Once Upon a Time

Year: 2017

Runtime: 109 min

Language: English

Directors: Anthony LaMolinara, Xiaoding Zhao

Budget: $90M

Drama

Three hundred years prior, a tragic parting on Zhu Xian Terrace marked the heartbreaking end of a couple's relationship, an event witnessed by a bronze mirror. Fate intervenes centuries later when they unexpectedly reunite within the mystical East Sea Dragon Palace. Their destinies are once again entwined, forcing them to confront the sorrow of their past and the challenges of a renewed connection.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Once Upon a Time (2017) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

Still thinking about how Once Upon a Time (2017) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.

The ending of “Once Upon a Time… Happily Never After” reveals that the town’s curse is ultimately broken when Maxi and Juana, the reincarnations of the love story’s prince and princess, work together to release the dragon into the lake. Earlier, it was misunderstood that they had to be in love with each other to break the curse, but it turns out that what really mattered was their willingness to fulfill the prophecy by releasing the dragon, regardless of romantic feelings. Goya, who looks like the princess and is also the reincarnation of the fairy tale’s princess, initially believes she is just a friend to Maxi and does not feel romantic love for him. However, in a twist, Goya and Maxi share a kiss, acknowledging that their connection isn’t based on romantic love but on fulfilling the story’s requirements. Goya then leaves town, skeptical about the fairy tale and love itself, while Maxi remains hopeful about fixing things in his own way. The crucial detail uncovered is that the original curse was a misunderstanding—one that could only be broken if the reincarnated lovers simply performed the act of release together, not necessarily with love. Once they do so, the curse lifts, love is restored to the town, and people realize they have always been connected across reincarnations. The story ends on a note of reconciliation and renewal, emphasizing that love, in its true form, is less about romantic idealism and more about genuine intent and action. The curse is broken, Antonio is arrested for his misdeeds, and the townspeople understand that their repeated reincarnations reveal a deeper, unbreakable bond that has persisted across centuries. In the end, it’s a mix of a problem being solved and a celebration of the enduring nature of connection, rather than a traditional fairy-tale happily-ever-after.**

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44

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Movies with Dark Historical Revisionism like Once Upon a Time

Stories that reimagine famous events with a tense, violent, and melancholic twist.For viewers who enjoyed the dark, speculative retelling of history in Once Upon a Time. This collection features movies that reimagine famous events and eras, blending fact with suspenseful fiction to create tense, melancholic, and often violent narratives similar to this film.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread are built around a central 'what if' premise set against a real historical backdrop. They follow characters, both fictional and real, as they navigate a world where the known past is subtly or dramatically altered, often leading to high-tension confrontations and emotionally heavy, bittersweet resolutions.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared core concept of revising history with a dark, tense tone. They evoke a similar feeling of anxious reflection, blending nostalgic settings with a violent, melancholic undercurrent and a pacing that builds suspense towards a climactic, often costly, reinterpretation of events.

Movies with Bittersweet Retrospective Violence like Once Upon a Time

Violent confrontations set against a backdrop of fading glamour and melancholic reflection.If you liked the blend of 1960s Hollywood nostalgia and brutal home invasion violence in Once Upon a Time, explore these films. They share a similar pattern of contrasting a wistful, reflective mood with high-intensity, violent action, resulting in a bittersweet and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

Stories often begin with a sense of loss or nostalgia for a better past. This reflective, sometimes claustrophobic mood is shattered by a sudden, high-stakes violent conflict. The narrative arc involves surviving this violence, but the resolution is bittersweet, carrying the scars of the trauma and the permanent loss of the idealized past.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their distinctive emotional mix: a heavy, melancholic reflection on a fading world, punctuated by bursts of high-intensity violence. The pacing is typically variable, moving between slower, nostalgic scenes and fast, anxious action, all leading to a conclusion that is both cathartic and deeply sad.

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Once Upon a Time Summary

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Once Upon a Time Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Once Upon a Time

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Once Upon a Time Spoiler-Free Summary

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