Is How It Ends Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, How It Ends is likely a skip if you enjoy Science Fiction movies.
It features a runtime of 113 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
How It Ends Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2018, How It Ends emerges as a significant entry in the Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Action, Adventure domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A desperate father tries to return home to his pregnant wife after a mysterious apocalyptic event turns everything to chaos. Unlike standard genre fare, How It Ends attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Science Fiction is often anchored by its ensemble, and How It Ends features a noteworthy lineup led by Theo James . Supported by the likes of Forest Whitaker and Kat Graham , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of How It Ends (2018) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.3/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
How It Ends Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: How It Ends is a Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Action, Adventure film that explores futuristic concepts and technological possibilities while examining humanity. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. A desperate father tries to return home to his pregnant wife after a mysterious apocalyptic event turns everything to chaos. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
How It Ends Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: How It Ends attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to science fiction resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the science fiction themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of How It Ends reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch How It Ends?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Science Fiction films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
How It Ends Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $20.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
How It Ends Budget
The estimated production budget for How It Ends is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of How It Ends
- Theo James – Will
- Forest Whitaker – Tom
- Kat Graham – Samantha
- Kerry Bishé – Meg
- Grace Dove – Ricki
Top Highlights
Theo JamesWill
Forest WhitakerTom
Kat GrahamSamantha
Kerry BishéMeg
Grace DoveRicki
Mark O'BrienJeremiah
Nicole Ari ParkerPaula Sutherland
Nancy SorelSonographer
Anett RumanoczkyFlight Attendant
Cheryl GensiorekAirport Bar Woman
Where to Watch How It Ends Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixParents Guide & Age Rating
How It Ends has not been officially rated yet. Based on its genres (Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Action, Adventure), it contains violence, action sequences, mature themes.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.3/10, and global collection metrics, How It Ends stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2018 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is How It Ends movie hit or flop?
How It Ends has received mixed reviews with a 5.3/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is How It Ends worth watching?
How It Ends is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch How It Ends online?
How It Ends is currently available for streaming on Netflix. You can also check for it on platforms like Netflix depending on your region.
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How How It Ends Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for How It Ends
What starts off feeling like a low-budget drama, How It Ends evolves into a stylistic sci-fi film with some really nice special effects that show off the feature-length’s estimated $20M budget. But the movie is not without its flaws. Theo James seems almost lifeless as “Will” in this post-apocalyptic adventure – did he ever establish a character before getting on camera? It doesn’t feel like it. James lumbers through scenes, lacks depth, and is just never believable as a man on a mission to save his pregnant fiancé from impending doom. Forest Whitaker is Forest Whitaker as the goateed “Tom” who sets on a journey with Will, his soon-to-be son-in-law, to find his daughter Samantha. Whitaker rescues several of the scenes from being completely devoid of expression, but there is only so much you can do when the dialogue is itself so banal. How It Ends plays like a short film that was extended to feature length. There were scenes that simply could have been cut, or at least shortened to keep the pace quicker. With the right editing, the one-hour, fifty three-minute film would have been more effective at ninety minutes. But maybe Netflix steers for lengthier content — the longer the program the longer viewers are streaming from the service — and that must be good for stockholders. Entire Review: ‘How It Ends’ (Netflix Original Film) https://goo.gl/4rMqpU
"Okay, so basically, The Losers Club all get together for a rescue mission, and they head into the sewers by going through the well-house to face Pennywise, but the-" _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._
58/100 When an inexplicable and catastrophic event occurs on the west coast of the U.S., two men head for Seattle to try and find their daughter / fiancé. Without giving anything away, let's just say that the title becomes rather ironic once we get to the end. So, dismissing that, this is basically just a road movie with all the trials and tribulations you'd expect on a journey during the apocalypse. Pretty standard stuff but the acting was excellent and genuine, everyone behaved as you'd expect and it kept me fully engaged for nearly 2 hours. Not original but generally entertaining. -- DrNostromo.com
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
