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Ending Explained

Artemis Fowl (2020) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 28
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Directed by
Kenneth Branagh
Starring
Ruth Horrocks, Colin Farrell, Hong Chau, Judi Dench, Adrian Scarborough, Josh Gad
Budget
$125M

A brilliant twelve-year-old criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, kidnaps a fairy seeking ransom. He soon finds himself facing a powerful, technologically advanced underground fairy civilization who are determined to reclaim what he stole. Artemis must use all of his intellect and resourcefulness to evade their capture and protect both the human and fairy worlds from a looming conflict, uncovering secrets about his own family along the way.

On this page (8)
  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 The book behind the movie
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Artemis Fowl
  8. 8 Every angle
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Ending explained · contains spoilers

What Happens at the End of Artemis Fowl?

How Artemis Fowl (2020) 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.

At the end of Artemis Fowl, the story hints at a future adventure involving Artemis and the fairies. In the final scenes, Artemis calls Opal and teases her about his victory, unknowingly warning her that he has entered a new, dangerous world that he doesn't fully understand. Meanwhile, Holly is given permission by the LEPrecon to investigate her father’s mysterious death—presumed to have been caused by Opal. These moments set the stage for a potential sequel, where Artemis and Holly could team up to confront Opal and uncover more of the fairy world’s secrets. However, despite these hints, the film’s poor reception and Disney's decision to release it directly on streaming suggest that a second film is unlikely. The film's low ratings and mixed reviews cast doubt on whether a sequel will happen, and the aging of the actor playing Artemis would also complicate future stories. Ultimately, the ending leaves the door open for more adventures, but it seems unlikely they will be made, leaving fans to wonder if the story of Artemis Fowl will continue in future adaptations or remain a closed chapter.

Last updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

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The last 4 events

How Artemis Fowl Ends: The Final Events in Order

The last events of Artemis Fowl (2020) in chronological order, the run-up to the ending explained above. The complete timeline has all 15 events, scene by scene.

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  1. Dom's Sacrifice

    In a moment of heroism, Dom sacrifices himself to save Artemis from the rampaging troll. This results in a dramatic confrontation that highlights the stakes involved in the battle over the Aculos.

    Where
    Fowl Manor
  2. The Aculos's Power

    As the chaos escalates, Holly decides to use the powers of the Aculos to save Artemis Sr. Their emotional reunion reveals hidden sacrifices, including Holly’s father's connection to the Aculos.

    Where
    Fowl Manor
  3. Vow for Revenge

    Finally, in a defiant act, Artemis declares his intention to pursue Opal Koboi after the chaos settles. Mulch’s clever machinations ensure that the existence of magic is confirmed to the authorities.

  4. Escape into the Skies

    In the climax of the story, the Fowls’ helicopter descends to rescue Mulch as he makes a hasty escape with Holly. This moment signifies the ongoing adventure and their struggle against the oppressive forces of Koboi.

    Where
    Fowl Manor

Ending questions answered

Artemis Fowl Ending: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about the ending of Artemis Fowl (2020): 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

What happens in the final scenes of Artemis Fowl?

In the final scenes, Artemis calls Opal Koboi to gloat about his victory, unknowingly warning her that he has entered a dangerous new world he doesn't fully understand. Meanwhile, Holly Short receives permission from LEPrecon to investigate her father's mysterious death, which was presumed to be caused by Opal. These scenes set up potential future conflicts while confirming the immediate threat has passed.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Opal's obsession with power and revenge hinted at her becoming a major antagonist.

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Q2

Who is Opal Koboi and what is her role in the ending?

Opal Koboi is a power-hungry fairy who orchestrated much of the conflict in the film. At the end, she is revealed as the one likely responsible for killing Holly's father. After Artemis defeats her plan, she escapes and remains a threat. The ending hints that she will return as the main villain in any potential sequel, with Artemis unknowingly alerting her to his presence in the magical world.

Foreshadowing: Opal's willingness to use humans as pawns and her desire to control fairy technology established her as the hidden antagonist.

  • opal koboi
  • fairy villain
  • antagonist
  • artemis fowl villain
Q3

What does Holly discover about her father's death?

At the end of the film, Holly Short is granted permission by LEPrecon to officially investigate her father's mysterious death. The investigation will determine whether Opal Koboi was truly responsible for killing him, which was previously presumed. This investigation sets up a potential storyline for a sequel where Holly seeks the truth about what happened to her father.

Foreshadowing: Holly's father's death was mentioned earlier as a tragic event that motivated her throughout the story.

  • holly short father
  • death investigation
  • lep precon
  • fairy police
Q4

Why does Artemis call Opal at the end?

Artemis calls Opal primarily to gloat about his victory and prove he successfully retrieved his father's memory. However, this call unknowingly serves as a warning to Opal that Artemis is now aware of the fairy world and willing to engage with it. It was a tactical mistake that potentially puts Artemis and his family in future danger.

Foreshadowing: Artemis's arrogance and need to prove his intelligence were established as character traits throughout the film.

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  • phone call
  • artemis pride
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Q5

Does Artemis save his father in the end?

Yes, Artemis successfully rescues his father. Earlier in the film, Artemis kidnapped a fairy to ransom for his father's return. At the end, it is confirmed that his father has been rescued from the fairy prison. The film's hopeful tone concludes with Artemis having saved his father and thwarted Opal's plans, though he has now become entangled in the fairy world's conflicts.

Foreshadowing: Artemis's entire motivation stemmed from his father's disappearance and his desperate attempt to bring him home.

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Q6

Does Artemis Fowl have a post-credits scene?

The ending of Artemis Fowl includes scenes that set up potential sequel storylines, functioning similarly to post-credits setup scenes. These include Holly's investigation into her father's death and Artemis's phone call with Opal. However, there is no traditional mid or post-credits sequence after the main ending.

  • post credits
  • ending scene
  • sequel setup
  • bonus scene
Q7

Will there be an Artemis Fowl sequel?

While the ending explicitly sets up a sequel with hints of future adventures between Artemis and Holly against Opal, a sequel is unlikely. The film received poor reception and was released directly to Disney+ instead of in theaters. The low ratings, mixed reviews, and the actor aging would all complicate any continuation. The story leaves the door open, but the franchise appears to be over for now.

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  • artemis fowl 2
Q8

What is the state of Artemis and Holly's relationship at the end?

By the end of Artemis Fowl, Artemis and Holly have developed a grudging mutual respect. While they started as adversaries, Artemis kidnapped Holly, they now work together and share a common enemy in Opal Koboi. The ending hints they could become allies in future adventures, though their relationship remains complicated by their different worlds and initial冲突.

Foreshadowing: Their interactions throughout the film showed gradual trust-building, especially after Artemis proved he would sacrifice his own goals to help others.

  • artemis holly
  • relationship
  • allies
  • partnership
  • enemies to friends
Q9

What happens to the fairy world after the ending?

At the end, the immediate threat from Opal Koboi has passed, and the fairy world returns to a state of relative safety. However, the fairy civilization remains aware of humans, and Artemis now knows about their world. The fairy world also faces the unresolved mystery of Holly's father's death. The ending suggests the fairy world will continue to interact with the human world, potentially leading to future conflicts.

Foreshadowing: The fairy world's vulnerability to human greed and technology was established early in the film.

  • fairy world
  • underground
  • fairy civilization
  • resolution
  • peace
Q10

Does Artemis change as a person by the end?

Artemis begins the film as a self-centered criminal mastermind willing to kidnap and blackmail for his own goals. By the end, he has grown to genuinely care about others beyond himself, as evidenced by his willingness to help Holly and protect the fairy world. His moral arc completes with him choosing to do the right thing even when it costs him personally, marking growth from a selfish boy to a potential hero.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes showed Artemis's intelligence being used purely for personal gain, but his interactions with Holly gradually revealed his capacity for empathy.

  • artemis character development
  • growth
  • redemption
  • character arc
  • moral change

Movie threads

More Movies Like Artemis Fowl, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Artemis Fowl tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Magical Heists and Hidden Worlds like Artemis Fowl

Clever plans and high-tech magic clash in secret fantasy realms. If you liked the clever strategy and high-tech fairy world of Artemis Fowl, explore more movies like it. This thread gathers similar family adventures where young geniuses pull off impossible heists in secret, fantastical worlds filled with magical creatures and high-stakes conflicts.

  • adventurous
  • tense
  • quirky
  • magical
  • action-packed
  • clever
  • Tone: whimsical, tense
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a brilliant protagonist, often young, who discovers or intentionally targets a hidden civilization. A high-stakes confrontation, often a kidnapping or theft, forces them to use their intellect and resourcefulness against a technologically or magically superior foe, leading to a tense but ultimately hopeful resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their core combination of a clever, plot-driven heist structure and the vibrant, rules-based worldbuilding of a hidden society. They share a sense of wonder, intellectual challenge, and a fast-paced, action-packed rhythm that keeps the adventure lively.

Movies with Brilliant Child Protagonists on Adventures like Artemis Fowl

Young geniuses use their intellect to solve epic, family-centered mysteries. Fans of Artemis Fowl's young genius hero will enjoy these similar movies. Discover stories where clever kids embark on high-stakes quests, using their intelligence to solve puzzles, outsmart villains, and save the day, often while uncovering secrets about their own family.

  • hopeful
  • adventurous
  • clever
  • family
  • quest
  • mystery
  • Tone: hopeful, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, engaging
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey centers on a precocious child whose unique intelligence is their greatest weapon. Their motivation is deeply personal, typically involving a missing parent or a familial legacy. The plot forces them to apply their knowledge in a real-world crisis, proving that brains can triumph over brawn.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on a child prodigy protagonist, a lighthearted but tense adventure tone, and a core theme of family. They offer a hopeful, empowering message that intelligence and resourcefulness can overcome any obstacle.

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Movies Like Artemis Fowl

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Every angle

Artemis Fowl (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Artemis Fowl 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.

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