The End

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The End

R,

1978,

1h 40m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

56%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

After discovering that he has only months to live, Wendell Lawson tries to settle issues with his family, including his ex-wife. When he gets little empathy or even attention from his relatives, he becomes distraught and sets out to kill himself. Following many unsuccessful suicide attempts, Lawson winds up in a mental hospital, where he meets deranged fellow patient Marlon Borunki, who is quite eager to help his new friend end his life.

Variety Staff

Variety

Feb 23, 2012

A tasteless and overripe comedy that disintegrates very early into hysterical, undisciplined hamming.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

May 9, 2005

This is half-heartedly satiric material that's been directed by Mr. Reynolds as if it were broad, knock-about comedy sometimes and, at other times, as if it were meant to evoke pathos, which it never does.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 8, 2025

2.5/4

At the time of its release, some critics trashed the film as tasteless since it dared to suggest laughs could be obtained from the topics of death and suicide. That’s not the problem with the picture.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Mar 11, 2025

3/5

While it's hardly "Harold & Maude" and too much of the back half is given over to Dom DeLuise's mugging, Burt Reynolds' "The End" is also generally more sedate, subtle and somber than its silly poster art would suggest.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jan 18, 2024

The End, in flagrant negation of its title, does not end. It ends up nowhere. [Full review in Spanish]

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

Nov 1, 2019

So what's wrong? Practically everything. For all of its good intentions, The End is a tone poem in misgauged effects. It simply doesn't work.

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Draco W

Apr 20, 2019

Great movie and funny as hell. Netflix should carry this.

Feb 1, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made!

Theodore L

Sep 15, 2018

Never thought Burt Reynolds was a real actor, but this movie made me laugh out loud! In fact, I still chuckle to this day when I think of some scenes.

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Sep 8, 2018

ACTUALLY VERY FAITHFUL TO THE STAGES OF GRIEF. wORTH IT FOR THE DISCUSSION STARTER VALUES. eSPECIALLY LIKE THE SCENE ABOUT BARGAINING WITH gOD.

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Sep 7, 2018

This movie gets a bad rap. Different perspectives happen. One of my favorite Burt movies.

Hagrid P

Sep 6, 2018

Wow!!....funny to see how the ratings vary so much for this.movie. Personally I loved it! Hilarious Burt at the height of his fame totally takes the piss out of himself. Great black comedy obviously some people don't get it ...perhaps they don't like or understand black comedy and only like the obvious stuff.

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Burt Reynolds

Director

Burt Reynolds

Wendell Sonny Lawson

Dom DeLuise

Marlon Borunki

Sally Field

Mary Ellen

Strother Martin

Dr. Waldo Kling

David Steinberg

Marty Lieberman

The End: Official Clip - A Date With A .38

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The End: Official Clip - The Coward's Way Out

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The End: Official Clip - Death Therapy

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The End: Official Clip - Straitjacket Surprise

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The End: Official Clip - Meeting Marlon

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The End: Official Clip - Elevator Tears

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The End: Official Clip - It Ain't High Enough!

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The End: Official Clip - Shooting Sonny

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The End: Official Clip - A Game of Chicken

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The End: Official Clip - Marlon's Last Straw

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Synopsis

After discovering that he has only months to live, Wendell Lawson tries to settle issues with his family, including his ex-wife. When he gets little empathy or even attention from his relatives, he becomes distraught and sets out to kill himself. Following many unsuccessful suicide attempts, Lawson winds up in a mental hospital, where he meets deranged fellow patient Marlon Borunki, who is quite eager to help his new friend end his life.

Director: Burt Reynolds
Producer: Lawrence Gordon
Screenwriter: Jerry Belson
Production Co: Gordon-Reynolds Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1978, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2017
Runtime: 1h 40m

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