‘Eden’ Movie Ending Explained: Who Died? Who Survived?

The ending of Eden is far from paradise for some of the cast of the Ron Howard survivor thriller film.

The movie follows a group of European settlers who arrive on Floreana Island, in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, following World War I. Eden stars Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter, while Vanessa Kirby plays his wife, Dore Strauch. The film also includes Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer, Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer and Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn.

Eden premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and was released in theaters on Friday, August 22.

Warning: Spoilers Below for Eden:

What Is ‘Eden’ About?

Friedrich and Dore leave their home country of Germany to settle on Floreana Island. At first, they are alone. Friedrich works on writing his manifesto while Dore uses meditation to treat her battle with multiple sclerosis. Friedrich and Dore’s solitude comes to an end when Margret and Heinz arrive on the island with his son, Harry (Jonathan Tittel). Margret also learns that she is pregnant shortly after.

The two couples adapt and work together to make the island their home. However, things shift once Eloise — who describes herself as a baroness — shows up with two lovers (Toby Wallace and Felix Kammerer) and a servant (Ignacio Gasparini). Eloise’s way of living differs from that of the others, who want a peaceful utopia. Eloise wants to build a lavish hotel on the island and received permission from the Ecuadorian government to do so.

Friedrich and Eloise find themselves at odds over their vision for Floreana Island, and their differences lead to things getting deadly.

Is ‘Eden’ Based on a True Story?

Jude Law Vertical Entertainment /Courtesy Everett Collection

Eden is inspired by the 1930s historical event on Floreana Island. Two of the island’s settlers mysteriously disappeared and remain a mystery to this day. The topic was covered in the 2014 documentary The Galápagos Affair: Satan Comes to Eden.

Who Died in ‘Eden’?

Robert is the first to die after Friedrich and Heinz go to confront Eloise. A fight breaks out, and Heinz stabs Robert to death. Friedrich also shoots Eloise to death with a rifle. Friedrich and Heinz dispose of the bodies in the ocean and tell the others that the pair took off to Tahiti.

Dore and Margret become suspicious of their partners. Dore ends up serving Friedrich contaminated chicken, which gives him a fatal case of food poisoning. After Ecuadorian authorities investigate Friedrich’s death, Dore returns to Germany, where she dies following her battle with MS.

Rudolph attempts to escape the island with a traveling fisherman, but he dies offshore when the boat is caught in a storm.

Who Survived in ‘Eden’?

Sydney Sweeney Vertical Entertainment /Courtesy Everett Collection

Heinz and Margret survive and remain on the island.

How Did ‘Eden’ End?

Eden ends with Heinz and Margret staying on Floreana Island with their family. A title card reveals that Dore returned to Germany, where she wrote a book about her time on the island before her death. Margret also wrote a book from her perspective, which conflicted with Dore’s account. Margret died in 2000. Her and Heinz’s descendants run a small hotel on the island for travelers.