‘Birdman’ Ending, Explained by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu

Marvel and Disney movies repeatedly present reliable narratives that clearly tell audiences what they should take away from a story. They go from beginning to end, asking questions and always giving answers — a comfort to moviegoers who just want to be entertained. When films like Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) leave viewers wondering about what its ending truly means, the lack of explanation often results in passionate, years-long debate (or, sometimes, animosity toward the work itself).

Acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu, best known for The Revenant and Babel, didn’t hold back while developing this Oscar-winning dark comedy. With Beetlejuice’s Michael Keaton in the titular role, the rest of the film’s cast is equally stacked, including Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and Zach Galifianakis.

The story instantly yanks audiences into the erratic world of Riggan Thomson, a washed-up actor haunted by his blockbuster-superhero past: a character named Birdman. While leading up to his Broadway debut, he internally and externally fights this flying alter-ego, attempting to prove himself to be a true artist. On the verge of a mental breakdown, the play reflects his downward spiral. Actors get injured, a newcomer takes over, and reality indistinctly blends with fantasy. So, what is real in the end?

‘Birdman’ Ends with a Bang

Iñárritu’s film, edited to resemble a continuous shot, takes audiences into Riggan’s increasingly unstable mind as he wrestles with his identity, as well as the external demands around him. The opening night of his directorial and acting debut in the Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” is approaching, and things start to fall apart.

His co-star gets injured by a falling light (which he believes he made happen with his Birdman superpowers). His daughter Sam, played by Poor Things’ Emma Stone, is a recovering drug addict working as his assistant and hating his guts. Mike Shiner, an egotistical method actor portrayed by Edward Norton, steps in as a last-minute replacement so that the show can go on. However, as the film goes on, Riggan’s mental state deteriorates. He’s seeing his Birdman in the flesh, hearing his critical voice, and worrying about his personal and professional failures.

As the story’s climax nears, Riggan cannot tell what’s real, and neither can viewers. After a tumultuous preview, Riggan flies into the play’s opening night. Backstage, he preps for the show, notably replacing a prop gun with a real one. The play ends with a public suicide attempt that conjures the standing ovation he always wanted.

Birdman’s final scenes show Riggan in a hospital bed. He’s woken up by a glowing review of the play’s authenticity, social media adoration, and a bandaged, reconstructed nose. He unwraps his face in the bathroom, where he reconciles with his Birdman persona. Then, noticing a flock of birds outside his room, he approaches and opens the window before walking out onto the ledge. Sam then comes into the room to see her father gone, rushes to the open window, and scans the ground. Slowly, her gaze turns up and into the sky, leaving the audience with only a smile.

‘Birdman’ Needed an Ambiguous Ending to Make Sense

A major theme throughout Birdman is the dichotomy of self. Riggan is fighting with who he wants to be, a well-regarded thespian, and who the world sees him as, an insubstantial superhero he used to play. Sam is battling her love and hate for Riggan as well as herself — turning to drugs as an escape. And Mike confuses his reality with life on the stage, only truly living when ironically playing pretend. The characters all face tension between their dualities — with Riggan the one most desperate for reconciliation, no matter what that looks like.

Iñárritu expertly presents this inner incongruity by employing a magical realism style of filming. The movie is set in reality but seamlessly blends magical elements to reflect how the characters imagine their lives as they live them. Riggan is often seen flying around, talking to a physical manifestation of Birdman, and the camera moves indefinitely — symbolizing the dreamlike quality of the human mind. As a result, the story’s unclear resolution fits in with its consistent metaphorical magic throughout.

Related

10 Sci-Fi Movies With Ambiguous Endings

Science-fiction has always been fertile ground for exploring thought-provoking – and often ambiguous – philosophical themes.

The Reality-Based Ending

One interpretation of the film looks at Riggan’s final moments through the lens of reality. It cuts out the magic and tries to decipher his fate, considering what would’ve likely happened following the gunshot. Instead of actually waking up in the hospital, Riggan passes away. Thus, the final scene becomes Riggan’s happy-ending hallucination, finally reconciling with Birdman because he cannot carry him into death. Riggan flies toward the light through the window and peacefully accepts it. Sam’s ending smile is merely symbolic of Riggan’s hopes for her once he’s gone.

The Magic-Based Ending

On the other hand, many viewers look at the film’s closing as emblematic of Riggan entering the life of his dreams. With overwhelming praise from new fans and critics alike, Riggan feels complete. He finally gained the recognition he sought after leaving behind his Birdman persona, as well as the caring company of Sylvia and Sam. So, taking flight through the hospital window indicates that all is finally right in his world. Ending with Sam’s smile simply reflects the new admiration Riggan imagines as he transcends into surreal superstardom.

Reality and Fantasy are Both True: Iñárritu Left ‘Birdman’ Ending Open for Interpretation

When it comes to entertainment, viewers like answers. Instead of realizing authorial intention may not reflect what a story actually communicates to audiences, oftentimes, consumers will look to creators for the “right” explanation. Since Birdman’s 2014 release, Iñárritu has avoided sharing his own interpretation of its equivocal ending to keep its intended ambiguity alive. While speaking with the Tampa Bay Times, the director stated, “At the ending of the film, [it] can be interpreted as many ways as there are seats in the theater.” Although there are different views of where the movie’s magical realism leads viewers, there isn’t one correct meaning for the ending.

Thus, the popular theories above and any not mentioned are all simultaneously true. Akin to Christopher Nolan’s films like Inception and Memento, it doesn’t matter what did or didn’t happen as the story concludes. The meaning audiences should take away from Birdman lies in the questions it poses. Whatever truly happened to Riggan is irrelevant to him finally reaching a sense of fulfillment.

If someone is finally content or has reconciled with the difficult parts of themselves or their life, does it matter if it’s real? Isn’t one’s satisfaction real enough?

Your changes have been saved

Release Date

October 17, 2014

Runtime

120 Minutes