If you need the ending to Nope explained, you’re not alone. Everything falls apart rather quickly, and the movie is over rather abruptly, leaving viewers wondering what happened. Fortunately, it’s not too tough to figure out (unlike some other parts), and we’ll explain what happens at the end of Nope and if there’s a post-credits scene you might have missed below.
What does the ending of Nope mean?
Once the Heywoods figure out the patterns behind the UFO’s behavior in Nope, they’re determined to capture it on film. The ending centers around their efforts (and failure) to do so.
Near the end, Holst uses his hand-cranked camera to capture the UFO on film. The result is that the group has some of the most significant footage ever on tape. However, Holst is overcome when he sees the UFO and loses his mind. He decides to try and capture the “impossible shot” by allowing it to devour him. Unfortunately, in the process, all of the camera footage he took of the UFO is destroyed.
The Heywoods and Angel are forced to separate as the UFO reveals its true form and becomes even more aggressive. OJ distracts the creature long enough for Emerald to mount the electric bike left behind by a trespassing TMZ reporter and heads toward Jupiter’s Claim.
At Jupiter’s Claim, Emerald lures the creature in and releases a giant balloon mascot into the air. Luckily for her, the UFO thinks the balloon is looking at it, which triggers its predator instincts. However, just before the UFO reaches the balloon, Emerald manages to take a picture of it using a novelty camera in the bottom of a well pointed at the sky.
The UFO attempts to devour the balloon, but it ruptures inside of it. It appears that the balloon bursting kills the UFO. In the ending scene, OJ appears astride his horse, and the two exchange glances.
We can assume that the image of the UFO (and potentially its corpse) would fetch a lot of money for the Heywoods. Angel also survived, so perhaps they’ll cut him in. Furthermore, some of the film Holst shot might even be salvageable, giving them more evidence that their claims are valid.
The ending is supposed to be somewhat ambiguous, so the viewer can speculate about what happened next. There’s no right or wrong answer. The picture of the UFO might not have developed properly, and there may be no record of the incident. In this case, the Heywoods might even be arrested for the deaths of everyone involved. Who knows, it’s up to you to decide.
Is there a post-credits scene in Nope?
Some movie-goers thought they might have missed a post-credits scene in Nope that explains the end better. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. There won’t be a Nope Cinematic Universe, and there are no hints to help make everything easier to understand.
