'The Instigators' Ending Explained: Disasterous film ends on a bizarre note

In Apple TV+'s 'The Instigators, Rory and Cobby's heist mission gets the most unexpected conclusion
UPDATED AUG 9, 2024
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck starrer 'The Instigators', premiered on Apple TV+, on August 9, 2024 (@appletv+)
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck starrer 'The Instigators', premiered on Apple TV+, on August 9, 2024 (@appletv+)

Contains spoilers for 'The Instigators'

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: 'The Instigators' is Apple TV+'s latest heist movie starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. It revolves around Rory and Cobby, two strangers, hired to rob the Mayor.

Their heist goes haywire as one of their teammates dies. The violent confrontation also claims the life of a high-rank cop, and Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Cassey Affleck) run for their lives with whatever little cash they could get, along with Mayor's bracelet.

When Rory and Cobby realise that the bracelet contains the code for a locker where the corrupt Mayor keeps all his black money, they decide to rob his again.

Do Rory and Cobby succeed in robbing the Mayor in 'The Instigators'?

Hong Chau, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon in 'The Instigators' (@appletv+)
Hong Chau, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon in 'The Instigators' (@appletv+)

The duo initiates a false fire alarm at Mayor's office and infiltrate the building dressed up as firemen.

As the actual firefighters escort Mayor Miccelli (Ron Perlman) out of the building, Rory and Cobby grab the chance and get to the locker. However, when one of the firemen gets suspicious and corners them, Rory says that they have held Mayor's lawyer, Alan (Toby Jones), as a hostage.

The authorities then send Dr Donna Rivera (Hong Chau) in the capacity of a negotiator. She sits across the couch, and asks Rory about his feelings.

When he says that he doesn't want to die, she suggests them to run away. Their escape plan includes throwing the locker full of cash out of the window and creating chaos on the streets.

Do they succeed in robbing the Mayor? Well, they do take some cash while leaving most of it for the public of Boston. However, Frank Toomey (Ving Rhames) chases them down and they are eventually arrested.

How do Rory and Cobby get out of prison in 'The Instigators'?

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in 'The Instigators' (@appletv+)
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in 'The Instigators' (@appletv+)

Rory and Cobby are put behind bars while Mayor Miccelli is arrested when he attempted to escape the country. For the duo, there's no chance of getting out of prison but a twist of events changes their fate.

Mark Choi is appointed as the new Mayor of Boston. As he takes the chair, a government employee tells that if they convict Rory and Cobby, the drive surrendered by Alan that contains details of bribes and black money, will be put into evidence and the untraceable $100 million will eventually go to the public. But if he lets them walk away without any charges, he could keep the money to himself.

As we see Rory and Cobby being released, it implies that the new Mayor is as corrupt as the previous one.

Meanwhile, whatever little cash they had stolen from Mayor's office was confiscated when they were arrested. It turns out that all these risks and adventures turned out to be for nothing.

'The Instigators' is now available to stream on Apple TV+.

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