This Is Not the End

This Is Not the End

Year: 2020

Runtime: 26 mins

Language: Chinese

Director: Kam-Hei Chan

Drama

Allen, a 16-year-old facing a difficult and underprivileged life, finds solace and hope in hurdling, a sport where he consistently excels in middle school competitions. However, entering high school brings a sudden and cruel setback. His height unexpectedly hinders his performance, making even the simplest hurdles a struggle and shattering his dreams of joining the school team. As he desperately tries to overcome this challenge, Allen must confront the realization that his goals may be unattainable before the school year ends.

Dark
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Fast pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – This Is Not the End (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of This Is Not the End (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2010s

The events take place in present-day Los Angeles, reflecting a modern celebrity-driven culture. The crisis unfolds with contemporary technologies and media coverage shaping how characters react and communicate. The timeframe grounds the surreal events in a relatable, real-world era, emphasizing immediacy and urgency.

Location

Los Angeles, California, Malibu, California

Most of the story unfolds inside James Franco's Los Angeles home during a high-profile party, a setting saturated with wealth, fame, and posturing. When the rapture hits, the house becomes a fragile bunker as guests scramble for safety and supplies. After the quake and sinkhole, the group plans an escape toward Malibu while the surrounding city collapses into chaos.

🗺️ Urban setting 🎬 Celebrity culture 🏙️ Los Angeles area

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

Main Characters – This Is Not the End (2020)

Meet the key characters of This Is Not the End (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jay Baruchel

A skeptical, anxious visitor who questions whether the disaster signals the Apocalypse. His arc moves from tension with Rogen to a deeper bond and a willingness to risk himself for others, revealing a stubborn but protective nature.

🎭 🧠 🤝

Seth Rogen

The pragmatic, loyal friend who helps shepherd the group through the crisis. He prioritizes survival and protects Baruchel, eventually sharing a bittersweet reconciliation that endures beyond the chaos.

🛡️ 🤝 🧭

James Franco

The brash host whose bravado masks insecurity as danger closes in. He taunts threats, ultimately meets a brutal fate at the hands of cannibals, illustrating hubris under apocalyptic pressure.

🕶️ 🎬 ⚡

Danny McBride

The chaotic antagonist who crashes the party and leads the cannibal faction. His opportunism escalates danger and complicates any plan for escape or survival.

👿 🗡️ 🥩

Emma Watson

A cautious survivor who misreads overheard conversations and flees with limited supplies. She remains wary of others while trying to safeguard herself in a perilous landscape.

🎭 🧭 🔎

Channing Tatum

Part of the cannibal ensemble, his presence contributes to the threat and chaos that the protagonists must navigate to escape.

🔪 🥀 🧩

Craig Robinson

A practical member of the group who volunteers to sacrifice himself to help others reach safety, and is later taken to Heaven, embodying selflessness amid catastrophe.

🤝 🕊️ 🛡️

Jonah Hill

A character who prays for Baruchel to die and becomes possessed by a demon, illustrating how fear can corrupt even familiar figures in a crisis.

🙏 😈 🎭

Satan

The cosmic force encountered during the escape attempt, testing the characters' choices and amplifying the existential stakes of the ordeal.

👹 🔥 🌌

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

Major Themes – This Is Not the End (2020)

Explore the central themes of This Is Not the End (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Survival

After the disaster, the group must ration food and water, improvise shelter, and navigate dangers both seen and unseen. Small, practical decisions often determine who lives and who doesn't. The theme centers on resilience, cooperation, and the willingness to sacrifice for others when resources are scarce.

🕯️ Faith vs Skepticism

Baruchel challenges the others with a belief that the catastrophe could be apocalyptic, clashing with skepticism and humor. Supernatural elements and exorcism-like moments test whether belief can guide action under extreme fear. The film uses this tension to explore how people find meaning when explanations fail.

🤝 Friendship and Sacrifice

The crisis strains long-standing relationships, pushing characters to act selflessly or selfishly. Robinson's willingness to sacrifice himself and the eventual heavenly reunion highlight the power of loyalty. The ending suggests that true friendship can outlast mortal peril, even in a fantastical afterlife.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

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Movies about dashed athletic dreams like This Is Not the End

Stories of promising athletes whose bodies become their greatest obstacle.If the poignant struggle in This Is Not the End resonated with you, discover other movies like it. This collection features similar drama stories where young athletes face heartbreaking physical setbacks, forcing them to confront the end of their sports aspirations and find new purpose.

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Narrative Summary

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These films are grouped together because they share a deeply personal and emotionally heavy journey centered on lost potential. They explore the specific agony of a dream being taken away not by a competitor, but by one's own body, creating a unique blend of sports drama and intimate tragedy.

Bittersweet coming-of-age stories like This Is Not the End

Young protagonists confront painful, adult-sized disappointments on the path to maturity.Fans of the heavy emotional journey in This Is Not the End will appreciate these similar movies. Explore coming-of-age dramas where teenage protagonists face crushing realities and bittersweet endings, capturing the difficult transition into adulthood through loss and acceptance.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a teenager with a clear goal or talent who encounters a reality check that dismantles their worldview. The story arc is about grappling with this failure, leading to a conclusion that is not happily ever after, but a wiser, more somber understanding of the world and their place in it.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their portrayal of adolescence as a period of necessary disillusionment. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark or bittersweet tone, and a focus on the internal growth that comes from accepting that some dreams are unattainable.

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This Is Not the End Summary

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