Signs (2002) Ending Explained

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By Poppy Cineman
June 14, 2025

TL;DR:
The ending of Signs reveals that the alien invaders, who seemed unstoppable throughout the film, have a fatal weakness: water, which is toxic to them. This weakness is foreshadowed earlier in the movie through the protagonist Graham Hess's (Mel Gibson) journey of rediscovering his faith. The climax occurs when Graham's brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix) uses water-filled glasses left by Graham's deceased wife to fend off an alien in their home. The film ends with Graham reclaiming his role as a priest, suggesting that the events were not random but part of a divine plan. The aliens' defeat is a metaphor for faith overcoming doubt and fear.


Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The ending of Signs ties together the film's central themes of faith, coincidence, and destiny. Throughout the movie, Graham Hess, a former priest who lost his faith after his wife's tragic death, struggles with the idea of whether events are random or part of a larger plan. The alien invasion serves as a catalyst for Graham's spiritual journey. The aliens, who initially appear invincible, are ultimately revealed to be vulnerable to water-a detail that seems insignificant until the climax. This revelation is deeply connected to Graham's personal life: his wife's dying words, "Tell Merrill to swing away," and her habit of leaving half-filled glasses of water around the house become crucial in the final confrontation. Merrill uses these glasses as weapons, fulfilling his sister-in-law's cryptic message, which now appears to be a divine instruction.

The final scenes emphasize the idea of "signs" as manifestations of a higher power. Graham's daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin) has an unexplained habit of leaving half-filled water glasses around the house, a quirk that initially seems trivial but later proves lifesaving. Similarly, Graham's son Morgan (Rory Culkin) suffers from asthma, which prevents him from being in the room where the alien is trapped, sparing him from harm. These details, which seemed like random occurrences earlier, are reinterpreted as part of a grand design. The film suggests that what appears to be coincidence is actually providence, and Graham's restored faith is the ultimate resolution of his character arc.

The aliens' defeat is both a literal and symbolic victory. On a surface level, humanity discovers that water-a substance abundant on Earth-is lethal to the invaders, leading to their retreat. This twist subverts the typical alien invasion narrative, where advanced technology or military force saves the day. Instead, the solution is rooted in everyday life, reinforcing the film's theme that meaning and salvation are found in the mundane. Symbolically, water represents purification and faith, echoing religious imagery. The aliens, embodiments of chaos and fear, are undone by the very thing that symbolizes Graham's renewed belief in a higher power.

The film's conclusion also resolves Graham's emotional journey. At the start, he is a broken man, unable to reconcile his wife's death with his belief in a benevolent God. By the end, he accepts that her death and the alien invasion were not meaningless tragedies but part of a larger, inscrutable plan. His decision to return to the priesthood signifies his acceptance of mystery and his embrace of faith despite uncertainty. The final shot of Graham wearing his clerical collar again underscores this transformation, suggesting that the events of the film have restored his sense of purpose.

Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers:
1. Why did the aliens invade a planet mostly covered in water if it's toxic to them?
- Possible answer: They may have been desperate or unaware of Earth's composition, or their invasion was a last-resort mission.
- Alternative theory: The water weakness was a recent mutation or unknown to them until they arrived.

  1. What was the significance of the crop circles beyond attracting attention?

    • Possible answer: They were a form of communication or territorial marking among the aliens.
    • Alternative theory: The circles were a diversion to hide their true plans or weaknesses.
  2. Did Graham's wife foresee the alien invasion in her dying words?

    • Possible answer: Her words were divinely inspired, hinting at a future event.
    • Alternative theory: It was a coincidence that aligned with Graham's journey of faith.

Personal Opinion:
Signs is a masterful blend of science fiction and spiritual drama, with an ending that rewards careful attention to its themes and details. While some critics argue that the water weakness is a contrived plot device, I find it poetically fitting, as it ties into the film's exploration of faith and meaning. The performances, particularly by Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, ground the story in emotional reality, making the supernatural elements feel personal. The ending's message-that even in chaos, there is purpose-resonates deeply, though it may frustrate viewers who prefer concrete explanations. Ultimately, Signs is less about aliens and more about human resilience and the rediscovery of hope, making its conclusion profoundly satisfying.