The Worst Person in the World

The Worst Person in the World

Year: 2022

Runtime: 121 min

Language: Norwegian

Director: Joachim Trier

Echo Score: 85

Budget: $5M

DramaComedy

This poignant comedy-drama follows Julie as she explores her twenties, grappling with love, career choices, and the search for identity in Oslo. Over four years, the film chronicles her journey through 12 chapters, depicting both joyful and painful experiences. Renate Reinsve delivers a remarkable performance as Julie, a young woman navigating relationships with two very different men and seeking happiness amidst the complexities of modern life.

Warning: spoilers below!

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The Worst Person in the World (2022) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

Still thinking about how The Worst Person in the World (2022) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.

At the end of The Worst Person in the World, Julie is depicted as having gone through a profound transformation. The surreal moment where she briefly stops time—while she is about to tell Aksel she wants to end their relationship—is a symbolic representation of her indecision and desire to escape the overwhelming complexities of her life. This moment shows her internal conflict: instead of confronting her feelings directly, she chooses to slip away into a fleeting, imagined space where her choices are momentarily paused and altered. When she finally turns the world back on, she’s more resolute, having decided to leave Aksel and embrace a new path with Eivind.

The film concludes with Julie working on a film set, looking out at Eivind with his partner and their child outside her window. She’s now a confident woman who has accepted her life’s uncertainties and her own desires. The ending signifies her growth and self-awareness—she has moved from the impulsiveness and indecisiveness that characterized her earlier journey to a place of acceptance and independence. The symbolic act of the world freezing and resuming reinforces the idea that she now controls her life’s course, understanding that her choices, however uncertain, are her own. Ultimately, the film suggests that personal growth involves embracing ambiguity, taking responsibility for one’s decisions, and recognizing that no one is truly the “worst person in the world”—everyone is just trying to find their way in life, imperfect but authentic.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:57

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The Worst Person in the World Summary

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