38 Years Later, the Greatest Final Scene in Fantasy Movie History Is Still Untouchable

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Fantasy films are hard to get right, so when one truly succeeds – balancing magic with humor, heart, and excitement – fans remember it fondly. Rob Reiner’s film is a perfect example, and widely considered one of the best in the fantasy genre. It stands out because of its ability to combine different styles effortlessly and its enduring appeal.

Look, I’m a pretty big movie fan, and I can tell you The Princess Bride is seriously close to perfect. But what really gets me is the ending. So many movies fumble the finale, dragging things out, but this one wraps everything up so neatly – all the storylines come together beautifully without feeling rushed or boring. It’s hilarious, full of action, and just incredibly satisfying. Honestly, it’s one of the best fantasy endings ever put on film.

The Princess Bride Set Up One Of The Most Gratifying Fantasy Endings

Buttercup lived on a farm in the make-believe kingdom of Florin. Her farmhand, Westley, patiently fulfilled all of her requests, no matter how silly, always replying with a simple, “As you wish.” This was his secret way of telling her he loved her, and they eventually fell deeply in love. Like many fairytale heroes, Westley knew he needed to build a life for himself before they could truly be together, so he set off on a journey to make his fortune.

Buttercup received terrible news: Westley’s ship had been attacked by a ruthless pirate who killed everyone on board. Believing Westley was dead, she reluctantly agreed to marry the arrogant Prince Humperdinck of Florin. However, after being kidnapped by a Sicilian criminal, she was dramatically rescued by a mysterious man in black – and to her astonishment, it was Westley, very much alive!

Initially, Prince Humperdinck appeared to be a brave hero, but the truth gradually came out: he was the mastermind behind Buttercup’s kidnapping and intended to kill her after they married, using it as a pretext to start a war with a neighboring country. He had brutally killed Westley and forced Buttercup into an unwanted marriage, creating a dramatic and dangerous climax.

Buttercup had given up on life without Westley, believing him to be dead. It was now up to Fezzik and Inigo Montoya, despite the seemingly impossible odds, to try and change things.

Fezzik and Inigo Montoya Were The Unlikely Heroes Of The Princess Bride

As Westley was being tortured, Fezzik was recruited into the Brute Squad and tasked with clearing out the forest of thieves. He discovered a drunk and disheartened Inigo Montoya, and perked him up by revealing he’d finally found the man who killed his father. Because Inigo told everyone he met about this, fans quickly learned he was on a quest for revenge against the six-fingered man who had cheated and murdered his father over a sword.

Westley and Fezzik were aware of Count Rugen’s unusual six fingers, and when Inigo Montoya learned this, his desire for revenge drove him to attack the castle. In reality, Westley was brought back to life largely because so many people were seeking payback.

Fezzik and Inigo bring the badly injured Westley to Miracle Max, a former royal physician who was fired by Prince Humperdinck. Max is reluctant to help at first, but his wife insists. As Westley weakly expresses his desire to live for his true love, the film cuts to Miracle Max and his wife arguing, offering a humorous and realistic contrast to the idea of perfect romance.

Surprisingly, Miracle Max is inspired to create a cure for Westley when he learns the group plans to attack Prince Humperdinck’s castle – the thought of it greatly pleases him. While Westley is revived, he’s initially very weak and struggles to move due to the extent of his injuries. In a surprisingly simple but effective plan, the trio uses a firestorm cloak, a wheelbarrow, and fire to frighten the castle guards. However, Westley is still too weak to be of much help.

Inigo’s Revenge Was The Most Satisfying Part of The Finale

Despite the increasing danger to Westley and Buttercup’s romance, The Princess Bride gave equal attention to all its characters, even if it meant quickly moving Buttercup toward her unwanted marriage to Prince Humperdinck. Inigo’s confrontation with Count Rugen was a powerful, exciting, and crucial scene. Inigo was a sympathetic character, and the audience was invested in his quest to avenge his father. The film didn’t hold back on the intensity when Rugen and Inigo finally faced each other.

When Inigo told Count Rugen he was going to fight him, it looked like Rugen would win again. Rugen easily cut Inigo with his sword, and a final stab to the stomach seemed to seal Inigo’s fate… but it didn’t. Inigo fought through his injuries and past pain, overcoming his weaknesses and defeating Rugen in a surprising turn of events. In a deeply satisfying moment, Inigo slashed Rugen’s cheeks, mirroring the injury Rugen had inflicted on him as a child, and finally killed the man who had destroyed his childhood.

One of the things that made The Princess Bride so great was how much the audience cared about even the supporting characters. Inigo Montoya, while helping Westley and Buttercup, had a compelling story of his own, and watching him finally get his revenge was incredibly satisfying.

Westley’s Face-Off With Prince Humperdinck Was The Greatest Bluff Of All Time

Westley could have easily stormed the cathedral and stopped the wedding, but that would have been too predictable for this film. Even as the ceremony dragged on with the priest jokingly talking about “marriage” and “true love,” Westley didn’t arrive in time. Just as Buttercup was about to take her own life, Westley casually remarked from where he was lying that it would be a shame to ruin her beautiful body.

Following a brief and awkward reunion, where Westley appeared too weak to fight, he executed an incredible deception. When Prince Humperdinck entered, prepared for a duel, Westley cleverly intimidated him by describing a brutal and agonizing method of combat. He detailed this terrifying ordeal to frighten Humperdinck into surrender, and surprisingly, it worked.

Despite being incredibly weak, Westley managed to stand and draw his sword, which was enough to frighten Prince Humperdinck. Throughout the film, Humperdinck repeatedly showed himself to be a coward. He was willing to murder an innocent woman to start a war and didn’t hesitate to try and force her into marriage. It was darkly humorous to see Westley easily intimidate him with just a few words, and then Buttercup actually tie him up, especially considering Westley was so weak he could barely stand.

The final scene of The Princess Bride perfectly captured the film’s spirit, with Rob Reiner choosing cleverness, planning, emotion, and a battle of wits to defeat the Prince and his army. While many fantasy movies rely on big, explosive endings, this one used humor and intelligence to create a finale that felt real, touching, and ultimately more satisfying than a purely chaotic one. Importantly, Reiner maintained the film’s hopeful and optimistic tone, delivering a genuinely happy ending that resonated with audiences long after the movie finished.

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2025-12-17 05:40