Willow (1988): Ending Explained

Quick Recap

"Willow" follows the titular Nelwyn (dwarf) farmer and aspiring magician Willow Ufgood, who discovers a baby girl with a special birthmark floating down a river near his village. This child is Elora Danan, prophesied to bring about the downfall of the tyrannical sorceress Queen Bavmorda. After a Nockmaar Hound attacks his village searching for the baby, Willow is tasked with returning Elora to the Daikini (tall people) and keeping her safe from Bavmorda's forces.

Along his journey, Willow reluctantly partners with Madmartigan, a roguish mercenary swordsman trapped in a crow's cage. They're also joined by the transformed sorceress Fin Raziel (cursed into animal form by Bavmorda) and two mischievous Brownies, Franjean and Rool. The group is relentlessly pursued by Bavmorda's daughter Sorsha and the fearsome General Kael, who command the queen's army in their hunt for the prophesied child.

As they race toward Bavmorda's fortress at Nockmaar, Willow must grow from a simple farmer into a true sorcerer, while Madmartigan transforms from a self-serving rogue into a genuine hero. Sorsha, initially a loyal servant to her mother, falls in love with Madmartigan and switches sides, recognizing the evil in Bavmorda's quest to murder an innocent child and maintain her dark reign.

What Happens in the Ending

The film's climax unfolds at Nockmaar Castle, where Bavmorda has captured baby Elora and prepares to complete a ritual that will banish her soul and prevent the prophecy from coming true. Willow and his companions mount a desperate assault on the fortress, with Madmartigan leading the charge against General Kael's forces while Willow confronts Bavmorda directly.

In a crucial moment, Willow finally succeeds in transforming Fin Raziel back to her human form. The restored sorceress engages Bavmorda in an epic magical duel while Willow races to save Elora from the ritual altar. However, Bavmorda has already begun the ceremony, and Elora appears to vanish as the spell takes effect. The queen believes she has won, proclaiming that the child is gone forever.

But Willow reveals his true growth as a magician through a brilliant act of misdirection—he had performed a simple sleight-of-hand trick, making Elora "disappear" into his hand while Bavmorda was distracted by her own spell. As Bavmorda realizes she's been fooled, her concentration breaks. Fin Raziel seizes this opportunity to reverse the banishment spell, causing it to rebound on Bavmorda herself. The evil queen is consumed by her own dark magic and destroyed in a spectacular disintegration.

With Bavmorda defeated, Sorsha—now fully embraced as a force for good—is crowned the new queen of Tir Asleen. She and Madmartigan become the kingdom's new rulers, with Madmartigan having found both love and purpose. Elora Danan is entrusted to their care, where she'll be raised in safety and love. Willow, having proven himself a true hero and capable sorcerer, returns home to his village and family, finally earning the respect and recognition he always sought.

The Meaning Behind the Ending

At its core, Willow's ending is about the triumph of unlikely heroes and the power of believing in oneself. The climactic trick that saves Elora—a simple sleight of hand rather than powerful sorcery—symbolizes that true magic often lies not in raw power but in cleverness, courage, and quick thinking. Willow defeats the most powerful sorceress in the realm not by matching her magical strength, but by outsmarting her with the very skills he possessed from the beginning.

This resolution reinforces the film's central theme: greatness isn't determined by physical stature, magical power, or royal blood, but by character, heart, and the willingness to stand up for what's right. Willow, the smallest character in the story, becomes the biggest hero by staying true to himself and using his unique talents. His journey from self-doubting farmer to confident hero who saves the world validates his worth in a society that initially dismissed him.

Bavmorda's destruction by her own spell represents poetic justice and the self-defeating nature of evil. Her obsession with the prophecy and her attempts to control fate through dark magic ultimately cause her downfall—the very thing she sought to prevent. The film suggests that those who rule through fear and cruelty inevitably fall, while those who embrace love, sacrifice, and community prevail.

Character Arcs and Resolution

Willow Ufgood completes a classic hero's journey. He begins as a simple farmer with dreams of being a great sorcerer but lacks confidence in his abilities. Throughout the film, he's repeatedly told he's "not ready" or doesn't have enough talent. Yet in the end, he proves that magic isn't just about spells and raw power—it's about wisdom, creativity, and bravery. Returning home, he's no longer the village dreamer but a proven hero, ready to teach his children that anything is possible with courage and cleverness.

Madmartigan transforms from a selfish, imprisoned mercenary into a noble warrior and leader. His love for Sorsha awakens his better nature, and he finds purpose in protecting Elora and fighting for something greater than personal gain. By the end, he's become the warrior-king of Tir Asleen, ready to use his sword not for coin but for justice and protection of the innocent.

Sorsha undergoes perhaps the most dramatic transformation. Raised by an evil mother to be cruel and ruthless, she breaks free from Bavmorda's influence when confronted with genuine love and goodness. Her redemption arc culminates in her coronation as queen, where she'll rule with compassion rather than fear, breaking the cycle of tyranny her mother established.

Fin Raziel, restored to her true form, represents wisdom and magical tradition triumphing over corruption. Her victory over Bavmorda isn't just personal revenge for her curse, but the restoration of rightful magical order. She becomes a mentor figure who can guide the new generation.

Alternate Interpretations

Some viewers interpret the ending as a commentary on destiny versus free will. While prophecy drives the plot, the actual outcome depends entirely on the characters' choices and actions. Elora herself does nothing to defeat Bavmorda—she's an infant. Instead, those around her choose to protect her, fight for her, and ultimately save her through their own agency. This suggests that prophecies are fulfilled not through mystical inevitability but through the brave choices of ordinary people.

The ending can also be read as a critique of authoritarian power structures. Bavmorda represents an empire built on fear, control, and the suppression of threats to her rule. Her downfall comes specifically because she cannot imagine being defeated by someone she considers beneath her—a small Nelwyn farmer. Her arrogance and inability to see value in those different from herself becomes her fatal weakness. The new order, represented by Sorsha and Madmartigan's rule, suggests a more inclusive, compassionate form of governance.

Another interpretation focuses on found family versus blood family. Willow's biological children find Elora, but she's ultimately raised by Sorsha and Madmartigan—a family bound not by blood but by choice and love. Willow himself leaves his blood family temporarily to save a child not his own, demonstrating that family obligations extend beyond genetics to our broader human community.

Themes and Symbolism

Size and Stature: The film constantly plays with the idea that physical size has nothing to do with heroism or capability. Willow, the Brownies, and even baby Elora (the smallest and most helpless character) are central to saving the world, while the physically imposing General Kael and Queen Bavmorda represent evil. This David-and-Goliath dynamic reinforces that courage and heart matter more than physical power.

Transformation: Nearly every character undergoes transformation—Fin Raziel literally transforms from various animals back to human, Sorsha transforms morally from villain to hero, Madmartigan transforms from mercenary to king, and Willow transforms from farmer to sorcerer. These transformations symbolize the film's belief in growth, change, and redemption.

The Power of Illusion: Willow's final trick—making the baby "disappear"—is a stage magician's illusion, not real magic. This symbolizes how perception can be as powerful as reality, and how intelligence and creativity can defeat brute force. It also suggests that "real" magic might be simpler and more accessible than we think—it's about how we see the world and ourselves.

Motherhood and Protection: The film opens with Elora's birth mother and the midwife sacrificing themselves to save her, and ends with Elora gaining new protectors in Sorsha and Madmartigan. The recurring theme of protecting children and ensuring their future drives the entire narrative, positioning nurture and care as the ultimate forces opposing tyranny and destruction.

Final Thoughts

"Willow" delivers an ending that satisfies both emotionally and thematically. It rewards character growth, validates the underdog, and demonstrates that heroism comes in all sizes. The final trick that saves Elora—a moment of clever simplicity in a story filled with spectacle—perfectly encapsulates the film's message: you don't need to be the biggest, strongest, or most powerful to be a hero. You just need courage, creativity, and a good heart.

The ending also sets up a hopeful future. Elora will grow up in a kingdom of love and justice rather than fear and oppression. Willow returns home not as a failure or dreamer, but as a proven hero who can inspire his own children. The world has fundamentally changed for the better because ordinary people chose to do extraordinary things.

While the film received mixed reviews upon release, its ending remains emotionally resonant and thematically rich. It's a classic good-versus-evil resolution that never feels simplistic because it's grounded in genuine character development and meaningful themes. Willow proves himself not by becoming something he's not, but by recognizing and using what he already had within him—a lesson that gives the ending its enduring power and universal appeal.

The prophecy is fulfilled, the child is saved, and the heroes return home transformed. It's a timeless conclusion that reminds us that magic—real magic—isn't about spells and sorcery. It's about believing in yourself and standing up for what's right, regardless of how small you might feel in a big, dangerous world.