Christopher Nolan has become known for the twists and big reveals in his movies, and he knows very well how we felt about the ending of one of his most popular works: Inception. The movies by Christopher Nolan have stood out for their narrative style, plot twists, and the themes addressed in them, mostly idenтιтy, time, and memory. In 2010, Nolan brought these themes together along with the complexity of dreams in Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a thief specializing in infiltrating dreams.
Cobb has been on the run since he was framed for the death of his wife, Mal (Marion Cotillard), but businessman Saito (Ken Watanabe) makes him an interesting offer: if he successfully performs “inception” on his business rival, he will arrange for his safe and free return to the United States. Cobb puts together a team of experts to perform “inception”, but his own subconscious and trauma get in the way. The ending of Inception is famous for its ambiguity, and Nolan is aware of the strong reactions it provoked in the audience.
Christopher Nolan Has Watched Inception With An Audience In Theaters
Christopher Nolan Knows Very Well The Reactions Inception’s Ending Provoked
After facing many challenges during the “inception” mission, Cobb finally confronts his trauma and past demons (a bit too literally) and is set free, though not without having to go to Limbo to rescue Saito. When they all wake up after successfully performing “inception”, Saito makes a call and Cobb is able to enter the country without a problem. Cobb’s father-in-law, Miles (Michael Caine), welcomes him and takes him home to his kids. Although the scene plays just like the one in Cobb’s dreams, this time his kids turn to see him and run to him.
However, right before this, Cobb spins Mal’s totem, a spinning top, to confirm that he’s not dreaming anymore, but is distracted by his children. As he reunites with his kids, the camera turns to the spinning top and cuts to black before it falls, leaving the question of whether it falls because Cobb isn’t dreaming or it continues to spin because he’s still in a dream. This is what has caused a lot of debate for years, and Nolan knows well how strongly the audience felt because he was there.
Nolan admitted there was a “tremendous sort of gasp, groans, frustrations” to not knowing if the spinning top would stop or keep going.
Speaking to Insider, Nolan admitted to sneaking into theaters showing Inception and hiding in the back of the room to watch the audience’s reactions to the ending. Once it got there, Nolan admitted there was a “tremendous sort of gasp, groans, frustrations” to not knowing if the spinning top would stop or keep going. Nolan called this experience “pretty remarkable”, and it’s quite fun to learn he would sneak into the back of theaters to watch the reactions, as he knew well that Inception’s ending would spark debate and would also be widely misunderstood.
Everything Christopher Nolan Has Said About The Ending Of Inception Since 2010
Christopher Nolan Doesn’t Like Explaining Inception
Unsurprisingly, Nolan has been asked about the meaning of the ending of Inception for years, but has admitted that it’s not a question he feels comfortable with. Still, he has opened up about it a couple of times over the years, and his explanation of the ending hasn’t changed. When asked about Inception’s ending, Nolan has avoided answering if the spinning top falls or not because, ultimately, that’s not what’s important about Cobb’s ending.
Speaking to Wired in 2023, Nolan admitted there’s a nihilistic view of Inception’s ending, but, at the end of the day, what’s important is that Cobb has moved on and is back with his kids. Nolan called the ambiguity of Inception’s ending an intellectual one rather than an emotional one, and in an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Nolan shared that producer Emma Thomas was the one who pointed out the correct answer, being that Cobb doesn’t care anymore if he’s dreaming or not.
Most Of Us Missed The Point Of Inception’s Ending The First Time We Watched It
Inception’s Real Meaning Is Actually Quite Simple
Nolan has already shared that the point of Inception’s ending is that Cobb has accepted this as his reality and chooses not to check the spinning top and, instead, be with his kids.
Inception cutting to black before the spinning top falls is quite an unexpected ending, which is why it’s very easy to miss the point of it. Because of how sudden and suspenseful that final sH๏τ is, it’s not surprising that viewers have spent years discussing the meaning of Inception’s ending, when it’s actually quite simple, as explained by Nolan himself. As mentioned above, Nolan has already shared that the point of Inception’s ending is that Cobb has accepted this as his reality and chooses not to check the spinning top and, instead, be with his kids.
The “inception” mission not only allowed Cobb to re-enter the country and reunite with his family, but it also broke him free from the trauma and memory of Mal. Cobb is pretty much starting a new chapter in his life and stepping into a new reality, which he accepts as soon as he sees his children. No matter how many “clues” you can find in Inception, the meaning of the ending is a lot simpler and more encouraging than it might seem.
Sources: Insider, Wired, Happy Sad Confused.
