My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

The League of Villains finds themselves on the run as a group of Heroes pursues them in a truck loaded with a life support capsule. When Endeavor arrives on the scene, he successfully destroys the vehicle, unveiling that the villains onboard are actually clones created by Twice. Amid the wreckage, a notable figure escapes from the capsule; this is Nine, a villain who had subjected himself to experiments conducted by Daruma Ujiko. Nine intends to regroup with his fellow villains to realize their ambition of establishing a society governed by individuals with powerful Quirks. Though Ujiko has granted Nine a copy of All For One's Quirk, enabling him to acquire up to eight additional Quirks along with his inherent Weather Manipulation, he struggles with a terminal illness worsened by his modifications, requiring a special Cell Activation Quirk for a cure.

Meanwhile, U.A. High's Class 1-A embarks on a journey to the distant Nabu Island for a safety work program. Here, Izuku Midoriya, the current bearer of One For All, encounters Mahoro Shimano and her younger brother Katsuma, who are both locals of the island. Despite initial animosity from Mahoro, Izuku forms a bond with them along with his rival Katsuki Bakugo. Katsuma aspires to be a hero, but his sister fears for his wellbeing and tries to discourage him. The siblings' father faces an attack from Nine's group, leading to the loss of his Quirk. However, it turns out that the Quirk is not compatible with Nine's blood type, causing the villains to speculate that one of the children might possess the necessary blood type for the Quirk they desire.

As Nine’s gang launches an invasion on the island, cutting off all escape routes and communication, Class 1-A springs into action to thwart the villains and safeguard the island's inhabitants. In a pivotal moment, Nine discovers that Katsuma possesses the Quirk he is after but faces opposition from Izuku. Despite Izuku’s and Bakugo’s combined efforts, they are overpowered by Nine's extensive array of Quirks. Fortunately, Nine eventually has to withdraw due to the excessive use of his abilities, allowing Class 1-A to rescue Izuku, Bakugo, and the Shimano children. After regrouping, the class deduces Nine's intentions concerning Katsuma when he uses his Quirk to heal both Izuku and Bakugo, leading Class 1-A to strategize and prepare for the villains' return while they await reinforcements from other Heroes.

Upon evacuating the islanders to a nearby isle, the class manages to separate Nine from his henchmen, defeating each member successfully. Nonetheless, Nine manages to incapacitate the remaining students and gains the upper hand over Izuku and Bakugo by consuming Quirk-enhancing drugs, putting the island at risk of destruction. Realizing their dire situation, Izuku decides to transfer One For All to Bakugo, while he utilizes the residual energy left. Together, they eventually triumph over Nine, although it leaves One For All faded in the process.

As reinforcements from the mainland arrive, All Might revives an unconscious Bakugo and Izuku and notes that One For All still resides within Izuku since the transfer to Bakugo was interrupted. He speculates that the former wielders of One For All wish for Izuku to retain it. Meanwhile, Tomura Shigaraki, filled with spite, discovers and kills the weakened Nine, pledging to fulfill what he failed to accomplish earlier. With Nine's gang taken into custody, Class 1-A contributes to the restoration of the island's damage before heading home. In a heartwarming farewell, Izuku and Bakugo, who have forgotten the experience of wielding One For All, bid goodbye to Katsuma and Mahoro. Izuku reassures Katsuma that he, too, can become a hero, much like All Might did for him in the past.

In the climax of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, Izuku Midoriya faces a seemingly unstoppable villain, Nine, who has the ability to steal and hold multiple quirks but is limited by the damage overusing them causes. Despite fighting with all his might, even using his full strength, Izuku and his friends find their powers insufficient to defeat Nine. Recognizing the threat to everyone on the island and the children he’s sworn to protect, Izuku makes a selfless decision: he chooses to transfer his powerful quirk, One For All, to Katsuma, one of the children, knowing that this will cause him to lose his own abilities forever. This act of sacrifice allows Katsuma to awaken his own potential and, combined with the strength of the others, they ultimately defeat Nine. After the battle, Izuku's quirk disappears, and he returns to being an ordinary person, leaving him seemingly powerless. However, when All Might arrives, he finds that One For All still resides in Izuku’s body, revealing that Izuku’s true strength was not his quirk but his unwavering spirit and heroic humanity. This act of sacrifice exemplifies what truly makes a hero—not just powers, but the compassion, humility, and willingness to risk everything to protect others. The film underscores that Izuku's inner qualities—his passion, humility, and heroism—are what make him the greatest hero, rather than just his quirks, emphasizing that anyone can be a hero through kindness and courage.