The following contains spoilers for Eenie MeanieEenie Meanie ends with a heartbreaking twist, which still fits into the overall narrative arc of the crime thriller. Eenie Meanie focuses on Edie, a young woman whose efforts to escape a life of crime are complicated by her old boss giving her a heist to pull off that could save her ex-boyfriend’s life. The dynamic between Edie and John is the central relationship of the film, with Edie struggling to keep her cool on the job (and her pregnancy a secret) while John tries to rekindle things amid their latest caper.

For the most part, Eenie Meanie is a fun crime film in the vein of something like The Gentleman or Baby Driver, a smooth world full of cool characters and dark turns. However, that emotional core between Edie and John remains the central throughline of the film, with their seemingly impossible romance only getting more complicated over time. It all builds to a turn that feels as it is heartbreaking, giving the film a surprisingly somber thematic core. Here’s why Edie does what she does in Eenie Meanie‘s ending, and how it plays into the film’s themes.

Why Edie Kills John In Eenie Meanie’s Ending

Eenie Meanie ends with Edie reluctantly forced to kill John, ending their relationship in the most tragic way possible. For all of Eenie Meanie, Edie is forced to defend her love for John. Although she recognizes more than anyone that he is a short-sighted, short-tempered criminal, Edie can’t help but see John’s best qualities.

This is why, despite breaking up almost a year ago, Edie went back for an ill-advised night that resulted in a pregnancy. It’s why she goes back to tell him about it, getting her entangled in John’s schemes and the fallout of their failure. It’s why she goes against her better judgment and reignites their relationship later in Eenie Meanie.

However, for all of his best traits, John just can’t change. Edie calls him out on all his failed times at court-mandated rehab, but notes he could never change for her. Even when he claims he wants to go on the straight and narrow with Edie to raise their family, he impulsively kills the Chaperone so they can steal the fortune from Nico.

What makes Edie’s decision all the more heartwrenching is the way John doesn’t see it coming. Apologizing once again for his rash actions and uncontrollable behavior, John embraces Edie and seems to believe they’re still “written in the stars.” Given the risk John posed to her future and the future of their baby, especially if Nico is after them for betraying him, Edie has little choice but to end things.

This plays into the central theme of the film, with Edie noticing that she constantly has to save other people from their mistakes throughout the crime thriller, even as they refuse to change for her. In the end, Edie needs to learn to let people go, ending her toxic relationship with John once and for all in the most effective way possible.

Did Nico Want John To Die?

Nico is portrayed as a surprisingly understanding crime boss. Although he has a temper and is offended by the poor decision-making of Nico, he displays an affection for people like Edie and George. He even gives John an opening to pay off his debt after getting Nico’s card player, Leo, killed.

However, there are several implications in the film that Nico is actively hoping he has a justification to kill John after the job is done. This would make sense from a ruthless criminal standpoint, as John is a loose end who has messed up too many times to have earned any lingering confidence.

Nico also arranges for the Chaperone to monitor the heist for him, leading him to speak directly to Edie about his concerns over John. Even the presence of Edie’s former rival Perm is implied to be because of Nico, with the crime lord noting it would make sense for him to bring in Perm.

Given Nico and Edie’s final conversation, it’s clear Nico believes Edie is better off without John in her life. However, Edie forces Nico to recognize the way he’s allowing a similar connection to George to blind him to how his oldest friend has been casually robbing him for years. Nico might have wanted John ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, but the reasoning why eventually convinces him to also kill George.

The Real Meaning Of Eenie Meanie

Eenie Meanie is a movie about a woman who really needs to escape her co-dependent and often toxic relationship, and has to literally pull the trigger. What makes this compelling isn’t that John has some strange animal magnetism or unique qualities that make him irresistible. He’s a very flawed person, but one who has an undying love and loyalty for Edie.

In a lifetime where she’s been used as a tool by everyone from ganglords to her own parents, that genuine emotional connection is a big part Edie loves him. She even tells the Chaperone and Nico that, noting that she could never see a future for herself without John in her life. However, that loyalty and love don’t change his mistakes or his actions.

It doesn’t excuse the various things he’s done in the film, especially once John goes beyond unplanned mistakes to overt murder. John lacked the kind of follow-through that Edie is asking for in the film, leading her to realize that even a clean slate and a family together can’t change John’s core flaws.

In the end, Edie’s decision is heartbreaking but comes across as necessary. Otherwise, John would keep finding new ways to endanger himself, both of them, or their unborn child. A big part of Eenie Meanie is the hard decisions that need to be made to change life. That involves breaking off the relationships that are damaging.

Edie sees another couple who can’t rely on one another, ignoring the man’s flirtations, especially after seeing him be a poor father and partner to his child’s mother. Edie is told by her best friend that she has people to rely on who aren’t John.

Edie’s happy (if slightly bittersweet) ending, raising her son with her friend’s family, proves that she can choose the life she wants to lead. Even Nico recognizes that she has a good point about letting someone’s fatal flaws go by just because you love them. Eenie Meanie highlights how sometimes, true love isn’t enough to overcome the challenges of the world and a person’s flaws.