Everyone loves a feel-good ending. But sometimes the characters they get just don’t seem to have earned them. Whether they’ve made bad choices, hurt others, or just messed up, these characters somehow manage to make their way to a happily ever after that they don’t really deserve.
It’s not that we want these characters to suffer (well, maybe some of them), but rather that their happy endings feel undeserved or even downright frustrating. They caused so much trouble, and yet they get happily ever after? It just doesn’t seem fair.
Of course, there’s always the argument that everyone deserves a second chance, and that’s certainly true. But there are some characters who have done some pretty horrible things, and it’s hard to justify their happily ever after if they haven’t actually made amends for their wrongdoings.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into our list of movie characters who didn’t deserve their happy ending.
10/10 Jordan Belfort inside The Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio stars Jordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall Street, was a smooth-talking stockbroker who worked his way to the top using illegal and unethical tactics. Directed by Martin Scorsese and based on Belfort’s memoir of the same name, the film follows the rise and fall of Belfort’s Wall Street career and the excesses of his personal life. His lavish lifestyle and eventual redemption at the end of the movie feel undeserved given his questionable tactics.
9/10 Tom Ripley in The talented Mr. Ripley
Tom Ripley, played by Matt Damon in the 1999 psychological thriller The talented Mr. Ripley, is a manipulative and calculating con artist who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Directed by Anthony Minghella and based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel of the same name, the film follows Ripley as he assumes the identity of a wealthy friend and becomes embroiled in a web of deceit and danger. As a killer, it’s hard to find a character willing to go that far to get their desires accomplished. His actions throughout the film are regrettable and his eventual happiness feels undeserved.
8/10 Sierra Burgess inside Sierra Burgess is a loser
Sierra Burgess, played by Shannon Purser in the 2018 Netflix movie Sierra Burgess is a loser, is a high school student who finds herself in a complicated situation when she is mistaken for someone else and begins a relationship with Jamey based on a lie. While Sierra may have had questionably good intentions in the film, it’s impossible to make peace with her and happily ever after with Jamey if she’s been unfair to him from the start.
7/10 Andie Anderson in How to lose a man in 10 days
Andie Anderson, played by Kate Hudson in the 2003 romantic comedy How to lose a man in 10 days, is a writer who tries to prove that she can make any man fall in love with her in just ten days. The film, directed by Donald Petrie and based on the book of the same name by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long, also stars Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin. While the premise of the movie may be cute, Andie’s actions throughout the movie aren’t admirable, as she deliberately tries to drive Benjamin away to win a bet. It’s hard to look for a character this manipulative, and Andie’s happy ending with Benjamin feels undeserved.
6/10 Ron Weasley in The Harry Potter series
Rupert Grint plays the character Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movie series. Ron, as the whole world knows him, is a member of Harry Potter’s group of friends and a skilled wizard in his own right. While Ron may have had his moments of bravery, he was often overshadowed by the other characters and wasn’t always the most likable. It’s extremely hard to justify his happy ending with Hermione when he’s been such a silly and jealous character in the movies.
5/10 Troy Maxson in Fences
Troy Maxson, played by Denzel Washington in the 2016 movie Fences, is a former baseball player struggling to come to terms with his past and provide for his family. Although Troy reconciles with his family at the end of the film, his infidelity and the way he hurts his son’s career are hard to forgive.
4/10 into Jackson Maine A star is born
A star is born follows the story of Jackson Maine, played by Bradley Cooper, a struggling musician who discovers and falls in love with a talented young singer named Ally. The film, directed by Cooper and co-written by Eric Roth and Will Fetters, is a remake of the 1937 film of the same name and also stars Lady Gaga as Ally. Despite his eventual success, Jackson’s continued substance abuse and mistreatment of those around him make it difficult for his character to take root.
3/10 Jim Preston in Passengers
Jim Preston, played by Chris Pratt in Passengers, is a passenger on a starship who awakens from hibernation 90 years early and finds himself alone on the ship. When he meets Aurora, played by Jennifer Lawrence, he decides to wake her up too so he doesn’t have to live or die alone. Although Jim and Aurora eventually fall in love, their relationship feels a bit unfair on Aurora’s part as she is essentially trapped on the ship and manipulated by Jim into falling in love with him. It’s hard to justify their happy ending when the circumstances of their relationship are so questionable.
2/10 Melanie Smoother in Sweet Home Alabama
Reese Witherspoon plays Melanie Smoother in the 2002 romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama. Melanie is a successful fashion designer who returns to her small Alabama hometown to file for divorce from her husband and confront her past. While Melanie may have had a cute southern charm, she was a pretty horrible person overall, making selfish and irresponsible decisions throughout the movie.
1/10 Nate in The devil wears Prada
Nate, played by Adrian Grenier in the 2006 comedy-drama The devil wears Prada, is the boyfriend of Andrea Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, an aspiring journalist who works as an assistant to a demanding fashion magazine editor, played by Meryl Streep. Nate is a horrible, unsupportive friend who constantly teases Andrea for being ambitious and tries to keep her from her dreams. The way he lives happily ever after with Andrea is definitely unfair when he has been such a negative influence on her throughout the movie.