The 2025 reboot of The Toxic Avenger brings a gruesome yet surprisingly heartfelt story to a close, wrapping up its tale of a mutated janitor with a happy ending and a tease for more. The film, starring Peter Dinklage as the titular hero, ends with the defeat of the main villain but leaves one key character’s fate open, setting the stage for a potential sequel. Here is a full breakdown of how the movie ends.
Winston’s Final Battle and Garbinger’s Defeat
The climax of the film centers on a brutal showdown at the compound of the corrupt CEO, Bob Garbinger (played by Kevin Bacon). After being captured, Winston has his blood extracted so Garbinger can create a transformative elixir. Impatient, Garbinger drinks the untested concoction and mutates into a hairy, horned, Krampus-like monster.
Winston and the whistleblower J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige) escape their chains. During the ensuing chaos, a gunfight causes the shack where Winston’s stepson, Wade, is being held to explode. A grief-stricken Winston, believing Wade is dead, confronts the monstrous Garbinger. The two engage in a vicious fight, which Winston wins. As Winston is about to deliver the final blow, he discovers that Wade is alive; Garbinger’s brother, Fritz, helped him escape the shack just before the explosion.
Wade pleads with his stepfather not to kill Garbinger, appealing to the good man he knows Winston to be. However, Garbinger launches one last attack, forcing Winston to impale him with his radioactive mop. J.J. then starts a car engine, shredding Garbinger and ending the threat for good.
A Happy Ending in the Hospital
Following the battle, Winston wakes up in a hospital. The movie confirms he gets an unequivocally happy ending. He is hailed as a public hero for exposing Garbinger’s crimes and saving the town. Crucially, the doctor also informs him that his mutation has cured him of the terminal brain tumor he was suffering from.
His relationship with his stepson, Wade, is repaired and strengthened, culminating in a heartfelt hug. A federal agent, who was one of the hostages Winston saved earlier in the film, ensures that his more violent actions are “swept under the rug.” The crimes of the BTH corporation are exposed, and accomplices like Mayor Togar are arrested. In a final scene during the credits, a proud Winston watches Wade perform at his school talent show.
The doctor also informs Winston that his mutation has cured him of his tumor, meaning he is no longer going to die.
The Post-Credits Scene and Sequel Tease
The film includes a post-credits scene that reveals Kissy Sturnevan (Julia Davis), Garbinger’s ambitious assistant, survived the final explosion. She is shown horribly burned but alive. Earlier in the film, she ingested the same radioactive serum that mutated Garbinger, which transformed her into a vicious fighter.
Her survival and mutated state establish her as a potential new villain with a personal grudge against Winston, ready to threaten him and his family in a future story. However, the scene then takes a comedic turn, breaking from the traditional sequel tease. It cuts to Winston, who breaks the fourth wall to give the audience an overly detailed tutorial on how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The film also jokingly promises a sequel only if it makes “$1 billion domestically,” poking fun at the common practice of setting up franchises.
Key Characters and Their Fates
To clarify the final state of the story, here is the ultimate fate of the main characters:
| Character | Actor | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Winston/Toxie | Peter Dinklage | Alive, cured of his illness, and hailed as a public hero. |
| Wade | Jacob Tremblay | Alive, reconciles with his stepfather. |
| Bob Garbinger | Kevin Bacon | Killed by Winston and J.J. in the final battle. |
| Kissy Sturnevan | Julia Davis | Survives, mutated, and set up as a future villain. |
| J.J. Doherty | Taylour Paige | Alive, her whistleblowing efforts succeed. |
| Fritz Garbinger | Elijah Wood | Survives but is arrested; his throat was slashed but he uses a voice modulator. |
The True Meaning of The Toxic Avenger
Beneath its gory and comedic surface, The Toxic Avenger tells a story about fighting back against a callous and corrupt system. Winston begins the film as an overlooked and hopeless everyman, crushed by a corporation that denies him healthcare. His transformation into Toxie gives him the power not just for revenge, but to inspire his community.
The town that was once poisoned and fearful eventually celebrates him. The lies of the corporation are exposed, and the people find the courage to stand up. This shift is symbolized by two news anchors who report on Toxie throughout the film; by the end, the empathetic female anchor tells the scaremongering male anchor to be quiet, showing how Winston’s defiance has spread hope.
Also Read: The Toxic Avenger Is Now Available to Watch On Digital Platforms
Credits: ScreenRant, SuperheroHype
