Warning! This post contains major spoilers for The Instigators.
Summary
TheInstigators' ending brings a well-rounded closure to Rory and Cobby’s storylines where they do not end up with hordes of cash but find a semblance of certainty and peace. Directed by Doug Liman and co-written by Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean,The Instigatorsbegins by introducingCasey Affleck’s Cobby and Matt Damon’s Rory, who team with Jack Harlow’s Scalvo as they set out to pull off a heist for Mr. Besegai and his associate Richie. Although their heist plan initially sounds simple on paper, nothing goes as anticipated, and Rory and Cobby find themselves running against the law.
While Mr. Besegai hires one of his men, Booch, to track down Rory and Cobby, the Mayor they stole from hires a detective, Frank Toomey, to pursue them. Towards the end ofThe Instigators, Rory and Cobby come close to escaping law enforcement and landing some cash in their pockets. However, several twists and turns eventually leave them with something far more profound and valuable than mere monetary benefits.
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Why Mayor Mark Choi Orders Rory & Cobby’s Release From Prison In The Instigator’s Ending
Mark Choi Keeps Miccelli’s Money In His Own Pockets
InThe Instigators' final arc, Rory and Cobby find themselves with heaps of cash Mayor Miccelli had illegally stacked during his tenure. However, to their dismay, they have nowhere to go because the Municipal Building, where they find the Mayor’s safe gets surrounded by law enforcement. Dr. Rivera, too, steps inside the Mayor’s office, hoping to convince Rory to surrender. However, she ultimately changes her mind and encourages him to escape.
…the new Mayor, Mark Choi, realizes he has two choices: either trace Miccelli’s illegally acquired $100 million through the evidence on the hard drives and fill their own pockets or do the right thing by returning all the money to the rightful authorities.
As a result, Rory and Cobby distract the police by throwing the safe out of the building, prompting several bystanders to rush towards the discarded cash. This effectively distracts the police, allowing Rory and Cobby to escape in a firetruck without being noticed. However, Mayor Miccelli’s right-hand man, Frank Toomey, spots them and eventually stops them from leaving. In a desperate attempt to escape, Cobby offers him the hard drives that contain solid evidence of Mayor Miccelli’s corrupt practices. However, Toomey declines the offer, and the two end up in prison.
To their surprise, however, they are soon released because the new Mayor, Mark Choi, realizes he has two choices: either trace Miccelli’s illegally acquired $100 million through the evidence on the hard drives and fill their own pockets or do the right thing by returning all the money to the rightful authorities.Choi decides to settle for the former, resulting in Rory and Cobby’s release from prison because their prosecution could lead the court to Miccelli’s $100 million loot.
The Instigators' Mid-Credits Scene Explained
It Confirms Besegai & Richie Are Dead
The Instigatorsalso features an interesting mid-credits scene, which reveals that Mr. Besegai and Richie somehow made it to Montreal. However, instead of reaching their desired destination,they froze to death during the journey. The scene is in tandem with a previous one where Rory warns Cobby they cannot walk all the way to Montreal with no preparation and precautions because the harsh weather conditions would be deadly without proper gear and planning.
Is Matt Damon & Casey Affleck’s The Instigators worth watching in theaters or wait for streaming?
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are reuniting on screen for the first time in 17 years with The Instigators, a buddy heist comedy about two thieves who go on the run after a botched robbery. Though produced by Apple Studios, it will be hitting theaters this week before Apple TV+ on August 9, begging the question of if it’s worth seeing in theaters or waiting for streaming. While critics may be mixed on the movie, Doug Liman brings some effectively exciting set pieces and Damon and Affleck make for a great pairing worth watching on a big screen.
Rory & Cobby’s Initial Heist Plan & How It Went Wrong Explained
Rory & Cobby Fail To Foresee What They Are Stepping Into
As Mr. Besegai initially explains to Rory, Cobby, and Scalvo, he expects them to rob Mayor Miccelli’s election funds right before he gets re-elected. Besegai reveals that the money would be kept in a vault at The Wharf where the Mayor’s reelection party would be held. All they have to do is break into the building, empty the vault before its money is transferred to another location, and flee the scene leaving no evidence of the robbery.
Both agree to participate in the heist, butRory demands exactly $32,480 because it is the amount he would need to pay off his debts and support his estranged son. Unfortunately, when it comes to executing their plan, things go awry. After they enter The Wharf through its kitchen, they discover it has way more staff than anticipated. They also learn that Miccelli has not been re-elected, and his safe has been emptied twice before their arrival. This leaves the vault almost empty when they arrive at the location to rob it.
Things get even more chaotic when Salvo impulsively goes off plan and tries to loot the former Mayor and his associates. This leads to a shootout, where Salvo dies, and Rory and Cobby are forced to escape with Miccelli and his associates' belongings. Little do they realize that the bracelet they stole from Miccelli contains the code to unlock the vault with his money and the evidence of all the corrupt methods he resorted to acquiring his wealth.
Why Dr. Donna Reivera Finally Encourages Rory To Escape & Not Surrender
She Realizes Rory Is On His Path To Recovery
ThroughoutThe Instigators' runtime, Dr. Rivera grows increasingly worried about Rory’s well-being because, as his therapist, she realizes that he has stopped caring about his life. She sees how he is intentionally getting himself embroiled in risky situations because he has lost his will to live. This is why she calls the police when Rory and Cobby end up at her home after the heist goes wrong. She even accompanies Rory and Cobby and pretends to be their hostage to ensure Rory is fine.
When she enters the Mayor’s office inThe Instigators' final arc, she hopes to convince Rory to surrender and give in. However, when Rory tells her he does not want to die,she feels assured that the heist has helped him find a new purpose to live. Therefore, instead of asking him to surrender, she encourages him to escape inThe Instigators' ending.
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What The Instigators' Ending Means For Rory, Cobby, & Dr. Rivera
All Ends Well For The Three Characters
In an early scene fromThe Instigators, Rory opens up to Cobby about why he specifically needs $32,480 to be able to face his son again. Although Cobby often jokes about everything and does not seem to take life too seriously,he helps Rory realize that his son cares little about his money. He tells him that his son probably just wants him to be around, which would mean far more than any amount of money. Owing to this, instead of trying to stack up cash, Rory visits his son’s ice hockey game.
AsThe Instigators' ending also suggests, despite coming off as an unlikely pairing in the film’s early moments, Rory and Cobby get along well and become friends.
Although his son is initially surprised by his sudden visit, his smile indicates he appreciates the effort. Cobby had previously asked Dr. Rivera to go on a date with him if they survived the heist. Although Dr. Rivera initially brushes off his advances, she seemingly agrees to go out with him towards the movie’s end when he shows up at her door. AsThe Instigators' ending also suggests, despite coming off as an unlikely pairing in the film’s early moments, Rory and Cobby eventually get along well and become friends.
Does The Instigators' Ending Set Up A Sequel?
The Movie’s Ending Seems Conclusive
Given how all the main characters inThe Instigators, including the villains, get well-rounded endings, it seems unlikely that the film will get a sequel. However, if it performs well on Apple TV+, the streamer might greenlight it for another installment. AlthoughThe Instigatorsends on a conclusive note,a sequel could follow Rory and Cobby accidentally getting involved in another high-stakes heistthat could test and challenge their newfound purpose.
Since the two characters were primarily responsible for exposing Miccelli’s corrupt activities, the former mayor could also seek revenge on them in the sequel, forcing the two to navigate another web of conspiracies and crimes. Since Dr. Rivera is now directly associated with Rory and Cobby, Hong Chau could have a more prominent role inThe Instigators 2. However, for now, only time will tell if the sequel toThe Instigatorswill ever see the light of day.
The Instigators
The Instigators revolves around the complex dynamics of a group of individuals who find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and deception. As alliances are formed and trust is broken, the true motives of each character are slowly revealed, leading to a crescendo of tension and suspense.
