cannot help but laugh as they all gradually blow up.