“A Star Is Born” ending explained: What happened to Jack?

Key Points

Bradley Cooper directs, co-writes, and stars in 2018's A Star Is Born, the fourth iteration of the timeless film.

Lady Gaga leads opposite Cooper as rising superstar Ally.

The musical drama is now streaming on Netflix.

Some stories typify a time and place. Others prove to be timeless. A Star Is Born is one of the latter.

Each of A Star Is Born's four iterations (five if you count 1932'sWhat Price Hollywood?, an obvious inspiration) tells the story of a talented ingenue who eclipses her aging mentor. Sometimes, the tale unfolds against the bright lights of Hollywood. Other times, it's set against the music industry. But it's always tragic, because stardom burns bright before inevitably fizzling, and love and fame are rarely pleasant bedfellows.

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In 2018, Bradley Cooper directed, co-wrote, and starred in the latest take on A Star Is Born. "I had a lot of people tell me, ‘Please don’t do this’ — people I respect and who care about me,” he told Entertainment Weekly at the time. "I just knew this could be the end of everything if it doesn’t work. It’s like, ‘Who’s this guy making the fourth [version] of this movie? Shut up already.’ But I still could not deny what I felt deep down, and that’s why it was this movie. It sort of ignited something in me.”

It ignited something in audiences and critics, too. Not only was A Star Is Born one of the 10 highest-grossing movies of 2018, but it also scored eight Academy Award nominations, winning for the chart-topping original song "Shallow," which is memorably performed by Cooper and costar Lady Gaga.

The film's tragic ending is sure to spill fresh tears now that it's streaming on Netflix. Below, we unpack A Star Is Born's ending, from Jackson and Ally's doomed romance to how the movie compares to its predecessors.

What is A Star Is Born about?

Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Lady Gaga as Ally in 'A Star Is Born'

In this iteration of A Star Is Born, Cooper stars as Jackson Maine, a blues rocker in the twilight of his wildly successful career. One night, while drinking his pain away, he stops into a drag bar and finds himself struck by a waitress' tribute to cabaret legend Édith Piaf. This is Ally (Gaga), and Jack is smitten.

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Their infatuation isn't just physical, however. Her star rises when the pair discover their chemistry extends to the stage, leading Jack to invite her on tour with him. Soon, she scores a contract and leans more into pop than blues.

This upsets Jack. Though he loves her, his troubles with drugs and alcohol exacerbate the growing resentment he feels over Ally's success, especially as his own popularity declines.

What happens to Jack and Ally?

Neal Preston/Warner Bros.

Bradley Cooper as Jack and Lady Gaga as Ally in 'A Star Is Born'

Jack and Ally eventually get married, but his addiction problems worsen. The alcohol causes him to pick fights, miss milestones in her career, and embarrass her privately and publicly. In one agonizing scene, Jack crashes the stage at the Grammy Awards as Ally accepts her Best New Artist trophy, then pisses his pants in front of everyone.

He goes to rehab and confesses to Carl (Ron Rifkin), his therapist, that he's been struggling with tinnitus. He also discusses a failed attempt at suicide at the age of 12. When Ally visits, she makes it clear she's standing by him and wants him to come home once he's sober.

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She does worry, however, that he won't want to be with her without the booze. He was drinking when they linked up, after all, and "it got bad when we were together."

He tearfully apologizes for embarrassing her. She forgives him, telling him that his alcoholism is not his fault, that "it's a disease."

Later, she tells her manager, Rez (Rafi Gavron), that she wants Jack to accompany her on the European leg of her tour. When Rez refuses, she puts her foot down and says she wants the tour canceled.

Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Lady Gaga as Ally in 'A Star Is Born'

After a sober Jack returns home, he's visited by Rez, who tells him that he's imperiling Ally's career by being with her. "You almost single-handedly derailed her whole career, do you understand that?" he says. "She's never gonna say this to you. She loves you too much. Just by being married to you, she looks like a jerk. It's embarrassing."

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Rez believes Jack will relapse, and he doesn't want Ally near him when that happens.

This devastates Jack. Ally tells him the label canceled the European leg of her tour, meaning they can spend the summer together. But with Rez's words fresh in his mind, Jack knows she's lying and that she canceled the tour to be with him. When she asks him to join her for a performance of "Shallow" at her final gig that evening, he agrees.

Related: How Bradley Cooper altered his voice to play a rock star inA Star Is Born

But he doesn't go. Instead, he cooks their dog a steak, then backs his truck out and pops pills from a bottle in the glove compartment. Inebriated and with a belt in his hand, he walks into the garage.

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Ally, confused by his absence at her concert, plays "Shallow" by herself. "Give it up for my husband, Jackson!" she says, prompting huge cheers from the audience.

Back at the house, the dog whines at the garage door. We can see Jack's body hanging through the windows.

Why does Jack commit suicide?

Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Bradley Cooper as Jack in 'A Star Is Born'

There's no easy answer for why Jack commits suicide in A Star Is Born. It's a combination of factors that include past traumas, depression over the state of his career, fear of his addiction issues, shame regarding his past behavior, and anxiety over his tinnitus diagnosis, which, in addition to other maladies, makes it difficult to play music.

It's also clear he believes he's a burden to Ally, both personally and professionally.

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When EW asked Cooper about Jack's depression and addiction issues, the actor and director said, "I mean, ultimately, it would be wonderful if [the film] could impart some understanding of the human plight. I know that’s why I wanted to tell this story, so I could even help understand it myself. Also, to recognize that trauma is real, and traumatic events that occur especially early in life, if they’re not dealt with and aided, will have ramifications that go on and on and on and on and on."

How does A Star Is Born end?

Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Bradley Cooper as Jack and Lady Gaga as Ally performing his final song in 'A Star Is Born'

Following Jack's suicide, Ally is drowning in grief. She finds some comfort in his brother, Bobby (Sam Elliott), who tells her that he was "soothed" by all the tributes pouring out for Jack because at least "it wasn't all for f---in' nothing."

He goes on to say that she shouldn't blame herself, that the only person to blame for Jack's death is Jack himself. "No one else. Not you, not me, no one but Jack."

At an event held in Jack's memory, Ally introduces herself as "Ally Maine" for the first time. She then sings a song he wrote for her but never performed publicly, titled "I'll Never Love Again."

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As she sings for the crowd, there's a montage of happier moments in their relationship. Finally, we see a flashback of the two playing the song together on the piano in their home.

How does the end of this A Star Is Born differ from previous versions?

Neal Preston/Warner Bros.

Lady Gaga performing as Ally in 'A Star Is Born'

The narrative arcs remain broadly similar across the four film adaptations. The female protagonist — known as Esther in the 1937, 1954, and 1976 versions — prioritizes love over career and, following their partner's death, pays tribute by publicly taking his last name.

In the 1937 and 1954 films, the male protagonist — known as Norman Maine — commits suicide by drowning himself in the ocean. Dubbed John Norman Howard in the 1976 remake, the character relapses on booze and dies in a car crash.

Where can I watch A Star Is Born?

Clay Enos/Warner Bros.

Bradley Cooper as Jack and Lady Gaga as Ally in 'A Star Is Born'

Cooper and Gaga's A Star Is Born is currently available to stream on Netflix.

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The 1937 original and 1954 remake are available to stream on Tubi. The 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson is available to rent or buy via Amazon Prime and Apple.

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