Ready or Not‘s ending reveals the complex rules of the celebrated horror film’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅly game of hide-and-seek. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Devil’s Due), Ready or Not stars Samara Weaving as Grace, a beautiful bride marrying into the fabulously wealthy Le Domas family. Immediately after saying “I do”, Grace learns from her new husband Alex (Mark O’Brien) that she must play a game at midnight as part of their eccentric tradition for anyone new joining the family.

A gleefully entertaining black comedy crossed with gruesome survival horror, Ready or Not is layered with a complex set of rules and mythology that is revealed throughout Grace’s ordeal with her in-laws from hell. According to the Le Domas dynasty, Grace must survive the night to gain acceptance into the family — as if she would still want to be a part of it after her nightmarish post-wedding ordeal. The sadistic ritual is based on a deeper belief system that fuels the Le Domas family’s actions and offers some fun surprises leading up to Ready or Not‘s explosive ending.

What Happens In Ready Or Not’s Ending

The Le Domas Family Loses The Game

In Ready or Not‘s final act, an injured and desperate Grace attempts to flee the Le Domas mansion but is foiled when she’s captured by Stevens (John Ralston), the butler. Grace is tricked by Daniel (Adam Brody) after nearly escaping, finally subdued and brought back to the mansion to complete the family’s ritualistic sacrifice to the mysterious Mr. Le Bail.

In a series of twists and turns, a guilt-ridden Daniel frees Grace and tries to help her escape, but he’s sH๏τ and killed by his own wife, Charity (Elyse Levesque). As Alex watches his brother die, their mother Becky (Andie MacDowell) tries to murder Grace but the bride fights off her mother-in-law and pummels her to death. When Alex sees Grace has killed his mom, he turns on his new wife and forces her into the ritual sacrifice.

Grace is left as the only person who survived the bizarre and violent night.

However, Alex can’t go through with stabbing Grace in the heart and he instead impales her shoulder, breaking the ritual. The shocked family realizes that even though it has become dawn, they’re all still fine. Their joy doesn’t last, however, as each Le Domas family member spontaneously combusts, bursting into bloody chunks all over the room as a delighted Grace, covered in blood and body parts, laughs. Alex, however, thinks he’s the sole survivor until he, too, explodes after Grace demands, “I want a divorce!” Grace is left as the only person who survived the bizarre and violent night.

Ready Or Not’s Game Rules Explained

The History Of The Family’s Ties To Mr. Le Bail Dictate The Rules

Ready or Not’s game rules were established generations before by the Le Domas family. According to the tradition established by their great-grandfather, Victor Le Domas, anyone new marrying into the Le Domas family has to play a game. This is the only way to truly be accepted into the family and prove that they belong.

At midnight, the new bride or husband is supposed to sit with the rest of the Le Domas family in a special family room, forbidden to anyone else. The newest addition then places a blank card into a special box that was given to Victor by Mr. Le Bail. The box will then determine what game the family will play.

In most cases, the box will inscribe a board game on the blank card to play. Every once in a while, however, it will choose hide-and-seek as it did with Grace. When this happens, a creepy song will suddenly play on the phonograph marking the start of the game, and the entire Le Domas mansion is placed on lockdown. Because there were no security cameras when this tradition was established, the cameras are deactivated to make the game “fair.” Grace then has 100 seconds to hide as the family arms themselves with the traditional weapons kept in the family room.

Le Bail means “the lease” in French, referencing the contract the mysterious benefactor struck with Victor Le Domas.

Le Domas Family Backstory: Is Mr. Le Bail Really The Devil?

The Wealthy Family Paid A Big Price For Their Success

Ready or Not strongly implies that Mr. Le Bail is the Devil, and Victor Le Domas made a deal with him to become ludicrously wealthy. Not only is their ritual sacrifice Satanic but it’s centered around Mr. Le Bail magically appearing in his favorite chair, which he briefly does. Grace sees him flicker into the room for a moment after the entire Le Domas family perishes.

As Tony Le Domas (Henry Czerny) explains in the family history, the Le Domas Dominion (as they prefer to be called), began in the 19th century. Victor Le Domas won a game of chance against Mr. Le Bail and received a magic black box and the ability to earn his vast fortune from board games and playing cards.

The Le Domas family wrote it all off as the price they must pay in order to maintain their wealth and status.

The rules that the Le Domas family lived by in order to maintain their dominion were also stifling. Other Le Domases, like Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni), had to sacrifice their new spouse on their wedding night after hide-and-seek. Some of the Le Domas family didn’t believe the curse was real, yet they still went through with their terrible rituals out of fear that they could lose everything they had, including their lives. The Le Domas family wrote it all off as the price they must pay in order to maintain their wealth and status, which includes four professional sports teams.

The Le Domas family empire is based on former board games companies Milton Bradley Company and Parker Brothers.

Why Alex Le Domas Betrayed Grace

Alex Couldn’t Deny His Place In The Family In The End

The most untrustworthy character in Ready or Not turns out to be Alex Le Domas. Alex was the prodigal son who left the family for two years but he eventually returned with Grace. Alex knew Grace was desperate to be a part of a family because she grew up in multiple foster homes. Marrying into the wealthy Le Domas Dominion was supposed to be a dream come true for her.

However, Alex didn’t tell her about the family tradition and what it could entail until after hide-and-seek was already underway. Even though Alex was trying to save Grace for part of the movie, he was really struggling with his true nature as a Le Domas and his loyalty to his family. Ultimately, when Alex saw that Grace had killed his mother, he snapped and turned on his new wife.

Alex didn’t stab Grace in the heart to complete the ritual because he might have believed that the curse was true, meaning that his family would all die, but he wouldn’t. He and Grace could have been the lone members of the Le Domas family left alive. But Alex is a Le Domas through and through, dying with the rest of his clan because they failed to sacrifice Grace. Grace survived hide-and-seek and proved she didn’t want to be a Le Domas after all.

Why Everyone Exploded When The Sun Rose In Ready Or Not

The Punishment For The Curse Is A Gory Surprise

The Le Domas family combusted as the sun rose in the Ready or Not finale because they did not successfully sacrifice Grace as their family tradition required them to. If they had been successful in sacrificing Grace, then they would have continued living. The end result is a highly satisfying movie ending that displays the evil billionaires going out with a bang. It’s a fitting ending that is congruent with Ready or Not’s overarching themes about the destructive natures of the world’s most wealthy and elite.

What Happens After Ready Or Not’s Ending

Grace’s Fate Is Unknown, But She May Have Inherited The Le Domas Fortune

After the explosive climax of Ready or Not, the police find Grace in her wedding dress completely covered in blood on the steps of the burning Le Domas mansion. Grace likely has a lot of explaining to do with the authorities, but she might not be able to prove what actually happened if all the evidence is destroyed in the mansion fire.

It’s unclear whether Grace signed a prenuptial agreement before marrying Alex, as the issue isn’t addressed in the film. Since Grace did marry into the La Domas family, she could have potentially walked away from the ordeal at the end of Ready or Not as a billionaire in control of the Le Domas Dominion. With plans for a Ready or Not sequel taking shape, it is likely fans will learn what becomes of this likable horror movie heroine.

The Original Ready Or Not Ending Was Much Different

The Movie’s Satisfying Ending Was Supposed To Be Much Darker

Ready or Not‘s ending leans into the horror-comedy tone of the movie, giving audiences a conclusion that is darkly hilarious. However, the original plans for the ending were much different and would have ended things on a much more disturbing note than the version audiences saw. Co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin explained (via Cinemablend):

“The first version that we read actually ended with Grace getting killed, and it was a much darker ending, and it was something that we kind of knew we had to change ’cause I don’t think it was the version that we wanted to tell.”

It was wise of the filmmakers to recognize that was not the right conclusion to this story. In a movie in which a determined young woman is being hunted by rich and enтιтled villains, audiences likely don’t want to see it end with the rich people victorious. Ready or Not thoroughly embraces the fun of its premise and the ending needed to reflect that as well. That led to them coming up with an ending that allowed the filmmakers to “have our cake and eat it too”, as Bettinelli-Olpin suggested.

They landed on the ending that showed the Le Domas family coming to the realization that the curse might not have been real at all and that they did all of this for nothing, only to then suddenly start dying in an epic way. Bettinelli-Olpin also points out that one of the best aspects of Ready or Not‘s ending was an idea from horror movie veteran Samara Weaving herself, who suggested Grace would find the humor in seeing her ᴅᴇᴀᴅly in-laws explode all around her:

“That was not in the script. That was not from us. Samara had done one or two takes. We had only had a few takes on everything cause it was such a quick shoot, and after two takes she was like, ‘Can I just try one where I laugh? I just feel like I would find this funny.’ And so we said, ‘Yes please. That sounds wonderful, let’s try it.’ And I even remember when we were shooting it thinking like, ‘Man, this is so bold. I hope this works!'”

It really did.

The Real Meaning Of The Ready Or Not Ending

The Movie Complete’s Its Satirical “EatThe Rich” Theme

Ready or Not came out in an era that was filled with movies with similar messages of overlooked and lower-class members of society being victimized by the privileged and ultimately getting their revenge. These so-called “eat the rich” movies included dark and brutal movies such as Joker and Parasite as well as more comedic takes like Knives Out. Ready or Not lands somewhere in between, but the ending solidifies the message of the movie.

For the entire movie, Grace was seen as a pawn in the literal game that the La Domas family was playing as well as a tool to be used to ensure their wealth and success remained. The family never hesitated in their actions, seeing the lives of these innocent people as easily disposable in regard to their own well-being. Even the deaths of people in their service, such as the maids, are treated as inconsequential so long as they can get what they want.

The moment the sun rises and Grace is still alive, the La Domas family is faced with the idea that they have been wrong this whole time when nothing happens.

The ending of Ready or Not finally makes the family pay for what they have done, but does so in a layered way. The moment the sun rises and Grace is still alive, the La Domas family is faced with the idea that they have been wrong this whole time when nothing happens. They were so involved in their own well-being that they never stopped to consider that this all might be a lie. The embarrᴀssed looks on their faces are satisfying enough, but it is obviously not enough punishment for them.

Their overwhelming sense of regret is followed by them exploding in a pool of blood. It is the ultimately satisfying end for them as they realize they have nothing left to barter with. Some try to run away, others hold onto their sense of power, and Alex tries to apologize to Grace, but none can escape their fate. For the first time in their lives, they are powerless. The fact that Grace can laugh at them and simply walk away from their carnage without caring about them is the ultimate insult to the self-centered villains of Ready or Not.

How The Ready Or Not Ending Was Received

Critics And Fans Praised The Satisfying Twist End

Ready or Not was hailed by critics and audiences as a funny and thrilling blend of horror and comedy, but it seems as though the ending is what put the movie over the top in its reception. Many of the areas mentioned above showcase why the ending works so well; its “eat the rich” narrative, its satisfying comeuppance to the detestable villains, its decision to change to an original darker ending, and Grace’s comedic reaction to it all. These elements all combined to make for a winning conclusion in the minds of critics and audiences.

Lexi Bowen’s review at Medium addresses how the twist ending was made so perfect because of the tense thrill ride Ready or Not delivers up until that point. The review acknowledges the tension Grace’s fight for survival delivers and that it is the comedic turn of events that gives the audience a chance to laugh out loud in relief in a twist worth preserving:

We get intense set-piece after intense set-piece, each one more bum-clenchingly exciting than the last, as the movie barrels toward a conclusion that I don’t really want to go into here because to spoil it would be to spoil perhaps the best joke of the entire film!

Redditor RoShamPoe expressed their admiration for the ending as a rare horror movie that can leave the audience with a smile on their face while also commenting on relationships and family in a relatable and grounded way:

This is about the “happiest” ending we could have hoped for. Them “blowing up” was the reveal that they weren’t just insane, but that the pact was real. It’s a metaphor for dealing with in-laws and the husband reluctantly siding with his family leading to the destruction of the relationship.

However, there were some critics of the ending with Scout Tafoya at RogerEbert.com giving the movie a positive review overall but feels that Ready or Not did not go far enough with its political message in the end:

By the time the games come to an end, “Ready or Not” has ceased to be about the rich and the poor. It’s about a girl trying to survive a violent ordeal, which is potent enough for the moment you’re watching the film, but in a climate in which politics can pull a film from a release schedule, now is not the time to hide.