Jujutsu Kaisen (2025): Ending Explained

Quick Recap

In Jujutsu Kaisen (2025), high school student Yuji Itadori finds himself thrust into a hidden world of supernatural peril after a fateful encounter with a cursed object. When Yuji swallows one of the preserved fingers belonging to Ryomen Sukuna—a legendary and immensely powerful Cursed Spirit—he becomes the unwilling vessel for this ancient evil. To prevent Sukuna's full resurrection, which could unleash catastrophe on humanity, Yuji allies with a secretive organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers. These sorcerers harness Cursed Energy, a parallel force born from negative human emotions, to battle monstrous Curses that manifest from humanity's darkest impulses.

As Yuji navigates this perilous new reality, he grapples with his dual existence: a seemingly ordinary teen harboring a demon king within. His primary mission is clear and grim—locate and consume Sukuna's remaining fingers to gather the power needed for a final execution, one that would end both the Curse and Yuji's own life. Throughout the film, alliances form and tensions simmer among the sorcerers, blending high-stakes action with moments of teenage camaraderie and philosophical dread. The narrative builds toward escalating confrontations, culminating in the chaotic Shibuya Incident, where the boundaries between the human world and the cursed realm begin to shatter.

This adaptation, produced by MAPPA under director Sunghoo Park, faithfully captures the manga's blend of visceral combat, "Domain Expansion" sequences, and emotional depth, drawing from Gege Akutami's original work to explore themes of sacrifice and the human cost of power.

What Happens in the Ending

The film's climactic finale unfolds amid the vibrant chaos of Shibuya on Halloween night, transforming a night of celebration into a nightmarish trap. As crowds bustle through the streets, a mysterious veil abruptly descends over the entire Shibuya area, sealing it off from the outside world. This ethereal barrier, woven from cursed energy, traps countless civilians inside, turning the district into a pressure cooker of fear and negativity that amplifies the presence of Curses.

In the immediate aftermath, Yuji and his fellow sorcerers—racing against the spreading darkness—witness the veil's full horrifying effect. The once-lively streets fill with shadowy manifestations as Curses emerge en masse, feeding on the panic of the trapped innocents. Yuji, still contending with Sukuna's taunting influence within him, pushes forward in a desperate bid to protect the civilians and confront the forces behind the incident. The screen pulses with intense "Domain Expansion" battles, where sorcerers unleash their intricate techniques in sprawling, reality-warping clashes.

The ending proper arrives in a moment of stark escalation: as the veil holds firm, reports filter in of ten colonies across Japan morphing into dens of curses, suggesting the Shibuya event is merely the opening salvo of a nationwide curse outbreak. Yuji stands amid the rubble, bloodied but resolute, his eyes reflecting the weight of his mission as Sukuna's laughter echoes faintly in his mind. The final shot lingers on the veil shimmering against the night sky, with Yuji vowing silently to consume the remaining fingers—no matter the personal cost—before the screen fades to black, leaving the immediate threat unresolved but the larger war ignited.

The Meaning Behind the Ending

At its core, the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen (2025) symbolizes the inescapable permeation of humanity's inner darkness into the external world. The veil over Shibuya isn't just a plot device; it's a metaphor for how suppressed negative emotions—fear, regret, malice—can suddenly erupt, ensnaring the innocent and forcing confrontation. This descent into chaos underscores the film's central theme: the thin line between control and catastrophe in a world fueled by cursed energy, where every human shadow births a monster.

The transformation of Shibuya and the ten colonies into curse dens represents a societal commentary on urban isolation and collective anxiety. In a bustling metropolis like Shibuya, the film contemplates how modern life, with its facade of normalcy, masks profound vulnerabilities. Yuji's internal struggle with Sukuna mirrors this on a personal level—his body as a "veil" containing evil, much like the city containing its curses. The ending's ambiguity in resolution invites reflection on moral complexity: is Yuji's path of self-sacrifice heroic, or a tragic surrender to a system that demands lives to maintain balance? It probes the human truth that power, whether cursed or sorcerous, often exacts a psychological toll, blurring the line between savior and vessel.

Character Arcs and Resolution

Yuji Itadori's arc reaches a poignant, unresolved peak in the finale, crystallizing his evolution from naive teen to burdened guardian. Starting as an impulsive athlete who stumbles into the jujutsu world, Yuji's journey is defined by his growing acceptance of Sukuna's presence as both a curse and a catalyst for his resolve. The Shibuya veil forces him to confront the scale of his mission: protecting others means embracing his potential death. This ending resolves his initial arc by affirming his commitment to consuming the fingers, but it leaves his psychology fractured—haunted by Sukuna's whispers, yet driven by an unyielding empathy that humanizes him amid the horror.

Supporting characters, like the sorcerers in his organization, find their roles amplified in the chaos, highlighting themes of camaraderie and duty. Their efforts in the Domain Expansions showcase collective resilience, but the nationwide curse outbreak extends their arcs into uncertainty, suggesting ongoing battles that test their bonds. For Yuji, this "resolution" is bittersweet; it marks growth through sacrifice, reinforcing his role as a vessel not just for Sukuna, but for humanity's hope— a psychological burden that adds layers of moral depth to his otherwise straightforward heroism.

Alternate Interpretations

The ending's open-ended nature invites multiple lenses. One interpretation views the veil's descent as a literal escalation of Sukuna's influence, with Yuji's internal hosting bleeding into the external world—perhaps foreshadowing his loss of control, where the "ten colonies" symbolize fragmented aspects of his psyche under siege. Alternatively, it could be seen as a critique of institutional failure: the sorcerer organization's inability to prevent the outbreak questions whether their secretive methods perpetuate the cycle of curses, positioning Yuji's self-sacrifice as a futile rebellion against a flawed system.

A more optimistic read posits the ending as empowerment; the trapped civilians and emerging dens represent untapped potential for Yuji to rally allies, subverting the tragedy of his mission into a call for broader resistance. These ambiguities stem from the film's adaptation choices, like the detailed Domain scenes, which emphasize visual metaphors over tidy closure, allowing viewers to project their own fears of unchecked negativity onto the narrative.

Themes and Symbolism

The finale reinforces Jujutsu Kaisen's exploration of duality—human versus curse, individual versus society—while subverting shonen tropes of triumphant victory. Symbolically, the veil evokes isolation in a hyper-connected world, commenting on how societal pressures (like the Halloween crowds) amplify emotional curses, turning celebration into terror. Sukuna's fingers, as scattered relics, symbolize fragmented evil that no single hero can fully contain, underscoring themes of inherited trauma and the moral complexity of containing rather than eradicating darkness.

Broader societal commentary emerges in the colonies' transformation, hinting at how negativity spreads like a pandemic, unchecked by authority. This subverts expectations of heroic isolation, instead emphasizing interconnected fates: Yuji's personal psychology reflects humanity's collective one, where empathy battles despair. The ending's contemplative tone invites audiences to ponder if true resolution lies in destruction or coexistence with one's shadows.

Final Thoughts

Jujutsu Kaisen (2025) delivers an ending that masterfully balances visceral spectacle with introspective weight, leaving viewers unsettled yet intrigued. By capping the Shibuya Incident with an outbreak that extends beyond the frame, it avoids pat resolutions, instead amplifying the manga's thematic richness on sacrifice, duality, and the human cost of battling inner demons. This works brilliantly for the film's contemplative style, turning a supernatural thriller into a mirror for real-world anxieties—though its ambiguity might frustrate those craving closure, it ultimately elevates the narrative, ensuring Yuji's journey lingers as a profound meditation on resilience amid moral grayness. A fitting adaptation that honors Akutami's vision, it's a must-rewatch for its layered depth.