Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023) movie poster

Ending Explained

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 2 h 4 m · English
Echo score 42
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
James Wan
Starring
Jason Momoa, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren
Budget
$205M

As Black Manta’s thirst for revenge against Aquaman escalates, he discovers the dark power of the Black Trident. This ancient weapon unleashes a destructive force that jeopardizes the ocean's stability. Empowered by the Trident, Black Manta relentlessly pursues Aquaman, pushing the hero to confront the full extent of their long-standing rivalry.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens at the end
  3. 3 Final events in order
  4. 4 Ending questions answered
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Ending explained · contains spoilers

What Happens at the End of Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom?

How Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023) ends, what the final scene means, which earlier moments set it up and how to read the ending if the film leaves it open. The full ending explained, with every spoiler.

Arthur, with the help of his brother Orm, ultimately defeats Kordax, the demonic king trapped beneath the lost city of Necrus. During the final battle, Orm is possessed by Kordax after touching the cursed trident, causing him to turn against Arthur. However, Arthur manages to reach out to Orm through their shared memories and love, reminding him of their bond and their past together. This emotional connection breaks Kordax’s control over Orm, allowing him to regain his senses and help Arthur defeat the monster. Meanwhile, David, driven by vengeance and his desire for power, kidnaps Arthur’s son and takes him to Kordax’s city to complete a ritual that would break the curse and release Kordax’s army. Just as David is about to kill the innocent child, Arthur and his forces arrive for the rescue, leading to a fierce confrontation. In the chaos, David chooses to stand by his hatred and refuses help, tragically sacrificing himself as he refuses to see reason or accept forgiveness. With David’s death, the threat of Kordax is finally eradicated, and peace is restored. The underwater kingdoms and the surface world unite, revealing their existence to humans and promising to protect the planet’s natural beauty. Arthur, having saved his son and overall realm, stands as a symbol of unity and hope, emphasizing the importance of respecting nature and embracing diversity. In the film’s closing moments, Arthur addresses the United Nations, calling for cooperation among all nations to safeguard the Earth’s future, leaving a message of environmental stewardship and unity.

Last updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

Was this helpful?

The last 4 events

How Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Ends: The Final Events in Order

The last events of Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023) in chronological order, the run-up to the ending explained above. The complete timeline has all 15 events, scene by scene.

Open the full timeline
  1. David's Assault on Tom's Lighthouse

    As the stakes rise, David Manta invades Tom Curry's lighthouse, kidnapping Arthur Jr. This act propels Arthur into a desperate race against time to rescue his son and thwart David's plans.

    Where
    Lighthouse
  2. Confrontation in Necrus

    In an intense battle within the lair of Necrus, Arthur faces Black Manta in a bid to save his son. The duel culminates in a fierce struggle that tests Arthur's strength and determination.

    Where
    Necrus
  3. Destruction of the Black Trident

    In a critical moment, Orm, wielding the black trident, faces off against David, culminating in Kordax's spirit being severed from David. Magnificently, Arthur manages to destroy the trident, dealing a decisive blow.

  4. Arthur's United Nations Address

    In a final act of diplomacy, Arthur reveals Atlantis's existence to the world at the United Nations. This bold move aims to unite the surface and underwater worlds to combat the ongoing climate crisis effectively.

    Where
    United Nations

Ending questions answered

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Ending: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about the ending of Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023): what the final scene means, how the twist works, what happens to each character and how to read the ending. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Orm get possessed by Kordax in the final battle?

Orm gets possessed after touching the cursed Black Trident during the battle in Necrus. The trident is the ancient weapon that houses Kordax's dark power, and when Orm grasps it, the demonic entity takes control of his body, turning him against Arthur.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes established the Black Trident as a corrupting force that grants immense power but also consumes the wielder.

  • orm possession
  • kordax control
  • black trident
  • cursed weapon
  • aquaman brother
Q2

How does Arthur break Kordax's control over Orm?

Arthur reaches out to Orm through their shared memories and brotherly love, reminding him of their bond and past experiences together. This emotional connection proves stronger than Kordax's corruption, allowing Orm to regain his senses and turn against the demon.

Foreshadowing: The film builds toward their reconciliation after their earlier conflict in the first movie.

  • arthur.orm
  • brotherly bond
  • emotional connection
  • kordax defeated
  • memory flashback
Q3

Why does Black Manta die at the end of the movie?

David refuses Arthur's offer of help and forgiveness during the final confrontation. Driven by his thirst for revenge after his father's death, he chooses to stand by his hatred rather than accept redemption. In the chaos of the battle, he sacrifices himself rather than be saved.

Foreshadowing: David's refusal to accept any help was established earlier when he consistently rejected attempts at reconciliation.

  • david mantee death
  • black manta fate
  • revenge
  • refusal of help
  • sacrifice
Q4

Does Aquaman unite Atlantis with the surface world?

Yes, the underwater kingdoms and the surface world unite by the end of the movie. Arthur reveals their existence to humans and they work together to protect the planet's natural beauty, with Arthur addressing the United Nations to call for global cooperation.

Foreshadowing: This fulfills Arthur's goal from the first movie of bridging the surface and underwater worlds.

  • atlantis
  • surface world
  • united nations
  • unity
  • peace treaty
Q5

What is the message Arthur delivers at the UN in the ending?

Arthur addresses the United Nations calling for cooperation among all nations to safeguard the Earth's future. The ending emphasizes environmental stewardship and unity, with the underwater kingdoms now openly working with surface nations to protect the planet.

Foreshadowing: The entire movie revolves around threats to ocean stability and nature.

  • united nations
  • speech
  • environmental message
  • climate
  • unity speech
Q6

How is Kordax finally defeated in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

Arthur and Orm work together to defeat Kordax. After Arthur breaks Kordax's possession over Orm, the brothers combine their forces to destroy the demonic king. With David's death refusing to complete the ritual, the threat of Kordax's army is also eradicated.

Foreshadowing: The Black Trident was established as both the source of Kordax's power and his weakness.

  • kordax defeat
  • final battle
  • necrus
  • demonic king
  • army destroyed
Q7

What happens to Arthur's son in the ending?

Arthur rescues his son from David, who had kidnapped the child to Necrus to complete a ritual that would break the curse and release Kordax's army. Arthur and his forces arrive just as David is about to kill the boy, saving him from harm.

Foreshadowing: David's kidnapping of Arthur's family was set up as his ultimate move for revenge.

  • arthur son
  • kidnapping
  • rescue
  • necurs
  • child safety
Q8

Does Orm survive the ending of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

Yes, Orm survives. After being freed from Kordax's possession through Arthur's emotional appeal to their brotherly bond, Orm helps Arthur defeat the monster. He lives and presumably returns to his role in the underwater kingdoms as part of the unified realm.

Foreshadowing: The film sets up their reconciliation and Orm's redemption arc throughout.

  • orm survival
  • aquaman brother
  • lives
  • redemption
  • king of atlantis
Q9

Is there a post-credits scene in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

This question addresses common search intent about post-movie content. The standard theatrical version concludes with Arthur's UN speech as the final scene. Any additional scenes would need to be confirmed based on specific theatrical release details.

  • post-credits
  • extra scene
  • after credits
  • easter egg

Movie threads

More Movies Like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with epic rivalries like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Epic battles where a hero faces their most persistent and powerful personal foe. If you liked the personal conflict between Aquaman and Black Manta, explore movies like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom where the hero's journey is defined by a powerful nemesis. These stories deliver fast-paced action, tense confrontations, and high-stakes battles driven by revenge and legacy.

  • vengeful
  • urgent
  • epic
  • tense
  • rivalry
  • confrontational
  • Tone: tense, urgent, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a hero who is relentlessly pursued or challenged by a specific villain, often one with a personal grudge. The narrative is propelled by a series of escalating confrontations, leading to a final, decisive battle that resolves the central rivalry, often while a larger world-threatening event unfolds.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a focus on a central antagonist whose drive is personal vengeance, creating a tense and urgent tone. They blend high-intensity action with a character-driven conflict, resulting in a fast-paced, epic feel where the hero must overcome both a physical threat and a deep-seated personal challenge.

Movies about brotherly alliances like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Action-packed adventures where reluctant brothers unite to save their world. Fans of the dynamic between Aquaman and his brother Orm will enjoy movies like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom that focus on brotherly alliances. These films blend adventurous action with themes of family legacy, responsibility, and the difficult path to unity against a greater evil.

  • brotherly
  • adventurous
  • unlikely allies
  • family legacy
  • hopeful
  • tense
  • Tone: adventurous, brotherly, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist who is initially at odds with a brother or close familial figure. A larger crisis forces them to work together, leading to a journey where they confront their past, rebuild trust, and ultimately forge a powerful alliance that is key to overcoming the central conflict.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the 'brotherhood' arc amidst high-stakes action. They balance intense, fast-paced plots with a medium emotional weight derived from family dynamics, legacy, and responsibility, culminating in a hopeful resolution where the familial bond is strengthened.

If you liked this

Movies Like Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Similar movies to Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app