Pulp Fiction - Ending Explained

The brilliance of "Pulp Fiction's" spoiler-filled analysis lies in understanding its out-of-order timeline. The film is structured in seven narrative sequences that, when rearranged chronologically, reveal the interconnected fates of its characters. The chronological order begins decades earlier with Captain Koons giving a young Butch the gold watch. The main events unfold over two days, starting with hitmen Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield retrieving the briefcase and miraculously surviving a shootout. This event is pivotal, as it sends Jules on a path to redemption.

Next, Vincent buys heroin and takes Mia Wallace out for the night, which culminates in her overdose and frantic revival. Later that same day, Butch double-crosses Marsellus Wallace by winning the fight he was paid to throw. The following day, Butch retrieves his father's watch but kills Vincent Vega, who was waiting for him in his apartment. This is a major reveal, as Vincent is a main character who dies midway through the chronological story, yet appears in later scenes of the film due to the non-linear structure.

After killing Vincent, Butch's story climaxes when he and Marsellus are captured in a pawn shop. Butch escapes but chooses to go back and save Marsellus, who in turn clears his debt. Meanwhile, the story returns to Vincent and Jules just after the initial shootout. On the way to deliver the briefcase, Vincent accidentally kills their informant, Marvin, leading to "The Bonnie Situation," where they must clean the bloody car with the help of Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe. The film's chronological end is the diner scene. Having decided to quit his life of crime, Jules has a philosophical standoff with the robbers, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. He allows them to leave, demonstrating his newfound commitment to being "the shepherd." He and Vincent, alive for now, leave the diner to deliver the briefcase to Marsellus, with Vincent's death looming just a few hours later in the timeline.

The most debated element of "Pulp Fiction" is the contents of the mysterious briefcase. While officially a MacGuffin, several popular fan theories offer alternative interpretations. One of the most famous theories posits that the briefcase contains Marsellus Wallace's soul. Proponents point to the briefcase's combination lock code of "666," the bandage on the back of Marsellus's head (where a soul might be extracted), and the ethereal golden glow that mesmerizes anyone who looks inside.

Another theory connects the film to Tarantino's other works, suggesting the briefcase holds the diamonds from the heist in Reservoir Dogs. This idea was considered by the writers but ultimately dismissed as "too boring and predictable." A similar crossover theory proposes it contains Elvis's gold suit from True Romance (which Tarantino wrote).

A more meta-interpretation suggests the briefcase is a symbol of cinema itself or contains an Oscar, representing Tarantino's own ambition. Ultimately, Tarantino and co-writer Roger Avary have maintained that the contents are deliberately ambiguous, meant to be whatever the viewer imagines.