The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Year: 1974

Runtime: 144 min

Language: English

Director: Jack Clayton

DramaRomance

During the roaring 1920s on Long Island, a young man becomes captivated by the lavish lifestyle of millionaire Jay Gatsby. Drawn into Gatsby's world, he discovers the truth behind his mysterious parties and learns of Gatsby's relentless pursuit of the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Their connection intertwines with themes of wealth, social class, and the unattainable American Dream, revealing a poignant story of love and loss.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Great Gatsby yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

The Great Gatsby (1974) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Great Gatsby (1974), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Nick Carraway travels by boat to East Egg to visit his cousin Daisy, Mia Farrow, and her husband Tom at their imposing mansion. There, he learns Tom and Daisy’s marriage is strained, and Tom is having an affair with a woman in New York. Nick, who lives in a modest cottage in West Egg, finds himself next to a mysterious tycoon named Gatsby, Robert Redford, a former Oxford student and decorated World War I veteran who regularly hosts extravagant parties at his home.

Tom takes Nick to meet his mistress, Myrtle, who is married to George Wilson, an automotive mechanic. George needs to purchase a vehicle from Tom, but Tom is there only to draw Myrtle to his city apartment. There she taunts him with Daisy’s name.

Back on Long Island, Daisy wants to set Nick up with her friend Jordan, a professional golfer. When Nick and Jordan attend a party at Gatsby’s home, Nick is invited to meet Gatsby privately, who asks him to lunch the following day.

At lunch, Nick meets Gatsby’s business partner Meyer Wolfsheim, a Jewish gangster and gambler who rigged the 1919 World Series. The following day, Jordan appears at Nick’s workplace and asks him to invite Daisy to his house so that Gatsby can meet with her.

Gatsby surprises Daisy at lunch. It is revealed that Gatsby and Daisy were once lovers, though she would not marry him because he was poor.

Daisy and Gatsby have an affair, which soon becomes obvious. While Tom and Daisy entertain Gatsby, Jordan, and Nick at their home, Daisy, on a hot summer day, proposes they go into the city as a diversion. At the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby and Daisy reveal their affair. Gatsby wants Daisy to admit she never loved Tom. She does not and drives off in Gatsby’s car. The others return separately to the island.

During the drive home, Daisy hits Myrtle when Myrtle runs into the street. Believing that Gatsby killed his wife, George later goes to Gatsby’s mansion and fatally shoots him. George then commits suicide.

Nick holds a funeral for Gatsby. There he meets the man’s father and learns Gatsby’s original name is ‘Gatz’. No one else attends the funeral.

Afterward, Daisy and Tom continue with their lives as though nothing occurred. Nick breaks up with Jordan and moves back to the Midwest, frustrated with Eastern ways. He laments Gatsby’s inability to escape his past.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:38

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about the unattainable dream like The Great Gatsby

Tragic stories of yearning for a beautiful, impossible ideal.If you were captivated by the tragic pursuit of an ideal in The Great Gatsby, explore these movies about unattainable dreams. This collection features similar stories of yearning, where characters chase a beautiful but impossible vision, often set against a backdrop of wealth and leading to heartbreaking endings.

yearningtragicdisillusionednostalgicsomberdecadentobsessivepoignant

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist obsessed with achieving a specific, idealized goal—be it love, status, or a version of the past. Their pursuit is characterized by opulence and grand effort, yet the story methodically unravels the futility of their quest. The climax is not a triumph but a shattering realization of the dream's emptiness, culminating in a bleak or bittersweet conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the central theme of an impossible ideal. They deliver a heavy emotional weight through a melancholic tone and a steady, deliberate pacing that builds towards an inevitable tragic or disillusioned ending. The mood is consistently one of nostalgic yearning and somber reflection.

Movies about decadence and disillusionment like The Great Gatsby

Lavish worlds that hide profound moral emptiness and personal tragedy.Fans of The Great Gatsby's portrayal of 1920s decadence will appreciate these movies about wealth and disillusionment. Discover similar films where glamorous parties and luxurious settings hide tragic flaws, corrupt values, and the inevitable collapse of characters trapped by their own desires and social expectations.

decadentsomberreflectivetragiccorruptopulentdisillusionedclass critique

Narrative Summary

Stories unfold within a world of extreme privilege and aesthetic beauty, using the setting to critique the emptiness beneath the surface. The plot often involves a outsider's perspective being drawn into this world, only to witness the moral compromises, infidelities, and tragic fates of those who inhabit it. The narrative arc is one of initial fascination giving way to sobering disillusionment.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific atmospheric blend of visual opulence and emotional bleakness. The key connection is the use of a decadent setting—be it historical or contemporary—to explore themes of corruption, class, and the high personal cost of wealth. They balance a reflective, somber mood with the dramatic tension of secrets and social collapse.

Unlock the Full Story of The Great Gatsby

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Great Gatsby in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Great Gatsby is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Great Gatsby Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Great Gatsby with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Great Gatsby Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Great Gatsby

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Great Gatsby. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Great Gatsby that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Great Gatsby Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Great Gatsby

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Great Gatsby: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Great Gatsby

Similar Movies to The Great Gatsby

Discover movies like The Great Gatsby that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.