American Honey (2016) Ending Explained
tl;dr: The ending of American Honey (2016) leaves protagonist Star (Sasha Lane) at a crossroads, choosing to stay with Jake (Shia LaBeouf) and the magazine sales crew rather than return to her old life. The film concludes ambiguously, emphasizing her newfound freedom and the unpredictable, transient nature of her journey. It's a poetic reflection on youth, rebellion, and the search for belonging, with no clear resolution but a sense of open-ended possibility.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The final scenes of American Honey encapsulate the film's central themes of freedom, survival, and fleeting connections. After a chaotic, hedonistic road trip across America with a crew of young magazine salespeople, Star finds herself torn between her attraction to Jake (a charismatic but unreliable mentor/lover) and her growing disillusionment with the group's exploitative lifestyle. In the closing moments, Star and Jake share an intimate, wordless exchange by a lake, where they release a trapped bird-a metaphor for Star's own entrapment and eventual release. The film ends with Star rejoining the crew, suggesting she's chosen this unstable but exhilarating life over the bleakness of her past.
Symbolism and Themes
The bird released at the end symbolizes Star's own trapped existence-both in her abusive home life and within the crew's chaotic dynamic. By freeing it, she symbolically frees herself, even if her future remains uncertain. The film's open-ended conclusion reinforces director Andrea Arnold's focus on the transient, ephemeral nature of youth. Star's decision to stay with the crew isn't framed as a triumph or a failure but as a moment of acceptance-she's found a flawed yet liberating alternative to the suffocating stability of conventional life. The final shot of her dancing in the van, lost in the music, suggests she's embraced the journey rather than the destination.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Interpretations
- Does Star truly find happiness with the crew?
- Possibility 1: Yes-she's traded stability for freedom and found a makeshift family.
- Possibility 2: No-she's just delaying the inevitable crash of this unsustainable lifestyle.
- What does Jake represent for Star?
- Possibility 1: A gateway to rebellion and self-discovery.
- Possibility 2: Another manipulative figure, reinforcing her cycle of toxic relationships.
- Is the ending hopeful or tragic?
- Possibility 1: Hopeful - Star has agency now, even if her path is messy.
- Possibility 2: Tragic-she's stuck in a dead-end life, mistaking chaos for freedom.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
I find American Honey's ending deeply resonant because it refuses to tie things up neatly. Star's choice feels authentic-she's not making a "right" or "wrong" decision but simply existing in the moment, which is what the entire film captures so beautifully. The movie's rawness, combined with its hypnotic cinematography and stellar performances (especially Sasha Lane's breakout role), makes it a powerful meditation on youth and survival. Some might argue the lack of resolution is frustrating, but I think it's the point-life doesn't have clean endings, and Star's story isn't over.
Final Thoughts on the Film's Legacy
American Honey lingers because it's a rare coming-of-age story that doesn't moralize or simplify its characters. It's messy, just like adolescence, and its ending leaves room for interpretation. Whether Star is making a mistake or finding her true self is left to the viewer-just as real life often is. The film's greatest strength is its refusal to judge its characters, instead presenting their world with unflinching honesty. It's a cinematic road trip that doesn't promise a destination, and that's exactly why it's unforgettable.