By the time the movie ends, some of the Eternals aren't getting along.
Marvel Studios
Eternals has arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao's movie hitting theaters after a yearlong pandemic delay. Dipping into Marvel's cosmic comic book storylines, it introduces a new group of immortal superheroes who've lived quietly on Earth for centuries, battling the savage Deviants and helping human civilization progress.
The movie takes place after Avengers: Endgame, when billions of vanished people returned after a five-year absence and the world is suddenly feeling pretty crowded. We'll also have a separate article diving into the post-credits scenes, if you want to jump straight to those.
It's time to get into the cosmic ending, here come the SPOILERS.
Their true purpose
This is a complicated one, so let's take a look at the revelations earlier in the movie to make sense of it all. If you just want to know what happens in the ending, scroll straight down to the "Emergence averted" section.
After wise leader Ajak (Salma Hayek) is killed by the Deviants, Sersi (Gemma Chan) is elevated to the role of Prime Eternal and the Celestial Arishem reveals the real nature of the group's mission on Earth in one of the movie's slightly overwhelming plot dumps.
New Celestials -- ancient, god-like entities with incredible matter and energy manipulation abilities -- are created by seeding planets and allowing life to flourish on that world. The energy of living beings allows the Celestial to grow and ultimately break out of their planetary shells, a moment known as the Emergence. That world is destroyed in the process, which seems a bit rude.
Celestials like Arishem aren't too bothered about the survival of the human race.
Marvel Studios
Thena struggles to keep it together for much of the movie.
Marvel Studios
Earth's Emergence
Thanos unknowingly saved Earth from destruction.
Marvel Studios