What does the ending of Inception really mean? There is still a lot of debate over the true meaning of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller, but the meaning of Inception's ending is helped somewhat by the interpretation of the cast involved. Released back in 2010 when director Christopher Nolan was coming off the heights of The Dark Knight, Inception proved there was still a viable market for an ambitious, original studio tentpole. The sci-fi film brought in $828.3 million at the worldwide box office and was even a player on the awards circuit. Among its accolades were Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. It also created one of the greatest film mysteries of the 21st century, and members of the cast and crew have weighed in with their own takes.

Inception seized the zeitgeist when it was released, partially because of Inception's ambiguous ending. Finally reunited with his children, the main character Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) spins his top to see if he's in a dream or reality. Famously, the film cuts to the credits before the answer is revealed. In the eight years since, people have continued to debate Cobb's fate, and with Michael Caine's thoughts once again making their way through the news cycle, we thought we'd see what the makers of Inception think of its conclusion.

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Michael Caine

Michael Caine sitting behind a desk in Inception

One of Nolan's most trusted collaborators (and good luck charm), Caine portrayed Miles, Cobb's old mentor, in Inception. Miles is present in the final scene as Cobb returns to America and reunites with his children. Ever since the film was released, the actor has maintained that Inception’s end sequence is not a dream but meant to be in reality, saying, "If I'm there, it's real because I'm never in the dream. I'm the guy who invented the dream." For those who don't remember, it was Miles who taught son-in-law Cobb how to traverse the dream world.

In his more recent comments, Caine basically reiterated his earlier statements. One slight difference is that the thespian revealed it was Nolan who told him that if Miles was in a scene, it was supposed to be the real world. However, that shouldn't be taken as gospel - seeing that it contradicts Nolan's comments on the matter (more on that in a minute). Caine admitted he was confused by Inception's plot and didn't understand where different parts took place, so it's more likely Nolan did what he could to help his friend deliver a stronger performance.

Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is the highest paid director

While having the Inception ending explained by the cast offers insight, Christopher Nolan is the definitive authority on the movie, so there's obviously a lot of weight to his thoughts on the ending. Unsurprisingly, he's fielded the question very frequently, but he designed it in a way to be purposely unanswerable. To Nolan, it doesn't matter if Cobb's dreaming or not, and people obsessing over that exact detail are missing the point of the scene entirely. Cobb, who spent the entire film trying to determine if he was in a dream or reality, walked away from the top so he could be happy with his children. Cobb's arc in Inception relies on him making that decision in the end.

It's a smart approach for the film to take and allows everyone to have their own interpretation without wondering if they're right or wrong (which, in turn, represents the beauty of film - it's all subjective). What can't be denied is that it's very cathartic to see Cobb back with his children, ready to be the loving and supporting father they need. Whether he's asleep or wide awake, Cobb's dream came true after an arduous experience, and he'll be happy for the rest of his days. There are no plans in place for an Inception sequel, so the story definitively ends on this high note.

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In many respects, the Inception debate is this generation's version of the Deckard replicant question from Blade Runner. A clear answer isn't going to make much difference and essentially defeat the whole point of the movie. Nolan will probably be asked about this for the rest of his career, but sooner or later, it'll be time for viewers to move on and accept what he's said.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio holding a gun in Inception

The Inception ending explained by the cast members like Michael Caine might shed new light on things, but the movie's top-billed star is no help at all. Inception is one of Leonardo DiCaprio's best movies, but despite his stellar performance in the movie, DiCaprio admits he doesn't really know what happens in the movie. While doing an interview with his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt (via: WTF Podcast), DiCaprio admitted he doesn't have the answers to the many questions about Inception's ending. He said, "I do get involved [with the story], but when it came to Christopher Nolan and his mind and how it was all pieced together, everyone was trying to constantly put that puzzle together."

DiCaprio also insists that he really just focused on the character of Cobb to do his job effectively. Indeed, it is a committed performance like DiCaprio's that allows the audience to become absorbed in Inception's story even if the plot is not always clear. It is also a testament to Nolan as a filmmaker that talented stars like DiCaprio and the rest of the Inception team were willing to join the movie, even if they didn't fully understand it, for the opportunity to work with Nolan.

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