Year: 2017
Runtime: 80 min
Language: English
A woman's journey through the American Southwest becomes a transformative pilgrimage as she travels to Las Vegas. The film follows her experiences through a kinetic, deconstructed narrative, presenting a reimagining of her quest. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of characters, both challenging and surprising her. The story explores themes of identity and redemption against the backdrop of the desert landscape and the city's vibrant lights.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Ma 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Ma (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Teenager Maggie Thompson relocates with her mother Erica to her small-town Ohio home following the departure of Erica’s husband. At her new school, Maggie quickly bonds with a group of friends, including Haley, Darrell, Chaz, and Andy—who develops an instant crush on her. They enlist the help of Sue Ann “Ma” Ellington, a local veterinary technician, to procure alcohol for their underage gathering. Sue Ann, however, chooses to anonymously report their antics, but they’re let off the hook due to a friendly history between the police officer and Andy’s father, Ben.
The very next day, Sue Ann invites the teens over to her house to party in her basement. What begins as a casual get-together transforms quickly as Sue Ann decorates her space and becomes a celebrated figure among high schoolers. Still, her overbearing hospitality soon becomes oppressive, leading the original group to feel increasingly uncomfortable with her presence. Tensions escalate when Sue Ann witnesses a romantic moment between Andy and Maggie, which ignites a mix of jealousy and rage within her—she harbors feelings for Andy, having once been infatuated with his father, Ben, during their high school years.
Motivated by jealousy, Sue Ann drugs Maggie, stealing her earrings in the process. When a confused Maggie awakens to find her earrings missing and bearing bruises, she confides in Andy, expressing her dread of returning to Sue Ann’s house. To regain their trust, Sue Ann fabricates a story about having pancreatic cancer, using it as a cover for her erratic behavior. However, the teens quickly become suspicious upon noticing that Sue Ann sports a bracelet belonging to one of them.
Determined to uncover the truth, the girls decide to investigate and encounter Genie, Sue Ann’s daughter from a failed marriage. To their astonishment, they discover that Genie, whom Maggie believed to be confined to a wheelchair, is in fact fully mobile. Just as they make their escape, Sue Ann returns home.
Tension mounts when Ben visits Sue Ann’s workplace to drop off his cat, leading to a drink invitation. At the bar, he confronts Sue Ann with a tracking device, demanding to know why Andy frequents her house. Ben warns her to stay away from Andy, dismissing her as “pathetic.” Flashbacks reveal a tragic past—Sue Ann had once performed a sexual act on Ben in high school, only to be betrayed during the encounter, leading to public humiliation that haunts her.
As Sue Ann spirals into madness, she commits further atrocities: running over Ben’s girlfriend Mercedes and killing her boss. In a cruel twist, she extracts blood from Maggie’s dog, Louie, planning to inject it into Ben. When Maggie confesses her fears about Sue Ann to Erica, she finds herself grounded. Shortly after, Sue Ann sends a distressing photo of herself and Andy at a party, prompting Maggie to confront him and discover that all their friends have been drugged.
Maggie’s horror escalates when she stumbles upon Ben’s lifeless body. Chained in the basement, she witnesses Sue Ann torturing her friends—binding Haley’s mouth and painting Darrell’s face—a grotesque manifestation of her twisted mindset. Andy attempts to seduce Sue Ann to buy them time, but she stabs him, revealing her true nature.
When an officer arrives to investigate the commotion, Maggie’s screams for help turn tragic as Sue Ann shoots him dead. She orchestrates a macabre photo session, trying to recreate the friendship moments she never experienced, leaving Maggie in a perilous situation. Just as the house catches fire, Erica, knowing where her daughter would be, manages to save the group alongside her coworker Stu.
In a chaotic finale, Sue Ann attempts to sacrifice Genie, blaming Erica for the past’s unresolved pain. In the heat of the moment, Maggie stabs Sue Ann, allowing Genie to escape safely. As the survivors grapple with the devastation left behind, they witness Sue Ann lying next to Ben’s body in an embrace as their house crumbles into flames.
Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 11:05
Still wondering what the ending of Ma (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.
Sue Ann, also known as “Ma,” begins the climax seeking revenge for her traumatic past, which is rooted in her high school years where she was humiliated and bullied by her peers. As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that Sue Ann’s actions are driven by long-standing pain and a desire to reclaim some sense of power and respect she was denied. She forms a twisted connection with the teenagers, seeing in them reflections of her younger self and her tormentors. Over time, her frustration boils over, culminating in a violent spree where she drugs, tortures, and murders several of the young people, as well as a parent who confronts her. This violent rampage is her way of exacting revenge on those who hurt her and the previous generation who dismissed her as a child.
The story takes a shocking turn when the teenagers break into Sue Ann’s house and discover her secret: she has a daughter named Genie, who has been manipulated and gaslit into believing a false reality. Genie is not the threatening figure they initially suspected; she is revealed to be a vulnerable girl kept isolated and misled by her mother. This revelation deepens the horror, showing how Sue Ann’s trauma has twisted her into a manipulative, dangerous person. During the climax, Sue Ann kills her former classmate Ben in a gruesome manner, injecting him with a strange canine blood mixture and slitting his wrists, symbolizing her complete transformation into her own version of revenge and chaos.
As the teenagers try to escape, Sue Ann’s house catches fire, which metaphorically reflects her internal turmoil—her long-suppressed pain and rage. In a final, grim act, she chases Genie into the flames but is ultimately stabbed by Maggie, who declares, “I’m not like my mother. I’m not weak,” as she fights to free herself from her mother’s destructive influence. Despite Maggie’s efforts, Sue Ann survives temporarily and walks upstairs, lying down next to Ben. This haunting ending suggests Sue Ann’s cycle of pain is unending: she is left next to the man who once humiliated her, signifying that she has become trapped in her trauma, unable to find peace. The fire raging in the background acts as a visual metaphor for her internal anguish, and the film closes on her lying next to the man who caused her so much suffering—her attempt to reclaim some control over her past and her pain.
The ending leaves viewers pondering the deeper themes of unaddressed trauma, race, gender, and the long-lasting effects of childhood bullying. Sue Ann’s story is a dark reflection of how unresolved pain can eventually lead to destruction, a warning of the toll that grief and betrayal can take when left unhealed. While critical responses were mixed, the ending solidifies her tragic arc, emphasizing that her violence is a manifestation of her lifelong suffering and desire for respect in a world that dismissed her. Ultimately, Sue Ann’s death next to Ben signifies that her destructive cycle has come full circle, leaving behind a haunting visual of the damage caused by unacknowledged trauma.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:01
Don't stop at just watching — explore Ma 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 Ma is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Ma with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Ma. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Discover movies like Ma 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.
Ma (2017) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Ma (2017) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Ma (2017) Ending Explained & Theories
Movies Like Ma – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Ma (2019) Full Movie Breakdown
Marfa Girl 2 (2018) Complete Plot Breakdown
Revenge (2018) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Mojave (2016) Complete Plot Breakdown
Bloody Mama (1970) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Off the Map (2005) Detailed Story Recap
Desperation Road (2023) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Americano (2012) Full Summary & Key Details
Road to Paloma (2014) Complete Plot Breakdown
MaXXXine (2024) Story Summary & Characters
Mad Women (2015) Detailed Story Recap
Endings, Beginnings (2020) Full Movie Breakdown
Ava (2017) Full Movie Breakdown
Return to Me (2000) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Dirty God (2020) Full Movie Breakdown