Being John Malkovich Movie Ending Explained, Plot, and More
by Vignesh L
Updated Apr 27, 2023
Being John Malkovich Plot
Being John Malkovich is a surrealistic comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The plot revolves around Craig Schwartz, a struggling puppeteer who discovers a hidden portal that leads directly into the mind of actor John Malkovich.
Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusack) is a struggling puppeteer who takes a job as a file clerk on the 7 1/2 floor of a New York City office building. While working there, he discovers a hidden door that leads him into a small, dark, and mysterious tunnel.
The tunnel eventually ends at a small door that, when opened, allows him to enter the mind of John Malkovich (played by himself) for 15 minutes before being spat out onto the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. Craig, along with his co-worker Maxine (played by Catherine Keener) and his wife Lotte (played by Cameron Diaz), develop a business around this discovery, charging people $200 to enter Malkovich's mind.
Maxine and Craig develop a romantic relationship, but Maxine is more interested in the idea of being inside Malkovich's mind and eventually takes control of Malkovich's body. As more people become interested in the portal, Lotte also enters Malkovich's mind and develops a relationship with Maxine.
The three become embroiled in a bizarre love triangle, with Malkovich unaware of what is happening to him. The film explores themes of identity, desire, and the human need to connect with others, all through the surrealistic lens of entering the mind of a famous actor. The ending is both unexpected and open-ended, leaving viewers to interpret the film's meaning for themselves.
Being John Malkovich Ending Explained
The ending of Being John Malkovich is intentionally ambiguous and open to interpretation, but here's one possible explanation: At the end of the film, Craig Schwartz enters the portal one last time, but this time he finds himself in the mind of a young girl. The girl discovers the portal and enters it, and we see her enjoying her time inside Malkovich's mind. This ending can be interpreted in a few different ways.
One possibility is that it suggests the portal is not just a one-time thing, but rather a cycle that will continue with new people discovering it and entering Malkovich's mind. This could be seen as a commentary on the never-ending human desire for connection and experience.
Another interpretation is that the girl's entrance into the portal represents a passing of the torch from the older, disillusioned characters (Craig, Maxine, Lotte, and Malkovich) to a new generation. This could be seen as a hopeful message that even though the characters in the film were unable to find true fulfillment, there is always the possibility for new beginnings and fresh perspectives.
Ultimately, the ending of Being John Malkovich is left open to interpretation, and different viewers may take away different meanings from it. The film encourages us to question our assumptions about identity, reality, and human connection, and the ending is just one more piece of that puzzle.
Being John Malkovich Netflix
The availability of Being John Malkovich on Netflix depends on your country of residence. In some regions, the movie may be available to stream on Netflix, while in others it may not be available. It's always best to check your local Netflix catalog to see if Being John Malkovich is available to stream. Alternatively, you can check other streaming platforms such as HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV, as the movie may be available to rent or purchase on those platforms.
Being John Malkovich Where to Watch?
Being John Malkovich is available to watch on various streaming platforms depending on your location. In the US, you can watch Being John Malkovich on HBO Max, which is a subscription-based streaming service. It is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, and other similar platforms.
In the UK, you can stream Being John Malkovich on Netflix, which is a subscription-based streaming service. It is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, and other similar platforms.
In Canada, you can stream Being John Malkovich on Crave, which is a subscription-based streaming service. It is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, and other similar platforms. These options may change over time, so it's always a good idea to check your preferred streaming platform to see if Being John Malkovich is available to watch.
Cast of Being John Malkovich
John Cusack
Craig Schwartz
Cameron Diaz
Lotte Schwartz
Catherine Keener
Maxine Lund
John Malkovich
John Horatio Malkovich
Orson Bean
Dr. Lester
Mary Kay Place
Floris
Charlie Sheen
himself
W. Earl Brown
First J.M. Inc. Customer
Carlos Jacott
Larry the Agent
Byrne Piven
Captain James Mertin
Octavia L. Spencer
Woman in Elevator
Cast
Character Name
Being John Malkovich Ending Explained - FAQs
"Being John Malkovich" was directed by Spike Jonze.
The screenplay for "Being John Malkovich" was written by Charlie Kaufman.
The film stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich (playing himself).
"Being John Malkovich" was released in 1999.