“Salt” Movie Ending: What Happened at the End With Angelina Jolie?

There is something about spy movies that instantly captures the attention of the masses. Perhaps it’s the mystery of the profession or the overall thrill of adventure, it’s hard to tell. But add an actress like Angelina Jolie to the mix and you’ve got yourself a winning formula. Salt, directed by Phillip Noyce, was released in 2010 and swiftly became a hit project.

Being a spy movie, the suspense and the thrill of the story kept viewers on the edge of their seats. As the plot unraveled, fans got a deeper insight into Jolie’s character and the underlying conspiracy. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, here’s a recap of what happens in Salt and how the movie eventually ends.

What happens in Angelina Jolie’s Salt?

Playing the titular character of a CIA spy called Evyln Salt, Angelina Jolie headlines the movie in an action-packed avatar. The story revolves around Salt being accused of killing the Russian president and being a Russian sleeper agent.

Putting her life and loved ones at risk, she goes on a mission to clear her name and put an end to this debacle. Her own CIA colleagues and friends, including Ted Winter, refuse to trust her and everyone is out to arrest her.

Throughout the movie, her cunning maneuvers make the viewers believe her spy status and get further engrossed in the story. The mystery is kept alive with subtle hints and high-stakes situations being presented time and again.

In the course of the movie, the brilliance of storytelling shines bright as the filmmaker cleverly uses flashbacks and motifs to convey more information about the characters and their backstories. Grossing $294 million at the box office, the movie did well among critics and viewers alike.

The movie also puts into perspective how fickle the lives of spies can be as they leave everything behind to work toward what’s best for their country. From family and friends to any kind of social life, they keep everything aside to remain neutral and make an objective decision as to what’s to be done next.

How does Salt end?

The biggest mystery of the Salt movie lies in Angelina Jolie’s character as viewers can never seem to understand who she supports and which side she is really on. To put it plainly, Salt is a Russian spy who disguises herself as an American and becomes a spy for the latter country too. The double agent has big plans for herself as well as the country she has sworn her allegiance to.

Things seem to be going well for Salt just when Russian agent Oleg Vasilyevich Orlov decides to reveal the cards he’s dealt and tell the CIA agents that Salt is a Russian sleeper agent better known as a KA agent. Thus, her cover is blown and she is forced into hiding.

At the same time, Orlov also tells the Americans that the sleeper agents plan on killing the Russian president at the American Vice President’s funeral in order to wage a war between the two countries and ignite chaos.

With Salt on the run, both countries initiate backup plans and send men to catch her. This is when we see the agent truly in action as she puts her training to use and eludes the men on her tail. Salt recalls in a flashback the time when she was thrust into training even as a kid to learn English before Russian and help the country achieve its ultimate goal. The big plan was to be set in motion on Day X which would be revealed to them as the time comes.

Along the way, her husband is kidnapped and later killed in front of her by Orlov and his men. This poignant scene depicts how emotionless and indifferent Russian agents have to be in order to fulfill their duties to the fullest. However, Salt kills Orlov on the barge and every other Russian agent she sets eyes on. This complicates matters as Salt’s true allegiance is again made blurry.

As per the plan, she disguises herself as a male agent to get entry into the White House with a Russian sleeper agent. The planned suicide attack is launched and the American president is escorted to safety. Salt manages to enter the safety bunk along with the President and Winter.

Does Salt die at the end of the movie?

At this pivotal point in the story, everyone must be thinking Salt is surely on Russia’s side now as she stands face-to-face with the American President with a motive to kill him. However, what she witnesses in the bunker leaves her shocked.

Winter turns out to be another KA agent who knocks the President unconscious. While Winter always knew Salt’s identity, the latter had no idea since she never saw him in training.

Winter readies the nuclear codes to initiate the war just as he learns Salt did not kill the Russian president as planned. This clears the air as Winter realizes Salt was never on Russia’s side since the country took away everything from her, including her husband, and a chance at a decent life.

Salt tries to stop Winter just as more agents enter the scene. She is arrested and taken into custody. Winter makes another failed attempt to kill Salt only to have himself strangled in the process.

As Salt is being transported in a helicopter, she explains her innocence to her colleague and begs him to let her go. The colleague then receives information that Salt killed Orlov and his men back on the barge, proving she is on their side.

He lets her jump from the helicopter with a promise that she will hunt down more KA agents and bring them to justice. She falls into the Potomac River. A sliver of her silhouette is seen running away in the woods, ensuring the viewers that Salt, indeed, is alive.

Salt is streaming on AppleTV.