How It Ends

Year: 2018

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

Director: David M. Rosenthal

Budget: $20M

ActionAdventureSci-FiDramaMysteryThriller

Facing imminent global destruction, a woman named Liza sets out on a journey to reconnect with the people most important to her. Accompanied by a younger version of herself, she travels through a chaotic Los Angeles, encountering a diverse group of individuals as she races to reach one last, momentous celebration before the end.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen How It Ends yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – How It Ends (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of How It Ends (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:18

Main Characters – How It Ends (2018)

Meet the key characters of How It Ends (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:18

Major Themes – How It Ends (2018)

Explore the central themes of How It Ends (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:18

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Desperate apocalyptic journeys like in How It Ends

High-stakes survival odysseys across a collapsing landscape.Find movies like How It Ends that feature high-tension journeys through a disintegrating society. If you liked the desperate road trip, constant danger, and grim urgency of How It Ends, explore these similar survival stories set against a backdrop of societal collapse.

tenseurgentbleakdesperatesuspensefulgrimanxious

Narrative Summary

These narratives unfold as a linear sequence of escalating crises. A central goal, often a person or place, provides the only direction in a world without rules. The journey is defined by confrontations with the worst of humanity and the harsh realities of a new, brutal world, testing the characters' resolve at every turn.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a high-intensity, goal-oriented journey set during an apocalypse. They share a tense, bleak tone, fast pacing, and the heavy emotional weight of witnessing civilization's end while fighting for one last connection.

Bleak and ambiguous apocalyptic movies like How It Ends

Grim tales of societal collapse with uncertain futures.Discover bleak apocalyptic thrillers similar to How It Ends. If you were drawn to the grim tone, societal decay, and ambiguous ending of How It Ends, this list features movies that explore collapse with heavy emotional weight and uncertain conclusions.

bleaktensegrimanxioussuspensefuluneasydesperate

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a sudden, often unexplained disaster that triggers a rapid unraveling of social order. The plot follows characters reacting to immediate threats in a newly dangerous world. The journey is less about solving the mystery of the catastrophe and more about enduring its consequences, culminating in an ending that offers little closure or clear hope.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by a specific vibe: a high-intensity, tense viewing experience centered on a bleak depiction of the end of the world. They share a straightforward narrative drive, heavy emotional stakes, and critically, an ambiguous or bleak ending that reinforces the themes of existential peril and uncertainty.

Unlock the Full Story of How It Ends

Don't stop at just watching — explore How It Ends in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what How It Ends is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

How It Ends Summary

Read a complete plot summary of How It Ends, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

How It Ends Timeline

Track the full timeline of How It Ends with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

How It Ends Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of How It Ends that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About How It Ends

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about How It Ends: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to How It Ends

Discover movies like How It Ends that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.