Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Magazine Dreams!

Magazine Dreams is finally here, and here is what happens at the end of the film, including why Jonathan Majors’ Killian Maddox attempts to kill his bodybuilder hero. Magazine Dreams was critically acclaimed upon its release at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023, with it being one of the most anticipated movies of that year. However, the various controversies surrounding Jonathan Majors led to Walt Disney Studios deciding not to release the film. After years of being in flux, another distributor picked up Magazine Dreams for release, and here is what happens in the ending now that the movie is out.

Magazine Dreams tells the story of Jonathan Majors’ Killian Maddox, a wannabe bodybuilder who has dreams of being world-famous. Maddox attempts to balance his pursuit of bodybuilding with his daily responsibilities, such as taking care of his aging grandfather and working at his menial grocery store job. However, as he gets closer to fame, his violent tendencies become more and more apparent. Various ᴀssaults and the purchase of several firearms lead Maddox to make more drastic decisions, leading to the tense ending of Magazine Dreams.

Did Killian Maddox Kill Brad Vanderhorn?

Or Was That Just A Dream Sequence?

Throughout Magazine Dreams, it is heavily teased that Killian Maddox is going to commit an atrocity. Maddox makes his violent tendencies known throughout the film, but his purchase of several firearms and his expressions of gun violence against random crowds implies that he will commit a mᴀss shooting. However, it turns out that this isn’t his goal. After holding a bodybuilding judge hostage, Maddox sets his eyes on Brad Vanderhorn, saying that he is going to kill his former idol. Maddox drives to one of Vanderhorn’s shows and enters the backstage area with a gun, preparing to kill Maddox.

A scene is shown in which Maddox walks on stage and shoots Vanderhorn, with the crowd continuing to watch Maddox in awe before judging him. Then, another scene plays in which Maddox doesn’t kill Vanderhorn, with him simply walking out of the theater. This leads to a dream-like sequence in which Maddox monologues about how he will be famous as Maddox flexes in front of an empty audience. However, cheers and other crowd noises imply that this scene isn’t real. Although Maddox becomes an unreliable narrator at the end of Magazine Dreams, he seems to have not killed Brad Vanderhorn.

What Happens To Killian Maddox’s Grocery Store Job

Did He ᴀssault His Boss?

Despite being a bodybuilder, Killian Maddox hasn’t reached the professional level yet at the start of Magazine Dreams. Thus, Maddox has to work a job at a nearby grocery store, with him returning to buy protein from it on his off days. This grocery store job is the source of a lot of conflict in Magazine Dreams, with Killian Maddox going on a horrible date with one of his coworkers, harᴀssing his customers, and getting into heated arguments with his higher-ups. Eventually, Maddox loses his job at the grocery store, although what happens is left a little vague.

After harᴀssing an elderly lady at work, Maddox is called into his manager’s office. This manager explains that he has to let Maddox go, as customers and coworkers have been complaining about him in the wake of his date. As the argument continues, the manager tells Maddox that he is a nobody. Upset, Maddox stands, threatening violence against his boss. Magazine Dreams then cuts to Maddox walking away from the store, leaving his next move a mystery. While it can be ᴀssumed that Maddox ᴀssaulted his boss, it is more likely that nothing happened since his fight with the manager is never brought up again.

Why Killian Maddox Changes His Mind At The End Of Magazine Dreams

After The Movie Builds Up To A Violent Incident

Almost all of Magazine Dreams leads up to Killian Maddox’s decision to buy guns and plan a violent attack, with him being radicalized into the event. After breaking into a judge’s house with a sH๏τ gun, Maddox takes an automatic weapon and goes to one of Brad Vanderhorn’s shows, preparing to kill him. However, Maddox decides not to go through with it, with him packing the gun up and leaving the theater. This is a shocking choice based on Maddox’s past, but there are some reasons for it.

Firstly, based on Maddox’s vision of killing Vanderhorn, Maddox learns that he still won’t be accepted even if he kills the bodybuilder. In the vision, the audience members are unphased by the killing, with them choosing to continue watching Maddox. Secondly, Maddox realizes that his efforts would be best put into continuing to grow as a bodybuilder, with him realizing that committing this crime will keep him away from fame.

Finally, Killian Maddox’s attempt on Brad Vanderhorn’s life leads him to realize something about his past. When Maddox was young, his father killed his mother, leading to Maddox having to live with his grandfather. While preparing to shoot Brad, Maddox has flashbacks to this traumatic event from his childhood. This helps Maddox realize that he would be no better than his father if he kills Brad, causing him to turn around.

Magazine Dreams’ Real-World Inspirations, Explained

Was Maddox Based On A Real Bodybuilder?

Magazine Dreams‘ Killian Maddox is not based on a specific person from real-life, with him being a fictional character. Writer and director Elijah Bynum has talked about the real-world inspirations behind Maddox, however. Bynum explained that he was inspired to write the film after seeing a man at a gym who was working out way too hard. Bynum states that the phenomenon where everyone tried to ignore him created an interesting dynamic, with the athlete being feared and ignored at the same time. Here is Bynum’s full quote (via IndieWire):

“He seemed to be in quite a bit of pain, like physical pain, spiritual pain, emotional pain, but there was something that kept him going there every day,” Bynum said. “He was clearly very ambitious about what he was doing and clearly was very driven about what he was doing. What was most interesting was how the rest of us in the gym were responding to him, because he was an intimidating figure. No one wanted to be caught looking at him, so we all just sort of looked the other way and pretended he wasn’t there. I thought there was something very interesting about a character or individual human who moves through the world that’s both feared and ignored at the same time.”

The Real Meaning Of Magazine Dreams’ Ending

What Maddox’s Story Actually Means

Magazine Dreams has a lot of themes, and Killian Maddox is used to explore all of them. Firstly, Magazine Dreams is about how lonely men can be radicalized into violent and dangerous political movements. Maddox is turned into a far-right incel who is nearly able to carry out a mᴀss shooting, and it is all because people have preyed on his loneliness and pᴀssion. Magazine Dreams is also about how toxic masculinity can lead to violence and obsession can lead to self-destructive behaviors. The story of Killian Maddox has a lot of layers to it, and these layers make up the thematic purpose of Magazine Dreams.