Passengers

At the end of Passengers, Aurora discovers the truth about Jim’s actions when Arthur, the ship’s android bartender, casually reveals that Jim intentionally woke her up so he wouldn’t face living alone. This revelation turns her world upside down, as she recognizes that their relationship was built on a betrayal. Despite her understandable anger and desire to distance herself from Jim, they must team up to repair the failing spaceship after it sustains damage from an asteroid collision. During this crisis, Jim demonstrates heroism by risking his life to fix the ship, ultimately succeeding but nearly dying in the process.

When the danger is averted, Jim confesses he has devised a plan to put Aurora back into hibernation and finish the voyage alone, which would mean she would stay asleep for the rest of their journey. However, Aurora chooses to stay with Jim, accepting the moral complications of their relationship. Instead of walking away from him, she decides to live with him on the ship for the remainder of their lives.

The controversial aspect of this ending lies in the moral questions it raises—particularly about consent and accountability. Because Jim’s awakening of Aurora was an act done out of his own desperation and loneliness, many viewers and critics have debated whether his actions can be justified. The film’s handling of these themes has been criticized for glossing over the moral implications, essentially allowing Jim’s betrayal to be forgiven too easily, which some find unsettling or problematic. Jennifer Lawrence herself has expressed regret about the film, acknowledging that there are deeper aspects of the story she wished had been explored further.

Overall, the ending sparked significant debate because it juxtaposed a romantic resolution with unsettling ethical questions, turning what could have been a stirring space romance into a more troubling reflection on consent and moral responsibility. Critics generally viewed the film as flawed, often citing the ending as a weak point that undermines the story’s moral foundation, even while audiences were somewhat more forgiving, entertained by the movie’s intriguing premise despite its problematic conclusion.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00