Questions

What is the plot?

In a near-future Earth ravaged by environmental disasters, former NASA pilot Joseph Cooper lives with his father-in-law, son Tom, and daughter Murphy on a farm. The world is facing a food crisis due to blight that destroys crops. Murphy believes a ghost is trying to communicate with her, and she thinks it is trying to send a message. Cooper discovers that the "ghost" is actually a gravitational anomaly that leads him to a secret NASA facility run by Professor Brand. Brand explains that Earth is dying and that they need to find a new habitable planet for humanity.

Cooper learns about the Lazarus missions, where astronauts were sent through a wormhole near Saturn to explore three potential planets for colonization. Brand recruits Cooper to pilot the spacecraft Endurance, along with scientists Amelia Brand, Romilly, and Doyle. They plan to travel through the wormhole to assess the planets. Cooper reluctantly leaves his family, promising Murphy he will return.

The crew travels through the wormhole and arrives in a distant galaxy. Their first destination is Miller's planet, which is close to a supermassive black hole called Gargantua. The planet experiences extreme time dilation, where one hour on the surface equals seven years in orbit. They land on Miller's planet, but the mission quickly turns disastrous. A massive tidal wave strikes as they attempt to retrieve data from a previous mission. Doyle is killed, and they manage to escape, but they lose valuable time. When they return to the Endurance, they discover that 23 years have passed.

Romilly, who stayed on the ship, has aged significantly. They decide to head to the next planet, Mann's planet, named after Dr. Mann, one of the Lazarus mission astronauts. Upon arrival, they find Mann in a cryogenic state. He is revived and claims that his planet is habitable. However, it soon becomes clear that Mann has falsified data to lure them there, as his planet is inhospitable. He attempts to escape and attacks Cooper, leading to a confrontation. Cooper and Amelia manage to subdue Mann, but he activates a self-destruct mechanism on his base, forcing them to flee.

During the chaos, Mann dies, and Cooper and Amelia narrowly escape the explosion. They return to the Endurance, but the ship is damaged. Romilly is killed by a drone sent by Mann, and Cooper and Amelia must make a critical decision about their next steps. They decide to return to the black hole Gargantua to harness its gravitational power to send data back to Earth.

As they approach Gargantua, Cooper sacrifices himself by detaching from the Endurance and entering the black hole to gather data on its singularity. Inside the black hole, Cooper experiences a surreal environment where he can see different moments in time. He communicates with Murphy through gravitational waves, using the watch he left her as a child to send crucial data about gravity that could save humanity.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Murphy grows up to become a scientist, working with Professor Brand. She eventually realizes that the key to saving humanity lies in the data Cooper sent from the black hole. She develops a plan to evacuate Earth and save the remaining population.

Cooper is eventually rescued from the black hole and finds himself in a futuristic space station called Cooper Station, named after his daughter. He learns that humanity has successfully evacuated Earth and is now living in a new environment. Cooper reunites with an elderly Murphy, who encourages him to find Amelia, who is on one of the habitable planets. Cooper steals a spacecraft and sets off to find her, determined to reunite with her and help establish a new home for humanity.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

At the end of Interstellar, Cooper sacrifices himself to ensure the success of the mission, entering a black hole to send data back to Earth. He is later rescued and finds himself in a futuristic space station, where he reunites with an elderly Murph, who has solved the gravity equation. Cooper then decides to search for Brand, who is on a habitable planet.

In a more detailed narrative, the climax of Interstellar unfolds as Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, and the remaining crew aboard the Endurance face the daunting task of entering the black hole, Gargantua. Cooper realizes that the only way to transmit the crucial data needed to save humanity is to sacrifice himself. He detaches from the ship, plunging into the black hole, where he experiences a surreal journey through the tesseract—a five-dimensional space that allows him to interact with different moments in time.

Inside the tesseract, Cooper sees various moments from his daughter Murph's childhood, and he realizes he can communicate with her through gravitational waves. He uses the watch he left her as a child to send her the data needed to solve the gravity equation, which is essential for humanity's survival. The scenes are filled with emotional weight as Cooper watches Murph grow up, feeling the distance and time that separates them.

After transmitting the data, Cooper is ejected from the tesseract and finds himself floating in a hospital bed on a massive space station, Cooper Station, named after his daughter. The station is a cylindrical habitat that simulates Earth’s environment, showcasing humanity's survival in space. Cooper is greeted by a nurse who informs him that he has been rescued and that Murph is still alive.

Cooper is then taken to see Murph, who is now an elderly woman, surrounded by her family. The reunion is poignant, filled with unspoken love and sacrifice. Murph, played by Ellen Burstyn, urges Cooper to leave and find Brand, who is on Edmunds' planet, preparing to establish a new colony for humanity. Murph tells him that he has to go, as she has lived her life and he must now live his.

The film concludes with Cooper stealing a spacecraft to search for Brand, played by Anne Hathaway, who is alone on the habitable planet, ready to start a new life for humanity. The final scenes show Cooper setting off into the unknown, determined to reunite with Brand and continue the mission of ensuring humanity's future. The screen fades to black, leaving the audience with a sense of hope and the enduring bond between Cooper and his daughter, as well as the ongoing quest for survival in the universe.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

Interstellar does not have a post-credit scene. The film concludes with a powerful and emotional ending, focusing on Cooper's reunion with his daughter Murph in a hospital room, where she is now an elderly woman. The film wraps up its narrative without any additional scenes after the credits roll. The story ends on a poignant note, emphasizing themes of love, sacrifice, and the passage of time.

What is the significance of the Tesseract scene in Interstellar?

In the Tesseract scene, Cooper finds himself in a five-dimensional space where he can see and interact with different moments in time related to his daughter, Murph. This scene illustrates the concept of time as a physical dimension, allowing him to communicate with her through gravitational waves.

How does Cooper communicate with Murph in the past?

Cooper uses gravitational anomalies to send messages to Murph in the form of Morse code through the second hand of a watch he gave her. He encodes the data needed to solve the gravitational equation that could save humanity.

What role does Dr. Mann play in the story?

Dr. Mann is a scientist who was part of the Lazarus missions. He deceives the crew into believing his planet is habitable, but it turns out to be inhospitable. His actions lead to a confrontation that puts the crew's lives at risk.

What happens on Miller's planet and why is it significant?

Miller's planet is located near a supermassive black hole, Gargantua, and experiences extreme time dilation. One hour on the planet equals seven years in space. The crew's mission to retrieve data from the planet results in a tragic loss of time and crew members.

What is the relationship between Cooper and Murph throughout the film?

Cooper and Murph share a deep bond, with Murph being his daughter. Their relationship is central to the plot, as Cooper's departure to save humanity causes emotional turmoil for Murph, who grows up to become a brilliant scientist trying to solve the gravitational equation to save humanity.

Is this family friendly?

In the movie "Interstellar," there are several scenes and aspects that may be considered potentially objectionable or upsetting for children or sensitive viewers:

  1. Emotional Themes: The film explores heavy themes such as loss, separation, and the struggle for survival, which may be emotionally intense for younger viewers.

  2. Death and Grief: Characters experience the death of loved ones, and there are scenes that depict grief and mourning, which could be distressing.

  3. Intense Space Sequences: Some scenes involve intense space travel, including moments of peril and danger that may be frightening.

  4. Environmental Destruction: The film portrays a future Earth suffering from ecological collapse, which may be unsettling for some viewers.

  5. Violence: There are brief moments of violence, including a scene where a character is attacked, which may be alarming.

  6. Parental Sacrifice: The theme of a parent making significant sacrifices for their children is prevalent, which may evoke strong emotions.

  7. Existential Dilemmas: The film raises questions about humanity's survival and the fate of the Earth, which could be overwhelming for sensitive viewers.

These elements contribute to the film's overall tone and may affect how it is received by younger audiences or those who are particularly sensitive to such themes.