This ending is really one of my favorites of all time, because it can be interpreted several ways, and yet the outcome remains the same: She didn't really want to have Chinese food with him. Because she knows he is essentially an arrogant genius. And she can't live with him. Because deep down, she is an arrogant genius herself.
Does she not see him at the door? He's not AT the door. He's downstairs. But does she expect him to be right there at the door, waiting? Maybe.
It's a brilliant ending. Scorsese shot an alternative version, where they actually do get together after her performance, but thank God he stuck it out with this downbeat finale (which is the only ending for this terribly neglected masterpiece of a movie).

In my opinion, if you wanted a happy ending then you had the whole "happy endings" sequence, so the ending HAD to be bittersweet. Not so ambiguous I think, she decides that she is not gettin out the building when she pushes the elevator button

Her being a star has nothing to do with Jimmy being a jerk.

I think its more a metaphoric thing - she saw the big sign "EXIT" above the door and sort of realized there is no way out of the world of high entertainment, the public life of stardom, the limelights anymore. Clear division between him and De Niro outside.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

Yeah, I was happy too, but the ambiguity bothers me. Did she not see him at the door because he was standing too far away, or did she actually intend to no go with him? It makes a difference.

I just saw it all the way through yesterday and was glad that Francine decided not to return to the abuse. She was a bigger star than he was and he had to accept that and turn away too, alas, at the same moment. Bittersweet is the correct word for the ending.
Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

I saw this movie for the first time today and was confused by the ending. Did Francine not realize Jimmy was on the street because she couldn't see him or did she just decide not to meet with him after all?
Even Roger Ebert was perplexed and frustrated by this. I reckon it was done this way to make us feel as disappointed and unfulfilled as the characters do.
As for the relationship, Jimmy is a bad, bad guy. Any women who would try to have a life with him is foolish. I've no sympathy for him, even if he is hot.
Imagine what would've happened if they'd gone to divorce court. Even that day in age, his actions would be hard to justify. A man who throws tables? GTFO.
I'll bet Scorsese's real life disappointments had something to do with it. He married in the 60s too young and had daughter. I have no idea what kind of a dad he was, but he evidently thought nothing of almost killing himself with drugs and partying in the late 70s, with 2 daughters, a tween and a baby (born during NY, NY). He also had an awful temper. Like Jimmy, I think he's a career-first, love-last kind of guy. (he's much better now, of course)

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George Lucas advised Marty to give it an happy ending. He told him the film would gross at least 10 million dollars more that way. Needless to say Marty didn't go for it. After all, he's not the happy ending kind of guy.

They're a couple of crank. They really can't keep a relationship together.
I don't know but I think they'll really kill each other, their minds aren't harmonious.
Roberta
"The camera lies all the time; lies 24 times/second." -
Brian de Palma

The exit sign says it all. It would've been an exit from everything she has now as she was only able to achieve it free from him and the same goes for him. They were both creative people who just couldn't help but hold each other back. But together they share their child and the song "New York, New York".
I really love how the movie bookended with us seeing Jimmy's feet and having the camera pan up to reveal Jimmy and then having the opposite of it as he walks away. A brilliant film.

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"I THINK I, AND THE REST OF YOU WHO SAT THROUGH IT TO THE ENDING, DESERVE A MEDAL. IT IS TEDIOUS IN MY VIEW. "
Hahaha yes!

"Neither of them (Jimmy or Francine, that is) ever really got to know each other."
I don't think it was an issue about misunderstanding. In fact the film is about the fact that they understand each other very well. Especially in that wonderful scene in the hospital where DeNiro says goodbye to her and walks out on them.
"Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs."

Nathanael West

Excellent comment, gazbomb.
BTW, the second time my mom, a senior, saw this film, she commented on the ending, "Neither of them (Jimmy or Francine, that is) ever really got to know each other."

and your take is the correct one
This was their story her struggle for commercial sucess and his struggle for artistic recognition, neither would compromise fully.
Interesting scene with his son where jimmy wonders if hes going to be like his mother or him .

My take was that neither of them were willing to meet halfway.

I was shocked they filmed the alternate "Happy"ending. I guess I like showing them laughing and together. But in reality it does not work like that. Scorsese said that they both reconsidered. There was no mix up. Francine did not want to go out of the door, and Jimmy realised that it would not be a good thing. They both had a change of heart, and yet, they are both at the point they wanted to be at, they are both successful now, Jimmy a successful Jazz Musician, and club owner, and Francine a very successful entertainer. Very bittersweet.

dude, your caps is on fire

But watching the deleted alternate scenes in the dvd it is clear that: 1- the scene was filmed with Francine and Jimmy leaving together as an alternative or 2- it was decided in the editing that Francine hesitates to meet Jimmy and start all over again and she goes back in the elevator. What an amazing flawed masterpiece this film is.

SCORSESE EXPLAINED IN AN INTERVIEW IN LONDON A FEW YEARS BACK THAT THE INTENTION WAS TO SHOW THAT BOTH CHARACTERS DECIDED THAT YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND THAT THEY BOTH COULD NOT GO THROUGH THE PAIN AGAIN. SO HE SAID THAT BOTH CHARACTERS DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THE RELATIONSHIP. SO NEITHER WON OR LOST.
HAVING ONLY SEEN THE FILM A WEEK AGO ON DVD, I THINK I, AND THE REST OF YOU WHO SAT THROUGH IT TO THE ENDING, DESERVE A MEDAL. IT IS TEDIOUS IN MY VIEW.

I've got a question regarding a scene in the film near the ending. It comes in the middle of the "Happy Endings" number when Liza is being introduced as the "toast of Broadway"-isn't the elderly gentleman that introduces her Jack Haley, Sr.? It sure looks like him, but he isn't mentioned in the credits and I can't find his name connected with the film anywhere. I listened to the director commentary on the DVD with this scene but Scorcese is talking about somthing else while the scene is on. It would make sense in that Jack was Lizas' father in law at the time and the whole Jack Haley -Judy Garland connection. Does anyone know anything about this?

Okay, Thanks!