The End

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The End

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2h 28m

Musical

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

53%

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80 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Twenty-five years after environmental collapse left the Earth uninhabitable, Mother, Father and Son are confined to their palatial bunker, where they struggle to maintain hope and a sense of normalcy by clinging to the rituals of daily life--until the arrival of a stranger, Girl, upends their happy routine. Son, a naïve twenty-something who has never seen the outside world, is fascinated by the newcomer, and suddenly the delicate bonds of blind optimism that have held this wealthy clan together begin to fray. As tensions rise, their seemingly idyllic existence starts to crumble, with long-repressed feelings of remorse and resentment threatening to destroy the family's delicate balance. But their reckoning with difficult truths also points to a different way forward, one based on acceptance, love, and a capacity for change.

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Critics Consensus

The End doesn't lack for ambition or talent, but its bold vision is ill-served by a bloated runtime and monotonous musical score.

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

For all its ambitions, "The End" does grow tedious, and at two and a half hours, it's overkill. But it's unsettling in ways that linger long after the end credits roll, and disturbing in what it has to say about us...

Rated: B

Dec 13, 2024

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Ty Burr

Washington Post

Oppenheimer has made a chamber play of and for the damned, and while it never fully escapes the laboratory of ideas, it shows a daring and lethally sharp creative mind at work. More, please.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 12, 2024

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

As actual modern technocrats dream of escaping environmental catastrophe by fleeing to Mars, Oppenheimer’s staid vision of the splendid isolation of the upper class is nowhere near as ambitious as it needs to be.

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 12, 2024

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

If you are looking for a musical about living with guilt in a dystopian world after an environmental apocalypse, then documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer’s debut fictional feature, “The End” (2024), is for you.

Dec 21, 2024

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

The songs don't move the plot and they aren't that memorable.

Dec 20, 2024

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Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

Effectively provokes with themes of isolationism, empowered entitlement and one’s responsibility to a fellow human, as well as stewardship of the vast blue orb we’ve indelibly infected through negligence and avarice.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 16, 2024

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Dora

Confusing, and didn’t really see how the musical aspect of it was important? Great concept though.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

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John C

Dear god. Stay far far away.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

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Max

Woof, I wanted to like this movie so bad, but the singing and characters were not connecting for me.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/14/24

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Jen M

A potentially interesting storyline turned into a lingering cinematic bore. A slow progressing storyline with uninventive musical elements. Remake it an hour shorter and not a musical and you might have something.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

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Rob S

"The End" is a must-see film that's both bold and imaginative. The production design is absolutely stunning, with intricate sets that bring to mind classic Hollywood musicals. The cinematography is top-notch, featuring long single takes and beautifully crafted lighting. This film dives deep into themes of denial and privilege, following a family's struggle to maintain their luxurious lifestyle in isolation. It's a powerful commentary on how people often ignore inconvenient truths. If you're looking for a visually striking and thought-provoking movie, "The End" is definitely worth watching!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

Tony N

When i first read the synopsis, the first thing that came to mind was the Brendan Fraser "Blast from the Past" comedy, which I loved. But clearly this was a dystopian take on that topic. I will agree. This was about 30 to 40 minutes too long. BUT having said that, the cast was great. The topic is timely. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the guilt and moral ambiguities and the rationalizations of those who lived with the guilt and then the ending which shows us how they can live with all that and normalize the situation is very good. I will also say, for me, this was like Sparks' Annette. I could watch it once and like the movie. But i would not be able to watch it twice. Both movies left me contemplating a LOT, to the point after Annette i walked two blocks past my car before I realized I had missed my car. AND that is when the line "Well, what did you expect from an Opera? A happy ending?", from the conclusion of Bugs Bunny's 'What's Opera Doc?', (that applies to both films,) came back to me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

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Joshua Oppenheimer

Director

Tilda Swinton

Actor

Michael Shannon

Actor

Lennie James

Actor

Bronagh Gallagher

Actor

George MacKay

Actor

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The End: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Twenty-five years after environmental collapse left the Earth uninhabitable, Mother, Father and Son are confined to their palatial bunker, where they struggle to maintain hope and a sense of normalcy by clinging to the rituals of daily life--until the arrival of a stranger, Girl, upends their happy routine. Son, a naïve twenty-something who has never seen the outside world, is fascinated by the newcomer, and suddenly the delicate bonds of blind optimism that have held this wealthy clan together begin to fray. As tensions rise, their seemingly idyllic existence starts to crumble, with long-repressed feelings of remorse and resentment threatening to destroy the family's delicate balance. But their reckoning with difficult truths also points to a different way forward, one based on acceptance, love, and a capacity for change.

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Producer: Tilda Swinton, Signe Byrge Sørensen
Screenwriter: Rasmus Heisterberg, Joshua Oppenheimer
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Final Cut for Real, The Match Factory, Wild Atlantic Pictures, Dorje Film, Moonspun Films , Anagram Sweden
Genre: Musical, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 2h 28m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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