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Ending Explained

Monster Hunter (2020) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 103 min · English
Echo score 38
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Directed by
Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring
Ron Perlman, T.I., Meagan Good, Milla Jovovich, Diego Boneta, Tony Jaa
Budget
$60M

Transported to a dangerous realm teeming with colossal monsters, Captain Artemis and her team find their advanced weaponry ineffective against the towering beasts. They reluctantly join forces with Hunter, a skilled and experienced warrior, to navigate this perilous new world. Facing the formidable Admiral and his elite squad, they must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to protect both their world and the one they’ve been pulled into, battling for survival and fighting to prevent extinction.

On this page (7)
  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 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Monster Hunter
  7. 7 Every angle
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Ending explained · contains spoilers

What Happens at the End of Monster Hunter?

How Monster Hunter (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.

In the end, Aiden, now a seasoned guild hunter, is called to join a mission to investigate the increasing Elder Crossings, which threaten the safety of their world. His journey started from small monster hunts in his village, driven by the desire to protect his people. During the final battle against the powerful Lunastra, the hunters’ last-ditch effort involved blowing up a dam to flood the creature and drive it away from the village. This act came at great cost, with Ravi and Mae sacrificing their lives in the process. Their bravery allowed the others to succeed in saving the village and rebuilding their home around the river so the threat of destruction was finally averted.

The film concludes with Aiden dedicated to becoming an ace hunter, inspired by his mentors and the sacrifices made by Ravi and Mae. Julius, recognizing his potential, takes Aiden under his wing and trains him as his cadet. The story then jumps to the future, where Aiden is now ready to face his next challenge—tracking Zorah Magdaros, a colossal monster that threatens to destroy everything. The ending signifies Aiden’s growth from an eager young hunter to a capable hero prepared to confront even larger monsters, continuing the cycle of heroism and the fight to maintain balance in their dangerous world.

Last updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59

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The last 4 events

How Monster Hunter Ends: The Final Events in Order

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

Open the full timeline
  1. Find an Oasis

    After their victory, Artemis carries the injured Hunter until they reach an oasis filled with unique creatures called Apceros. It's a moment of respite but is soon disrupted by new threats lurking nearby.

    Where
    Oasis
  2. Fight Against the Rathalos

    Their brief moment of sanctuary ends when a fearsome Rathalos swoops down, creating chaos among the Apceros. The Admiral arrives just in time to assist them in their fight against this formidable creature.

    Where
    Oasis
  3. Rathalos Breach the Portal

    As they engage in a fierce battle at the base of the Sky Tower, chaos erupts when the Rathalos breaches a portal and threatens the retrieval team. They fight fiercely to contain the monster's rampage.

    Where
    Sky Tower
  4. Artemis's Bold Decision

    In a moment of bravery, Artemis slows down the Rathalos long enough for the Hunter to deliver a lethal shot. Choosing to return to the New World, she stands with the Hunters, ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

    Where
    New World

Ending questions answered

Monster Hunter Ending: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about the ending of Monster Hunter (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

Why did Ravi and Mae sacrifice themselves in the final battle?

Ravi and Mae sacrificed themselves during the final battle against Lunastra to allow the other hunters to blow up the dam. Their sacrifice was a calculated move to flood the creature and drive it away from the village, buying time for the others to complete the mission. Their bravery enabled the successful defense of their home.

Foreshadowing: Earlier moments showed Ravi and Mae as experienced hunters willing to put the mission above their personal safety.

  • ravi
  • mae
  • sacrifice
  • lunastra
  • dam explosion
  • death
Q2

What is Zorah Magdaros and why is it significant?

Zorah Magdaros is a colossal Elder Dragon monster that appears at the end of the film, threatening to destroy everything in its path. This creature represents the next major challenge Aiden will face as an ace hunter. The ending establishes Zorah Magdaros as the overarching threat that continues the cycle of heroism and monster hunting.

Foreshadowing: The opening scenes established the dangers of Elder Dragons and the constant threat they pose to human settlements.

  • zorah magdaros
  • elder dragon
  • monster
  • threat
  • sequel setup
Q3

How did blowing up the dam stop Lunastra?

The hunters used the floodwaters from the broken dam to overwhelm and drown Lunastra's fire-based abilities. Since Lunastra is a fire-wielding Elder Dragon, the massive influx of water neutralized its offensive capabilities and forced the creature to retreat from the village. This tactical approach saved the settlement from destruction.

Foreshadowing: The earlier encounters demonstrated that conventional weapons were ineffective against Elder Dragons, forcing creative solutions.

  • dam
  • lunastra
  • flood
  • battle strategy
  • elder dragon
Q4

What are Elder Crossings and why do they matter?

Elder Crossings are events where Elder Dragons migrate between dimensions, posing significant threats to human settlements. By the film's end, these crossings have increased in frequency, endangering both the hunters' world and the monster realm. Aiden is called to investigate this growing menace, establishing the ongoing conflict that drives future adventures.

Foreshadowing: The entire film depicted the consequences of the portal between worlds, setting up the Elder Crossings as a broader threat.

  • elder crossings
  • elder dragons
  • threat
  • investmission
  • world danger
Q5

Why does Julius take Aiden under his wing as his cadet?

Julius recognizes Aiden's potential and determination after witnessing his growth throughout the journey. Despite starting as an eager but inexperienced hunter from a small village, Aiden proved his courage and skill during the battles against Diablos, Nerscylla, and Lunastra. Julius's decision to train Aiden represents the passing of the torch to the next generation of monster hunters.

Foreshadowing: Julius observed Aiden's quick learning and willingness to protect others from their first encounter.

  • julius
  • aiden
  • mentor
  • cadet
  • training
  • growth
Q6

What does Aiden's transformation represent thematically?

Aiden's journey from an eager young hunter in his village to a capable ace hunter ready to face Zorah Magdaros represents the cyclical nature of heroism. The ending emphasizes that as veteran hunters fall, new heroes must rise to protect humanity. His commitment to continuing the fight symbolizes hope and the ongoing battle to maintain balance between humans and monsters.

Foreshadowing: Aiden's early motivation to protect his village established his heroic trajectory from the start.

  • aiden
  • growth
  • heroism
  • cycle
  • thematic meaning
  • development
Q7

Did the village survive Lunastra's attack?

Yes, the village survived. The hunters' successful dam explosion drove Lunastra away, and the village was rebuilt around the river. This strategic relocation provided better protection against future monster attacks, allowing the survivors to restore their home and continue their lives.

Foreshadowing: The location near the river was established early as both a resource and vulnerability.

  • village
  • survival
  • rebuilding
  • lunastra
  • river
Q8

Is there a post-credits scene or sequel setup?

The ending itself serves as a sequel setup by showing Aiden ready to hunt Zorah Magdaros, the massive Elder Dragon. While the mid-credits scene was not described in detail, the film's conclusion clearly establishes that larger threats remain, setting up potential future installments in the Monster Hunter franchise.

  • sequel
  • post-credits
  • zorah magdaros
  • setup
  • ending

Movie threads

More Movies Like Monster Hunter, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with modern soldiers fighting monsters like in Monster Hunter

Advanced technology clashes with ancient, monstrous threats for survival. If you liked the clash of modern warfare and giant creatures in Monster Hunter, you'll enjoy these films. This list features similar movies where advanced military squads face off against prehistoric beasts and otherworldly monsters in high-stakes battles for survival.

  • action-packed
  • perilous
  • desperate
  • high-stakes
  • thrilling
  • collaborative
  • Tone: tense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a group of highly trained soldiers or specialists whose advanced technology and tactics are rendered nearly useless by a massive, primal threat. The narrative revolves around their struggle to survive, adapt, and overcome through a mix of ingenuity, firepower, and often, sheer desperation.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on the core conflict of cutting-edge human technology against overwhelming natural or unnatural monstrosities. They share a high-intensity, action-packed vibe with a tense tone, focusing on survival against seemingly impossible odds.

Portal fantasy survival movies like Monster Hunter

Strangers from different worlds must unite to survive a common deadly threat. Fans of Monster Hunter's interdimensional journey and unlikely team-up will find more to love here. Explore movies where characters are pulled into fantastical worlds and must forge alliances to survive against colossal threats and interdimensional dangers.

  • fish out of water
  • unlikely alliance
  • perilous journey
  • interdimensional
  • collaborative
  • adventurous
  • Tone: tense, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern begins with a disruptive event that transports protagonists to a hostile new realm. The plot centers on their struggle for survival, which forces them to overcome initial distrust and join forces with locals. Their journey is defined by learning the rules of the new world and fighting together against a overwhelming antagonist.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films through the 'fish out of water' premise combined with a survival plot that necessitates forming a cooperative team from disparate groups. They share a fast pace, high intensity, and a tone blending tense peril with adventurous discovery.

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Movies Like Monster Hunter

Similar movies to Monster Hunter: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Monster Hunter (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Monster Hunter 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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