Whether it’s a sparkling gold, a soft lilac, or a startling red, who doesn’t love a sunset? Mother nature has a gorgeous paintbrush, and time and again, filmmakers have sought to capture her brilliant colors on camera. In storytelling language, sunsets are more than just a technicolor streak through the sky — they can also hint at evolving plot and character arcs, marking the close of one chapter and the beginning of another. In the spirit of this transformative phenomenon, we compiled a list of seven iconic sunset scenes in film.
The Princess Bride
Just like the book it is based on, the movie adaptation of The Princess Bride plays on popular clichés and tropes in the fantasy and romance genres. One such cliché is the silhouetted sunset kiss. When Buttercup and Westley kiss goodbye in front of the setting sun, it is the last time we see them living their simple, contented country existence. Westley sets off on his dangerous voyage that forever changes his previous soft-spoken persona, and Buttercup eventually ascends to royalty. The alternate narrative also sets up a tone change here; it is after this point that the grandson character, at first skeptical of the story, gets sucked into its world.
Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope
The Star Wars series is full of memorable sunsets, but nothing beats the classic binary sunset in A New Hope. This scene carries multiple layers of significance. As Luke stares off into the horizon, he dreams of opportunities he may discover beyond his home; it’s the next day that he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his life takes off at the speed of light. The two suns also carry relevant theming, from the light and dark motif that echoes the balance of the force, to the incidental twin symbolism. Luke is haunted by the idea that something in his life is missing, and the journey he takes ultimately leads him to meet his long-lost twin sister, Leia.
Hercules (1997)
The godly (or, more accurately, demigodly) Hercules is a fish out of water in the Disney film. He laments to his parents that he feels inherently out of place, then launches into his song, Go the Distance. As he sings into the glorious, golden sun, its rays crown him in a heavenly way, hinting at his true godly parentage. It is after this song that Hercules goes off to begin his personal quest that leads to both his heroic deeds and his eventual acceptance into the realm of the gods.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The ending of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is reminiscent of a classic cowboy flick: the four heroes, astride their horses, riding off into the sunset. But there’s more to this scene than just this imagery. The movie’s plot focuses on Indy’s strained relationship with his father, which eventually begins to soften as the action spirals out of control and their lives are put at risk. As father and son ride off, we are left with the implication that while this adventure may have come to an end, their relationship is only just beginning.
La La Land
Seb and Mia begin at odds in La La Land, constantly brushing each other off and raising their mutual hatred for one another. After a party where Mia antagonizes Seb, the two find themselves wandering down the road together. The pretty pale pink sunset behind them seems ideal for falling in love, and as they sing A Lovely Night, they remark that the picturesque landscape is wasted on their disappointing acquaintance. But fate has other things in store for them, and as they tap dance in perfect synchronicity against the setting sun, something sizzles beneath the surface that eventually, they can no longer ignore.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the titular Walter is a chronic daydreamer, using his imagination to escape from his mundane life. When a critical photograph for Life magazine’s final print issue goes missing, negative developer Walter chases after it. The first leg of his journey eventually lands him in Iceland, where he watches the setting sun outside of a Papa John’s. Reflecting on the wildly adventurous few days he’s had, Walter is struck by a growing need to keep the excitement going. This marks a turning point in the film, where Walter makes an active choice to step into the forefront of his life instead of watching from the sidelines.
Before Sunrise
The first film in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, Before Sunrise, follows American boy Jesse and French college student Celine during one unforgettable night in Vienna. Jesse’s flight back to the States leaves in the morning, but lacking the funds for lodging, he convinces his new French friend to wander the city with him until dawn. Their easy conversations melt and glide into one another as deeper feelings begin to float underneath them. It is after the sun sets and day transitions to night that their bond solidifies, and the finality of their time with one another seems too terrible to face.
Who knew that something as commonplace as a sunset could hold such rich possibility for storytelling? Next time you see a sunset pop up in a movie, pay closer attention: there might be some important symbolism right in front of you.
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