Directed by Steven Spielberg, the 2005 movie War of the Worlds follows Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) as he tries to save his family from aliens. The movie is an adaptation of the 1989 novel by H.G. Wells. In 1938, Orson Welles narrated a War of the Worlds radio drama for CBS as part of the show The Mercury Theater on the Air. As the famous story goes, people were convinced that the alien invasion was actually real since they heard it being discussed on the radio.
What happens in War of the Worlds and how does the movie end? And how does the film's ending compare to the book by H.G. Wells? Every version of War of the Worlds is action-packed and fascinating, and the 2005 adaptation also has a strong performance, making it one of the most thrilling Tom Cruise movies.
What Is War Of The Worlds About?
War of the Worlds begins with Ray, who is a dock crane operator, taking care of his son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning). The first sign of trouble is when lightning stops all technology and electronics from working. When an earthquake occurs, Ray sees a war machine causing havoc. People die and the surrounding area is completely ruined. It soon becomes clear that the tripod war machines were underground and aliens showed up on Earth ready to take over. Now they are attacking people globally. There are sci-fi movies where aliens and humans team up, but that's not true of War of the Worlds.
Ray and his family hide in his ex-wife Mary Ann's (Miranda Otto) New Jersey house while he tries to figure out what to do next. While War of the Worlds isn't always considered one of Tom Cruise's best movies, the actor gives a solid performance as a father who feels determined to help his family through a terrible catastrophe.
War of the Worlds is also a fun ride because Dakota Fanning gives such a believable performance. After starring in 2001's I Am Sam, she starred in family-friendly fare like Uptown Girls and The Cat in the Hat. War of the Worlds proved that she had dramatic range and could work in any genre.
How Does War Of The Worlds End?
The War of the Worlds ending is terrifying, with a tripod stealing Rachel and Ray jumping into action-hero mode. Ray makes sure that the tripod takes him as well because he wants to save his daughter. Ray is successful and uses a grenade to stop the machine. Rachel and Ray find their way to Robbie and Mary-Ann after seeing tripods in distress all over Boston. The world seems to be okay again, and it's clear that the aliens are losing. War of the Worlds is one of the best sci-fi movies starring Tom Cruise because he is relatable as a parent who wants to be there for his children.
The last scene of War of the Worlds explains that the aliens couldn't live on Earth because of the microbes there. This is a satisfying ending that is less bleak than the rest of the movie. The ending also proves why Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential sci-fi film directors. When a story is as dark as this one, a hopeful ending seems like the best way to go.
Is The Ending Different In The War Of The Worlds Book?
The War of the Worlds novel by H.G. Wells differs from the movie as it takes place in two time periods. The novel covers aliens talking about taking over Earth in the 1890s. The book then follows the main character, who is known as the narrator, seeing Martians coming to Earth. While some sci-fi novels have lackluster movies, the 2005 version of War of the Worlds is great, and it's a perfectly entertaining story.
The War of the Worlds book ending is similar, as the main character realizes that the aliens can't stay alive on Earth because there are pathogens. That's where the similarities end, however. After that, the narrator has a hard time dealing with what he has experienced, and a family helps him feel better. When he goes back home, he sees his wife again, who is thankfully still alive. The War of the Worlds book ending is more philosophical as the narrator thinks about what it means that aliens came to Earth.
The book and movie work together perfectly since the novel offers up more introspection on the significance of what has just taken place. If War of the Worlds was a sci-fi movie with a different ending, it wouldn't be as effective. Audiences were looking for a satisfying viewing experience and a happy ending and that's exactly what the film delivers.