Se7en Ending Explained (In Detail)

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David Fincher's Se7en boasts one of the most memorable endings in cinematic history, cementing its pop culture relevance even decades after its release. Often listed among the most popular and well-loved thriller movies of all time, Se7en proved to be something of a star vehicle for the then up-and-coming Brad Pitt. With Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, and Gwyneth Paltrow rounding out the film's central cast, David Fincher's Se7en serves as a lasting example of achieving a tightly-packed modern noir thriller.

Se7en's story centers on Detectives Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and Mills (Brad Pitt) as they hunt for a serial killer at large in an unnamed city in the days leading up to Somerset's planned retirement. Following a trail of murders based on each of the seven deadly sins eventually leads Mills and Somerset to John Doe (Kevin Spacey), who has yet to finish his plan. This sees Mills and Somerset caught up in Doe's sadistic scheme as the killer attempts to exact his final murders.

Related: The Killer Is David Fincher's Best Chance To Make Another Se7en

This all combines to make for Se7en's unforgettable ending. With John Doe in custody, Mills and Somerset agree to be led to the final two victims, only for Doe to reveal himself as the first and Mills as the second. What follows is a masterclass in paying off slowly-built tension, as Se7en's final scene reveals that the killer was multiple steps ahead all along. A crime thriller in which the villain wins is a relatively rare phenomenon, but it cements Se7en's place as a true great of modern cinema. Here's Se7en's ending explained in detail.

The crimes of Kevin Spacey's John Doe are particularly heinous and disturbing, with each one based on a different facet of the seven