CIVIL WAR (2024) BREAKDOWN: Ending Explained & Details You Missed

Civil War review, ending explained, and full movie breakdown by New Rockstars’ Erik Voss. Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, Devs) moves onto a new controversial project called Civil War, which imagines a dystopian United States in a civil war against a fascist president played by Nick Offerman. Erik Voss analyzes this film scene by scene to explain some of the real-world parallels and influences on this film, and the deeper meaning we should take away from it.

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Written by: Erik Voss
General Manager: Zach Huddleston
Head of Production: John Costa
Director of Programming: Brandon Barrick
Senior Producer: Jessica Clemons
Post Production Supervisor: Riley Auskelis
Staff Editors: Drew Coombs, Joshua Steven Hurd
Editors: Aaron Carrion, Cody Kenner, Devin Cleary, Georden West
Camera Operator: Dashiell Hamingson

PATREON PRODUCERS:
Rick Denmon
RXJedi

[zacharyhough]

I think they paired Texas with California so it didn't become a red vs blue topic for the film.

[youxknowit]

it doesnt tell you the backgrounds of the sides and factions because they dont want you "rooting" for one faction. they want you to feel like the journalist who has to be neutral throughout the situation

[dirtymartinez]

what made the movie great was that it didnt pick a side... it showed war is hell and no one wins

[KDEddie]

I liked that the cause of the civil war was not explained. The point is that there is a civil war.

[cc_films]

It was scary intense that the soldiers had a kill without mercy mindset

[rwitco]

I think one of the quotes you captured from the film sums it up, "We record so other people ask."

[AtlasBliss]

"what kind of American are you?" = the entire nature of consciousness and love triumphing over war, boiled down to one brilliant movie scene

[booJay]

I guess Kirsten Dunst's character doesn't know how to tackle someone out of danger and not just stand there afterwards...

[protiliusproductions]

Regarding context… I think he wanted us to focus on the outcome, not the smoking gun.

[BASTBOi_]

I'm bummed out they didn't give Nick Offerman more screen time

[jojofeeny]

The whole time I watched this movie, I just felt this pit in my stomach. It was haunting. I think because it can be so close to reality, it could happen. Felt like I needed a shower after.

[TheOldVeganDude]

I watched it on IMAX. WOW. So... I have to say as a veteran and a photographer, this is a motion picture about photographers covering highly dangerous situations. As a veteran I can say that the script, and cinematography was outstanding. This flick had me remembering things I didn't really want to remember and was highly convincing as far as effects go. All in all this movie was vary thought provoking. The fact that a civil war was exploding everywhere was a prop. The story is all about capturing history and trying to not get yourself killed, or becoming the center of the action. Good flick. Once is enough for me. The Sony Alpha 7 was a nice touch too. Thanks for posting.

[juanguzman]

California and Texas aligning isn't to big a stretch considering that it's mentioned that Offermans character forced himself into a third term. I think it was a "the enemy of my end is my friend" type of alliance.

[heyheyhey]

Jesse Clemons delivered a performance of the life time. One of the best scenes I’ve sene this year.

[Paulsaysnothing]

I would argue that “antifa massacre” is also vague. Because everyone keeps interpreting that as Antifa getting massacred, but it’s said so open ended that it could also mean that Antifa was doing the massacring…

[HaloDieHard]

They don't tell you the whole story because a lot of the times journalists don't know the whole story

[samuelwilliams]

I found it weird that Joel was really upset when Sammy was killed, but, at the start of the film when Lee told Jessie to wear a helmet and everyone was ok when, helmetless, Lee, was shot.

[yawsanandreas]

The Hawaiian shirts are bugaloo boys and the armed gunmen on rooftops during the store I’m pretty sure might be a callback to the rooftop Koreans during the LA ‘92 riots

[nelsonthedestroyer]

I feel like Garland really wanted to say no matter what side you are on, this would be horrific if it were to happen, and I feel like thats why he gave us no side to root for, and I think that was the right move.

[braxtonmyers]

I think the Hawaiian shirts allude to the "boogaloo boys"