Imaginary ending explained: What happens in new Blumhouse horror movie?

The ending of Imaginary features a creepy revelation. With the latest Blumhouse horror out in cinemas now, here’s everything that happens in those final moments. 

Directed by Jeff Wadlow, Imaginary is a fresh entry to the killer kids toy subgenre, centering on a supernatural stuffed bear named Chauncey. The story starts with Jessica, who moves into her childhood home with her family, where her youngest stepdaughter Alice grows attached to the toy – but her games with Chauncey quickly turn sinister. 

“As Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly concerning, Jessica intervenes, soon realizing that Chauncey is much more than a stuffed toy bear… and connects to her own long-forgotten past,” states the synopsis. 

Now that Imaginary has landed in theaters, we’ve broken down the ending of the horror movie. Warning: Major spoilers ahead!

Imaginary ending explained

In the ending of Imaginary, it appears as if Chauncey the bear – the physical manifestation of an entity that attaches itself to children – has found a new victim after being unable to trap Jessica in his sinister dimension known as the Never Ever.

Earlier on in the movie, we find out that only Alice and Jessica can actually see Chauncey. To everyone else, it looks like Alice is just talking to an imaginary friend. The reason Jessica can see it is because the entity attached itself to Jessica years ago.

Although it tried to trap Jessica in the Never Ever when she was a child, her father Ben helped her to escape – sacrificing his mental state in the process. Jessica isn’t able to figure this out sooner as she blanked it out from her memory. 

It all comes back with the help of Gloria, a neighbor who witnessed what happened to Jessica when she was a child. When the entity captures Alice and takes her to Never Ever, Jessica, Gloria, and Alice’s sister Taylor transport themselves there to save her. 

After a series of creepy occurrences, we eventually find out that Alice was simply bait – the entity wanted Jessica all along, keeping her trapped there to feed off her imagination. Jessica agrees to sacrifice herself for her family, but before she’s shut in for all eternity, Taylor and Alice pull her back into the real world – just in the nick of time. 

Before they can close the gateway, a spider-like form of the entity dips its head out and starts hypnotizing Jessica, and for a moment it looks like she’s set to suffer the same fate as her father. 

However, before she’s completely under its spell, Alice remembers that it doesn’t like fire. Covering the place in lighter fluid, she strikes a match and deters the entity. To ensure this never happens again, they let the entire house burn down. 

This brings us to the final scene, where a shaken Jessica, Taylor, and Alice head to a hotel. Gathering at the reception, they spot a Chauncey lookalike peeping up from behind a chair. For a moment, their stomachs drop, until they realize it’s just a young boy playing with his stuffed bear. 

Nonetheless, they decide to stay at a different hotel – just to be sure. Right at the very end, the camera zooms in on the toy, as the boy tells his mom, “Can we eat soon? Rufus is getting hungry.” This is eerily similar to Chauncey, one of his main characteristics being his perpetual hunger. 

Lionsgate

“Imaginary friends don’t get hungry, sweetie,” says the mom, to which the boy replies, “But he’s not imaginary.”

Yes, it appears the fire trick didn’t work – the entity has found its new target. Though a sequel is yet to be confirmed, this open-ended conclusion certainly leaves the door open if a follow-up does go ahead. 

For now, the first Imaginary is in cinemas. For more horror, check out our list of the 30 best horror movies of all time. You can also dive into all the new movies hitting streaming this month if you need something fresh to watch.