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My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) movie poster

Ending Explained

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 104 min · Japanese
Echo score 73
JustWatch #11,947 9
Directed by
Kenji Nagasaki
Starring
Luci Christian, Johnny Yong Bosch, Clifford Chapin, Christopher Bevins, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Dani Chambers

Class 1-A faces a dangerous threat when they are dispatched to a coastal town facing a powerful new villain. Izuku Midoriya, along with his classmates, must overcome significant challenges and push their abilities to the limit to protect the community and confront a formidable enemy. The intense battle tests their courage and teamwork, forcing them to evolve as heroes.

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 The book behind the movie
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020)

Where can you watch My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Ending explained · contains spoilers

What Happens at the End of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising?

How My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (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 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.

Last updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

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The last 4 events

How My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising Ends: The Final Events in Order

The last events of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (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. One For All Transfer

    Facing dire circumstances, Izuku decides to transfer One For All to Bakugo while utilizing the residual energy in a last-ditch effort. This bold move ultimately allows them to prevail against Nine, although it depletes One For All's strength.

    Where
    Nabu Island
  2. Reinforcements Arrive

    Just as Class 1-A emerges from the confrontation, reinforcements from the mainland arrive, with All Might reviving Bakugo and Izuku. The former wielders of One For All seem to want Izuku to retain the Quirk despite the transfer being interrupted.

    Where
    Nabu Island
  3. Final Fate of Nine

    In a dark turn of events, Tomura Shigaraki kills the weakened Nine, vowing to achieve what Nine could not. This moment emphasizes the threat posed by the League of Villains and sets the tone for future conflicts.

  4. Heartfelt Farewell

    With Nine's gang captured and the island restored, Class 1-A bids farewell to Katsuma and Mahoro. Izuku reassures Katsuma of his potential to be a hero, mirroring All Might's encouragement to him in the past.

    Where
    Nabu Island

Ending questions answered

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising Ending: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about the ending of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (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 does Izuku transfer One For All to Katsuma in the final battle?

Izuku transfers One For All to Katsuma because the children on the island are in mortal danger and Nine is too powerful for Class 1-A to defeat. Recognizing that Katsuma has the potential to awaken his own strength, Izuku makes the selfless choice to give the quirk to the child, understanding he will lose his own powers forever. This act demonstrates thatIzuku's heroism comes from his willingness to sacrifice everything to protect others.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Katsuma demonstrates hidden potential during the villain attack, hinting that he has what it takes to wield One For All.

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Q2

Does Izuku lose One For All permanently after transferring it?

Initially, it appears that Izuku loses One For All forever because the quirk visibly disappears from his body after the battle, leaving him seemingly powerless. However, when All Might arrives, he reveals that One For All still resides within Izuku, meaning the transfer was not permanent. The movie clarifies that Izuku's true strength was never the quirk itself but his heroic spirit.

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Q3

Why does All Might say One For All still lives in Izuku after the battle?

All Might tells Izuku that One For All still resides in his body because the true essence of the quirk is not simply a power but a manifestation of heroic spirit. The movie reveals that Izuk's unwavering compassion, courage, and willingness to sacrifice himself are what truly embody One For All. This means the quirk recognized that Izuku's heart made him worthy of retaining it, even after he tried to give it away.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that One For All is more than just raw power, it carries the hopes and will of all previous users.

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Q4

How do Class 1-A and Katsuma finally defeat Nine?

Katsuma, now wielding One For All, combines his newly awakened power with the remaining strength of Class 1-A students to overwhelm Nine. The combined effort of all the young heroes working together allows them to land the final blow. This teamwork victory emphasizes that even a powerful villain like Nine, who could steal multiple quirks, cannot defeat a united group of heroes.

Foreshadowing: Class 1-A has consistently demonstrated throughout the movie that their greatest strength comes from coordinating their abilities together.

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Q5

What happens to Nine after the final battle?

Nine is defeated by the combined efforts of Katsuma and Class 1-A after they overwhelm him with coordinated attacks. His reign of terror over the coastal town ends with his defeat, and the island is finally safe from his threat. The villain's ambition to steal One For All for his own survival leads to his downfall.

Foreshadowing: Nine's quirk is unstable due to overusing stolen powers, which foreshadows his eventual defeat despite his initial advantage.

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Q6

Why does Izuku become powerless after transferring One For All?

Izuku appears to become powerless because he intentionally transferred One For All to Katsuma, believing this sacrifice was necessary to save the island. The quirk leaves his body, and he returns to being an ordinary person without any heroic abilities. However, this powerlessness is revealed to be temporary when All Might confirms the quirk remains within him.

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Q7

What is the movie's message about what makes someone a true hero?

The ending delivers a clear message: true heroism comes from within, not from powers. The film shows that Izuku's compassion, humility, and willingness to sacrifice himself are what truly make him a hero, not his quirk. This reinforces the idea that anyone can be a hero through kindness, courage, and selflessness, regardless of whether they have superpowers.

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Q8

Why does Nine want to steal One For All from Izuku?

Nine wants One For All because his own Quirk allows him to steal and hold multiple Quirks, but overusing them causes severe damage to his body. He believes that acquiring One For All will give him the ultimate power to survive and achieve his goals. The villain seeks the quirk as a means to sustain himself and become truly unstoppable.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Nine's backstory explaining his need for additional Quirks to survive his own unstable condition.

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  • quirk stealing
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Q9

Can Izuku still be a hero even without his quirk after the ending?

The movie strongly suggests that Izuku can still be a hero even without his quirk. The ending emphasizes that his heroic spirit, determination, and willingness to protect others are what truly define him as a hero. All Might's revelation that One For All remains in Izuku confirms he hasn't lost everything, but the thematic message is clear: anyone can be a hero through their actions and heart.

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Movie threads

More Movies Like My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about young heroes facing overwhelming threats like My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Young heroes face an overwhelming threat in a desperate, high-stakes battle. If you enjoyed the high-stakes action and heroic teamwork in My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, you'll like these movies. This collection features stories of trainees or new heroes facing formidable villains in battles that define their journey. Discover similar anime, superhero, and action films with intense fights and uplifting outcomes.

  • heroic
  • high-stakes
  • teamwork
  • desperate battle
  • action-packed
  • uplifting
  • Tone: hopeful, determined
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a clear escalation: a powerful new enemy arrives, forcing the heroes into a desperate defense. The story revolves around a single, extended confrontation where the characters are pushed to evolve and collaborate in new ways, often culminating in a selfless act or a breakthrough that saves the day.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared high-intensity action, themes of teamwork under extreme pressure, and the central narrative of a 'final exam' style challenge. The tone is consistently hopeful and determined, focusing on growth through adversity rather than despair.

Team-based action movies with ensemble casts like My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Ensemble casts unite their unique abilities to overcome a common enemy. Fans of the collaborative superpowered battles in My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising will enjoy these films. This section gathers movies where an ensemble cast with unique abilities must work together to defeat a powerful foe. Explore similar action-packed stories from anime, sci-fi, and superhero genres focused on teamwork and synergy.

  • ensemble cast
  • synergy
  • coordinated action
  • thrilling
  • team-driven
  • strategic
  • Tone: uplifting, thrilling
  • Pacing: fast, coordinated
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot centers on a group of specialists forced to coordinate their disparate talents against a singular, powerful antagonist. The narrative tension comes from learning to trust one another and combining abilities in clever, synergistic ways. The climax typically involves a complex, multi-part strategy where every team member plays a crucial role.

Why they belong together: These films share a focus on ensemble dynamics, strategic teamwork, and visually spectacular action where combined powers create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The pacing is fast, the tone is uplifting, and the emotional core revolves around unity and mutual support.

Every angle

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising 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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