Confused by the Uglies movie on Netflix? Read this breakdown of the Uglies ending explained, and find out what we know about Uglies Part 2.
Uglies on Netflix is sure to bring back lots of memories for 30-somethings who once read every book in the Young Adult section of Barnes and Noble.
Based on the best-selling 2005 novel of the same name by Scott Westerfeld, this new teen sci-fi movie stars Joey King as a 16-year-old girl living in a dystopian future, where everyone is forced to get plastic surgery to become “Pretty.” The film, which began streaming on Netflix today, was directed by McG, with a screenplay by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. In addition to King, the cast includes Keith Powers, Chase Stoke, Brianne Tju, and Laverne Cox.
Fans of the book will know that Uglies is a series, and that the first book ends with a major cliffhanger. In an interview with Decider, Uglies author Scott Westerfeld said he would like to make a Pretties movie for the book’s sequel, but that it will depend on “how many people watch [the first movie], how many times.”
But those who haven’t read the book may be surprised—and even confused—by the Uglies ending. Don’t worry. Decider is here to help. Read on for a full analysis of the Uglies plot summary and the Uglies ending, explained.
Tally Youngblood (Joey King) is counting down the days until she turns 16 and can finally get the beautifying cosmetic surgery that will turn her from an “Ugly” into a “Pretty.” Then she’ll finally be allowed to leave the Uglies dorm and join the Pretties in the real world. Her best friend Peris (Chase Stokes) is a few months older than her, and gets the surgery first. When they say goodbye, Peris tells Tally to meet him on the bridge between the Uglies dorm and New Pretty Town in a month, and he’ll tell her all about it. He also promises not to get rid of the scar on his hand, where he and Tally once signed a blood oath to be friends forever.
When Peris doesn’t show on the meeting day, Tally sneaks into New Pretty Town. She finds Peris, who is now Pretty. He tells her they can’t be friends until she is Pretty too, and she’ll understand after the operation. He also got rid of his scar in the surgery—he wanted to be perfect. Tally is devastated, and on her journey back to the Uglies dorm, she runs into another Ugly, Shay (Brianne Tju). Tally and Shay become close friends. Shay teaches Tally how to hoverboard (a magnetic skateboard that needs metal to hover), and Tally teaches Shay how to bypass the futuristic security system in the dorms.
On the day before both Tally and Shay’s 16th birthday, she reveals to Tally that she is not getting the Pretty surgery. Instead, she is going to run away to the Smoke with a man named David.
