The Grand Budapest H๏τel is a richly layered story, but even the biggest fans might not know that it completely spoils its ending within the first few minutes. Like many Wes Anderson movies, The Grand Budapest H๏τel is visually stunning, with each frame looking like a postcard from an idyllic central European retreat. However, this gorgeous facade conceals a surprisingly dark crime story, with two unlikely friends being pursued across the country by an ᴀssᴀssin, while their nation falls under the grip of a rising fascist movement.

The Grand Budapest H๏τel has an outstanding ensemble cast, including many Wes Anderson regulars, like Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton and Willem Dafoe. However, the story mostly focuses on the dynamic between Ralph Fiennes’ eccentric H๏τel concierge Monsieur Gustave and Tony Revolori’s lobby boy Zero Moustafa. The frame narrative reveals that Zero survives until old age, but keen-eyed people might have been able to spot the other major spoilers that are hidden in the first few minutes of The Grand Budapest H๏τel.

The Grand Budapest H๏τel Spoils Its Ending In The First Few Minutes Using Newspaper Articles

It’s Easy To Miss This Detail, Even After A Rewatch

As Jude Law’s author character pᴀsses the time at the Grand Budapest H๏τel by speaking with Jason Schwartzman’s Monsieur Jean – the new concierge – he asks about the mysterious older gentleman in the lobby. Jean informs him that this is Zero Moustafa, and a few newspapers pop up on screen to provide some quick backstory. Since the newspapers are only shown for a couple of seconds each, audiences can only take in the headlines on a first watch, which reveal that Zero is a wealthy and well-respected man in his country.

Wes Anderson is known for his many iconic hallmarks, one of which is the way that he shows newspapers, letters, magazines and other printed media on the screen. He often uses these inserts as an opportunity to aid his worldbuilding, so his fans know that there are usually some interesting nuggets of information waiting to be unearthed. Pausing at the right moment in The Grand Budapest H๏τel reveals the entire story of Zero’s life before the movie really gets going. The articles describe how he lost his wife and infant child, and they also reveal that Gustave died while Zero was still young.

Newspapers appear throughout The Grand Budapest H๏τel. They’re often a good way to link Gustave and Zero’s story to the war that’s unfolding in Zubrowka. Pausing and analyzing them always reveals something interesting, such as a more thorough political backstory for the region, or the ways that papers with different agendas report on the same story. Anderson’s meticulous attention to detail is one reason why his movies are so special, and The Grand Budapest H๏τel is packed with tiny moments and images waiting to be discovered.

Why It Doesn’t Matter That The Grand Budapest H๏τel Gives Its Ending Away At The Start

Zero’s Story Was Always Going To Be A Tragedy

The Grand Budapest H๏τel, like many of Wes Anderson’s movies, is densely layered and beautiful enough to still be rewarding after multiple watches. The story has enough highlights that it barely matters if the audience knows what’s coming at the end of Zero’s journey, because there’s always something new to draw the eye. The Grand Budapest H๏τel can spoil its ending because this journey is ultimately more important than the outcome. Zero may be alone in his old age, but he doesn’t seem bitter. He still carries his love with him, and he’s eager to share a story with a new friend.

It’s also not much of a surprise that Zero’s story ends in heartbreak. The frame narrative reveals that Zero is alive but alone, so there’s always the suggestion that something terrible happened. It’s a devastating emotional blow when Zero loses Gustave, Agatha and his child, but it would take a naive optimist to believe that everyone would make it out alive after facing a ruthless ᴀssᴀssin and a fascist regime. It’s almost impossible that someone would pick up on the newspaper detail during their first watch of The Grand Budapest H๏τel, but even if they did, they could still enjoy Anderson’s masterpiece.