Questions

What is the plot?

The movie begins with a flashback showing young Sonja’s village being attacked by soldiers under the command of the tyrant Dragan. Sonja’s mother is killed during the raid, and Sonja narrowly escapes into the forest. This traumatic event sets Sonja on her path of vengeance and survival.

Years later, Sonja is a skilled barbarian huntress living in the forest. She respects nature and lives off the land, shown when she apologizes for killing a rabbit for food. Sonja tracks the giant creatures of the forest, which are being captured or killed by Dragan’s forces. She encounters Dragan himself, who is a man of science and technology rather than magic. Sonja has an opportunity to kill Dragan with her bow and arrow but chooses not to, knowing that killing him now would end her quest prematurely.

Sonja is captured by Dragan’s soldiers and taken to the capital, where she is forced into gladiator-style pit fights for the entertainment of the emperor and his court. In the arena, she fights other slaves and eventually faces a giant cyclops controlled by a mystical device created by Dragan. Sonja climbs onto the cyclops, rips off the device controlling it, and communicates that Dragan is the true enemy. The cyclops then attacks the spectator area, injuring Dragan and causing chaos. Sonja uses this distraction to destroy Dragan’s energy device and escape with the other slaves.

Sonja and the freed gladiators flee to the mountains, pursued by Dragan’s soldiers and his deadly consort Annisia, a schizophrenic warrior who desires to marry Dragan if she brings him Sonja’s head. Sonja tries to separate from her allies to protect them, but they insist on staying together. They plan to attack the town that supplies Dragan with his monstrous creatures to draw him out.

While preparing for the attack, Sonja encounters the missing Hyrkanians, who reveal they possess the second half of a holy book that Dragan is seeking to consolidate his power. When Dragan arrives with his forces, a battle ensues. Dragan’s army defeats the Hyrkanians and obtains the second half of the book.

Sonja and Annisia engage in a fierce combat duel. Sonja is mortally wounded during the fight, but her horse intervenes, knocking Annisia away and carrying Sonja to a statue of the goddess Ashera deep in the forest. Near death, Sonja experiences a vision where Ashera appears in the form of her deceased mother. Ashera heals Sonja’s wounds and sends her back to the battle with a renewed mission to bring justice to the evildoers.

The film ends with Sonja, now healed and empowered, ready to continue her fight against Dragan and his forces, fulfilling her destiny as a warrior and protector of her people.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

At the end of the 2025 film Red Sonja, Sonja and her allies launch a final battle against Emperor Draygan. After a fierce confrontation, Draygan and Anisia fatally wound each other, and Draygan flees into the wilderness. Sonja tracks him down, and as he dies, they share a moment of understanding. Sonja then leaves the forest to explore the world. Years later, an ally finds her in a tavern, calling her to a new adventure, which she accepts, gathering her weapons and setting off once more.

The ending unfolds with Sonja returning to her allies, who had believed her dead, to mount a renewed assault on Emperor Draygan’s forces. The battle is chaotic and intense, with Sonja and the Dumnati warriors fighting bravely but initially struggling against Draygan’s overwhelming power. Just as defeat seems imminent, Osin and his troops arrive, turning the tide of the conflict.

Draygan confronts Anisia, who had deceived him by claiming Sonja was dead. During this confrontation, Anisia discovers that Draygan had manipulated her mental state by giving her fake medicinal potions, causing her schizophrenia. Their interaction escalates into a violent lover’s quarrel, where they stab each other. Severely wounded, Draygan flees into the wilderness, leaving Anisia to her fate, which is implied to be death or incapacitation.

Sonja pursues Draygan into the forest. As he lies dying, Draygan holds her hand and speaks of the magical book he sought, dismissing its second half as worthless because it focuses on healing and nature rather than power. Sonja reveals that she knows Draygan was also a child refugee from Hyrkania and expresses a sense of responsibility for his dark path, as their connection was lost after a disaster. Draygan dies in her grasp, and the torn pages of the book are lost in the wilderness.

After this, Sonja leaves the forest, choosing to explore the world beyond. The film’s epilogue, set years later, shows one of her fighter allies finding her in a tavern. He informs her that her help is needed again. Sonja gathers her weapons and prepares to embark on a new adventure, signaling that her journey continues beyond the film’s conclusion.

In terms of character fates:

  • Red Sonja survives and embraces a future of wandering and new quests.
  • Emperor Draygan dies in the wilderness after his final confrontation with Sonja.
  • Anisia is mortally wounded in her fight with Draygan and does not survive.
  • Osin and the Dumnati warriors remain Sonja’s allies, instrumental in the final battle and in calling her back for future adventures.

This ending scene-by-scene narrative highlights the culmination of the conflict between Sonja and Draygan, the tragic downfall of Anisia, and Sonja’s evolution from a captive gladiator to a free warrior ready to face new challenges.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

Yes, the 2025 movie Red Sonja has a post-credit scene. In this scene, set years after the main events, one of Sonja’s fighter allies finds her in a tavern where she is enjoying drinks and throwing knives at a dartboard. The ally asks for her help with a new adventure. Sonja then gathers her weapons and leaves, indicating she is ready to embark on another quest.

What is the nature of the conflict between Red Sonja and Annisia in the movie?

Red Sonja and Annisia face off in combat during the film. Annisia is a deadly warrior who suffers from schizophrenia and is the consort of the villain Dragan. Their confrontation is intense, and Sonja is mortally wounded in their fight before being saved by her horse and the intervention of the goddess Ashera.

How does Red Sonja escape from the gladiator pit and what role do the other slaves play?

Sonja is captured and forced to fight in the gladiator pit for entertainment. She gains the respect of her fellow captives and leads them in rebellion. Together, they escape the arena and flee to the mountains, pursued by Dragan's forces and Annisia.

What is the significance of the holy book in the story?

Dragan is searching for the two halves of a magical holy book. The missing Hyrkanians possess the second half, which Sonja discovers. Dragan's army defeats the Hyrkanians and obtains the second half, which is crucial to his plans. The book is a key element driving the conflict between Sonja and Dragan.

What mystical or supernatural elements influence Sonja's journey?

After being mortally wounded in battle, Sonja is brought to a statue of the goddess Ashera in the forest. In a near-death state, she sees Ashera appear as her dead mother, who heals her wounds and sends her back to fight for justice. This divine intervention is pivotal to Sonja's survival and mission.

What kinds of creatures and forces does Dragan command in his army?

Dragan's forces include armored warriors, a giant cyclops controlled by a mystical device, baboon men, a giant scorpion, and an anachronistic metal vehicle. The cyclops is a significant threat in the gladiator pit, and Dragan uses these creatures to maintain power and pursue his goals.

Is this family friendly?

The 2025 movie Red Sonja is not family friendly and contains content that may be objectionable or upsetting for children and sensitive viewers. It is a sword and sorcery film with frequent scenes of violence, including repeated stabbing through armor and combat sequences. The tone includes some blood and action typical of the genre. There is no nudity, but there are scenes implying bathing with clothes on. The film also features some "girl boss" themes and a somewhat gritty, low-budget fantasy atmosphere that may not be suitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to fantasy violence.

Potentially upsetting aspects include:

  • Frequent combat and stabbing scenes, some involving armor penetration.
  • Blood and violence typical of sword and sorcery films.
  • Some scenes with partial bathing implied, though no nudity.
  • A gritty, low-budget fantasy setting with intense action.
  • Themes of survival and warrior transformation that may be intense for children.

Overall, the film is aimed at an adult or mature audience rather than children or family viewing.

Who dies?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

Yes, several characters die in the 2025 movie Red Sonja. The notable deaths and their circumstances are:

  • Petra: She is a gladiator ally of Sonja who is killed early in the arena scene. Her death is abrupt and serves to establish Sonja’s leadership and the seriousness of their situation. Petra is killed immediately upon arrival in the arena, which is explained as a budget-related decision for the film.

  • Annisia and Emperor Dragan: In a climactic confrontation, Annisia and Dragan, who are lovers but also antagonists, stab each other during a quarrel after Annisia discovers Dragan caused her schizophrenic condition by giving her fake medicinal potions. Both are fatally wounded in this fight.

  • Emperor Dragan: After fleeing into the wilderness wounded, Dragan is tracked down by Sonja. He dies in her presence, taking his last breaths while holding her hand. Before dying, he reflects on his past as a child refugee and the lost knowledge in a torn book. Sonja feels responsible for his dark path due to their lost connection after a disaster. His death is portrayed as a moment of reconciliation rather than vengeance.

No other major characters are explicitly mentioned as dying in the sources. Sonja herself survives and leaves to explore the world, with an epilogue showing her ready for new adventures.