The Ending Of Widows Explained

Following nearly 100 minutes of meticulous preparation, Veronica (Davis), Alice (Debicki), and Linda (Rodriguez), accompanied by their impromptu getaway driver Belle (Erivo), finally get down to business on their plan to steal $5 million from the residence of the Mulligan political dynasty and use it to pay off their husbands' $2 million debt to crime boss Jamal Manning (Henry). They face some unforeseen turbulence, including a crossfire with patriarch Tom Mulligan (Duvall) that leaves Alice wounded and an attempt by Jamal's henchman Jatemme (Kaluuya) to make off with the money, but Veronica ultimately manages to reach their hideout with all of the cash in tow.

There, she is confronted with her presumed-dead husband Harry (Neeson), who faked his death in the botched getaway. Still tormented by their son Marcus' fatal shooting at the hands of the Chicago police years prior, Harry explains to Veronica that he needs the money to start over with his new, white wife Amanda (Coon) and their child. Just as he's about to kill her, a distraught Veronica finds the strength to do what needs to be done and shoots him first.

Despite the pain and betrayal of this denouement, the heist is ultimately a success. The rocky road is what allows the "happy" ending to feel truly earned in a movie as dark and gritty as "Widows." Because of everything they've been through and how hard they worked to get there, when we see Linda buy back her family's clothes shop, Alice make plans to open up a business, Belle move away to start a new life with her daughter, and Veronica donate the money for the building of a public library, the prevailing feeling is less happiness than relief. Finally, the playing field is level again for these women.