The ending of the bikeriders is absolutely vague.
Benny is a very serious guy all through the film. Often little more than a scowling figure, he is reluctantly hanging to his club and searching for a road forward. Benny simply smiles at last after curling up with Kathy at The Bikeriders' farewell. Sadly, Benny is merely smiling at the sound of roaring motorcycles while Kathy is delighted about their future. This indicates that they are not on the same page at all, which could have terrible consequences for the direction of their relationship.
Nichols thinks that the two could never live the rest of their lives together, and their clear motivations surely play a role. Another is that the actual Kathy and Benny might not have had their happy ending. Benny is still alive and employed as a mechanic; the real-world Kathy passed some time before the movie came out. Benny outlived Kathy even if he always led a more risky life. They did spend many years living in Florida, yet this runs counter to the movie's evidence of their incompatibility.
The Truth Is: Director & Star's Explanation of Benny & Kathy's Future After The Bikeriders Ending
Director Jeff Nichols and Jody Comer (Kathy) help to clarify the vague finale of The Bikeriders. Inspired by Danny Lyon's photobook, which tracked a mid-1960s motorcycle gang, the film investigates a romance between a Vandals Motorcycle gang member and a somewhat typical Midwestern woman. The first weekend's $10 million take-in and great compliments came from the bikers. Though many have appreciated the unconventional period drama, its perplexing finish has been generating questions.
Although Nichols has been grabbing the chance to provide some explanation, he is still somewhat content about the ambiguity. Nichols and Comer discussed Benny's future with Kathy and where their relationship will travel in an Entertainment Weekly interview. Though Comer and Nichols both agree that the uncertain ending allows viewers to make their own decisions, Nichols anticipates the two to drift apart.
The Bikeriders Ending Explained: Kathy and Benny's Future
The uncertain ending lets viewers determine for themselves if the imaginary couple lives out their dream. Given its finish, it is doubtful that there will ever be a sequel; Nichols is content to leave viewers to consider the conclusion. Should Kathy and Benny be indeed unable to enjoy a long-term relationship, Benny will probably find himself back on the road. Alternatively, they might develop a close relationship with a child, following the real-world inspirations of The Bikeriders.
According to Nichols' interpretation of The Bikeriders' denouement, Kathy and Benny will not remain close. In the last scene of the movie, Benny is grinning as he hears the motorcycles while Kathy's smile is more of a front-stage performance. This indicates that Benny still finds attraction in the biker way of life while Kathy appears to be striving to maximize a challenging circumstances. Nichols notes that the ending of the movie is subject to interpretation and that some viewers could decide Benny and Kathy would discover happiness together. The director, however, believes that the ending of the movie reflects the truth of their relationship.
The Bikeriders Ending Analysis: An Open-Ended Story
The Vandals, a 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club, are the subject of The Bikeriders. Viewed through Kathy's eyes—that of Jodie Comer—the movie shows the club's transformation from a gathering of local outsiders to a violent gang.
The film's conclusion is purposefully vague so that viewers may consider the club's and the characters' future. It's evidence of the open-ended story of the movie and its investigation of the complexity of love, devotion, and the continuing force of the past. The open-ended story of the movie lets viewers create their own conclusions, hence the ending is a potent and provocative experience.