To this day, when it comes to the 2014 critical film Birdman, the matter of whether Riddan killed himself or not, has been a looming question ever since.
In 2014, critical and commercially successful film Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was released, going on to win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film is shot as a single take detailing a day-in-the-life of once famed actor, Riggan, who is looking to regain his previous acclaim.
What was Birdman about?
Simply, the premise of the film was, “A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production,” according to IMDb.
Birdman featured Michael Keaton in the lead role, which married his own experience as Batman. To this day, the film’s use of realism and the unforgettable ending has continued to fascinate fans.
Birdman: Did Riggan kill himself?
The film’s ending starts when Riggan tries to kill himself, or actually does manage to, during his stage play. Riggan pulls out a gun and shoots himself in the head.
Thereafter, there is a first cut of the film, and the sequence which led to the numerous conspiracy theories on the ending.
This is as Riggan wakes up to find that his dreams have come true as he earns public acclaim, as the on-stage suicide attempt was believed to have been staged.
Moreover, he earns his daughter’s affection, before jumping out of the window to his death, or new life, depending on how you look at it.
Theory #1: Riggan does die
In light of the ambiguity of the ending, the first theory believes that Riggan did die when he shot himself on stage.
Therefore, the theory supports that the scenes thereafter are Riggan’s dreams of what he had wanted for himself before he committed suicide.
Theory #2: Riggan dies, but Birdman leaves
The second theory is that with his suicide attempt, Riggan does die. However, his ego, Birdman survives.
Therefore, the decisions taken after he wakes up from the hospital are Birdman’s rather than Riggan’s, which is supported by the transformation that took place after his nose surgery, which made him look like bird
Theory #3: Blending both theories
The last theory is a blend of the last two. Firstly, it supposes that Riggan did survive the first suicide attempt. However, after waking, he believed himself to be Birdman and that could fly.
So, when he jumped out of the window, the fall resulted in his real death, allowing Birdman to fly.
Final thoughts
Iñárritu, Birdman’s director, has always asserted that the ending of his film was meant to be ambiguous. Therefore, in interviews following the release of the film, he has remained mum on the meaning.
As a result, there is no definitive answer as to whether Riggan did actually kill himself during the end of Birdman. It is up to you to decipher the ending of the film and what it means to you.