Macbeth (2015) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

The film unfolds with a poignant Act I, where the Macbeths mourn the loss of their child during a solemn funeral that is not part of the original play. Following this, Macbeth triumphs in a civil war battle leading King Duncan's forces, despite suffering heavy losses, including that of young soldiers. Mysterious Three Witches, accompanied by a girl and an infant, approach Macbeth and Banquo, proclaiming Macbeth's future as Thane of Cawdor and King, while heralding Banquo as the progenitor of kings, before vanishing into thin air.

In Act II, Duncan learns of Macbeth’s victory and punishes the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, bestowing the title upon Macbeth. Upon hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth confides in his wife, Lady Macbeth, who fervently calls upon dark spirits for their assistance. When Macbeth mentions that Duncan will be staying overnight, she passionately pushes him to murder the King to ensure the prophecy's fulfillment. During a grand feast, Duncan announces Malcolm as his successor, heightening Macbeth's internal conflict. Ultimately, with Lady Macbeth’s encouragement and drugging of the servants, Macbeth kills Duncan after being led by the spectral vision of a boy soldier who presents him a dagger. Overcome by guilt and shock, he delivers the daggers to Lady Macbeth, who chastises him and cleverly plants them on the sleeping guards. They wash their hands in a church, claiming they have cleansed themselves of the deed.

Moving into Act III, in the light of day, Macduff uncovers Duncan’s murder, and Macbeth, fearing the servants might reveal too much, kills them in a frenzy. Macduff becomes suspicious of Macbeth, who ascends to the throne amid these dark circumstances. Haunted by the thought of the prophecy claiming that the crown will go to Banquo and his son Fleance, Macbeth, feeling insecure in his kingship, invites Banquo and his son to a lavish banquet but learns of their plan to leave, as Banquo grows wary of Macbeth’s intentions. In a chilling twist, Macbeth hires assassins who successfully kill Banquo, though Fleance escapes, igniting Macbeth’s fury. During the banquet, Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost, causing him to panic and reveal his mental turmoil to the guests, prompting the concerned Lady Macbeth to dismiss them.

In Act IV, Macbeth seeks the counsel of the witches once more. They reveal ominous visions, cautioning him to beware of Macduff and assuring him that he will remain King until the forests themselves march to Dunsinane Hill. Furthermore, Macbeth receives the prophecy claiming he cannot be harmed by any man born of a woman. An infuriated Macbeth orders the brutal slaughter of Macduff’s family, which deeply disturbs Lady Macbeth as she helplessly watches. Meanwhile, Macduff allies with Malcolm, ultimately learning of his family's tragic fate and vowing vengeance.

As we enter Act V, a tormented Lady Macbeth finds herself at church, lamenting their heinous acts and haunted by her bloody hands. She envisions her child's ghost, pleading for peace. Meanwhile, rumors of Macbeth's descent into madness proliferate, as he is consumed by tyranny and wrath. Upon receiving news of Lady Macbeth’s death, he mournfully states, > "tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow," carrying her lifeless body in despair. Reports reach him that Malcolm is assembling an army, prompting Macbeth to gear up for battle. In a twist of fate, Macduff brings Birnam Wood to life as smoke billows toward Dunsinane, fulfilling the prophecy. In a climactic battle, Macbeth confronts Macduff confidently, convinced that "no man born of woman" can defeat him. However, Macduff reveals he was born through a Caesarean section and, taking advantage of Macbeth's momentary distraction, delivers the fatal blow. Macbeth faces the inevitable regrets of his ambition, realizing redemption is forever out of reach. He defiantly refuses to kneel before Malcolm, ultimately leading to his demise. The witches, having witnessed the chaos unfold, depart, while Malcolm is heralded as King. The film concludes with Malcolm leaving the throne room, as Fleance seizes Macbeth's sword, vanishing into the misty battlefield.

In Joel Coen's adaptation of Macbeth, the ending takes a surprising turn that shifts the story from a traditional resolution to something more unsettling and open-ended. After Macbeth’s downfall and the crown passing to Malcolm, the scene reveals that Fleance, Banquo’s son, who was presumed dead, is actually still alive. He is being secretly kept in the countryside by Ross, a character who in this version has a morally complex role. Unlike in Shakespeare’s original play, where Fleance’s survival is hinted at but not shown, this film’s ending shows him in hiding, suggesting he could be the one to carry the torch of kingship in the future. However, the film also depicts Ross as a manipulative figure involved in hiding Fleance, implying that the throne’s future is far from secure.

The most striking departure from Shakespeare’s ending is that, instead of a peaceful transition of power and a hopeful conclusion, the film's ending hints at ongoing chaos. The involvement of Ross as a silent schemer and the symbolic flock of ravens that overshadow the final moments hint at turbulence ahead. The political landscape remains unstable, and the prophecy about Fleance’s descendants taking the throne is complicated by the current power vacuum. With Malcolm crowned king and no clear heir from Macbeth, the film hints that a new cycle of conflict and strife is inevitable, casting a darker, more cynical shadow over the story’s conclusion. This ending leaves viewers with a sense that the cycle of violence and political intrigue is far from over, transforming what might have been a hopeful ending into a grim prophecy of further trouble to come.