Year: 2017
Runtime: 109 min
Language: English
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
A woman grappling with personal struggles discovers her life is inexplicably linked to a giant creature wreaking havoc in Seoul, Korea. As the city faces devastation, she investigates the connection, uncovering a startling truth about her own abilities and the immense, unpredictable power she possesses. The unfolding crisis forces her to confront her identity and the profound impact she has on the world.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Colossal (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The film begins in Seoul, South Korea, where a small girl and her mother enjoy a stroll through a park in search of the girl’s lost doll. In a sudden turn of events, a bolt of lightning strikes, heralding the emergence of a towering monster that wreaks havoc on the city, leaving the girl in sheer terror.
Fast forward 25 years, we find Gloria, played by Anne Hathaway, stumbling home in the early hours, visibly hungover. She attempts to justify her erratic lifestyle to her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens), but he’s had enough of her excessive drinking and unemployment, and finally decides to pack her things. Left in disbelief, Gloria is soon joined by friends who arrive to party in the apartment.
Relocating from the city back to her roots in her parents’ old home, Gloria encounters her childhood companion Oscar (Jason Sudeikis). Their reunion leads her to the bar Oscar inherited from his father. At the bar, she also meets Oscar’s friends Garth ([Tim Blake Nelson]) and Joel ([Austin Stowell]). As they reminisce over drinks in a nostalgic part of the bar, tensions arise when Joel attempts to kiss Gloria, only for Oscar to intervene.
After a drunken trek home with an inflatable mattress, Gloria awakens to a call from her sister. A shocking news segment reveals that a monster is once again causing chaos in Seoul, igniting her fear. She tries to reach Tim, but he dismisses her due to her state of inebriation. With Oscar’s support, Gloria finds a job at the bar, receiving a television for her dreary living space, leading to more drinking and late-night adventures.
As Gloria witnesses the monster’s movements on the news, she realizes a shocking connection: the creature mirrors her actions. After testing this bizarre link in the park, where she inadvertently influences the monster’s behavior, she invites Oscar, Garth, and Joel to witness this phenomenon. The implications of their antics lead to disastrous consequences, resulting in massive destruction and loss of life. Burdened by guilt, Gloria attempts to communicate her remorse, reaching out to the people of Seoul with a heartfelt message written in the park.
After a complicated night with Joel, Gloria continues to navigate her troubled relationship with Oscar, battling their longstanding issues and his increasingly hostile behavior influenced by alcohol. During their confrontations, flashes of childhood memories unveil their complex history, turning violent as emotions erupt at the bar one night.
As the situation escalates, Gloria devises a plan to confront Oscar, who has become the robot terrorizing the city. In a gripping showdown that juxtaposes her empowerment against her dependency, Gloria travels to Seoul during an evacuation. Unfazed by the chaos surrounding her, she finds the courage to put an end to Oscar’s rampage, ultimately responding to his aggression with strength.
She triumphantly ejects the robot Oscar from the city, reclaiming her agency at the cost of their relationship. As Gloria walks away from the destruction, the scene shifts to her mourning the weight of the events that transpired. In a poignant conclusion, she enters a small restaurant where she meets a friendly woman behind the counter, ready to share her story as she begins to face her future anew.
Last Updated: November 07, 2024 at 23:37
Still wondering what the ending of Colossal (2017) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the climactic final scene of Colossal, Gloria confronts her former boss, Oscar, who has transformed into a giant robot monster and is wreaking havoc on Seoul. As she arrives in her hometown, her own giant creature appears, and she steps forward to face Oscar in a dramatic showdown. During this confrontation, instead of killing him coldly, Gloria physically lifts him and throws him away, but Oscar, overwhelmed by his rage and sense of power, calls her a “bitch” and screams at her. This outburst reveals that Oscar, who had already committed heinous acts by destroying Seoul, is driven by a need to assert dominance and control, refusing to accept weakness or defeat. His insults and rage underscore his toxic masculinity and his refusal to take responsibility for his actions.
Originally, the scene was meant to end with Gloria simply throwing Oscar aside in a cold, emotionless manner—similar to a Western showdown. However, Anne Hathaway, who played Gloria, felt that this would undermine her character’s empathy and moral struggle. She suggested that Oscar should be given one last chance to show humility and remorse, even if he fails. As a result, the director, Nacho Vigalondo, amended the scene so that Oscar’s final words are hostile rather than submissive, emphasizing his arrogance and inability to accept defeat. This choice made the ending more powerful, showing that Oscar’s destructive nature cannot be redeemed or forgiven.
In the end, Gloria’s act of physically defeating Oscar signifies a symbolic victory over both her abuser and his destructive ideology. Instead of forgiveness, the film concludes with Oscar’s defeat firmly established, highlighting that some evil acts are beyond reconciliation. The scene’s emotional intensity and the characters’ choices reinforce the film’s message about the consequences of unchecked power and toxicity. It’s a tragic but fitting ending, reflecting the idea that true justice sometimes means giving up on redemption and choosing to end the cycle of violence.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58
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