Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Carry-On!

Netflix's cast of Carry-On includes Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Danielle Deadwyler, and more, with the explosive end of the film leaving many fans asking questions about what happens in Carry-On's climax and what it means for the future of the franchise.

Carry-On follows Taron Egerton's Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent who one day discovers an ear piece in his line. After putting it in, Ethan gets caught up in a massive criminal conspiracy, with the voice on the other side telling him that if he doesn't let a specific bag through, his pregnant wife will be killed. By the end of the film, Ethan realizes the dangers that his inaction has caused, with him deciding to chase down Jason Bateman's villainous Traveler and stop him. Ethan boards the plane that the Traveler is on, leading to Carry-On's shocking ending.

How Ethan Defeated Jason Bateman’s Villain

Only Ethan Was Able To Do It

A lot happens at the end of Carry-On, with several twists and reveals happening in rapid succession. Although Ethan is unaware of what is in the bag for most of the film, he eventually learns that it is a deadly nerve agent, with the Traveler's criminal organization wanting to unleash it on a plane. After the death of the Traveler's courier, the Traveler has to board the plane himself. Although the police are hot on his trail, Ethan realizes that the Traveler isn't boarding the plane that everyone thinks he is. Knowing that he has to operate in secret, Ethan boards the plane and enters the cargo hold.

While on the plane, Ethan attempts to deactivate the nerve agent, relying on knowledge he gained previously in the film. The Traveler then gets an alert on his phone, causing him to secretly enter the cargo hold to check things out. After discovering Ethan, the Traveler attempts to shoot him, thus alerting the pilots and making them return to LAX. As the plane is landing, Ethan reveals that he has actually taken the nerve agent out of the bag, with him throwing it into a fridge with the Traveler and holding the door closed as it kills the villain.

The Villains’ Plan & Target In Carry-On Explained

What Was Jason Bateman's Traveler Up To?

The villains' plan in Carry-On is pretty vague throughout most of the movie, with it only becoming completely clear by the end of the film. In the world of Carry-On, a politician has introduced a bill that is meant to protect democracies that are in danger. If the bill es, it will greatly benefit weapons manufacturers. However, it doesn't have the votes. Jason Bateman is a criminal who is only in it for profit, with an unknown organization who has connections to these companies hiring him to release a Russian nerve agent on a plane containing this politician.

Although this may seem counter-intuitive, the Traveler eventually explains why they want to kill the politician despite ing her bill. By killing her with a Russian nerve agent, the criminals believe that the United States will believe this was an attack put on by Russians due to them being potentially targeted by the bill. This will presumably stir up further for the bill, allowing it to get ed and enriching the weapons manufacturers. Although it requires killing one of their own, they believe that this is the best way to get the required votes.

Why Ethan Becomes A Cop At The End Of Carry-On

After Carry-On's Time Jump

Throughout Carry-On, it is established that Ethan Kopek wants to be a cop instead of a TSA agent. However, after being kicked out of the police academy, Ethan gave up on this dream. Ethan's wife Nora wants him to try again, but Ethan is fine being stuck in the TSA job that he doesn't enjoy. At the end of Carry-On, however, there is a time jump to a year in the future. It is revealed that, in the year since dealing with the Traveler, Ethan has become a cop, with his involvement in Carry-On's criminal case motivating him to give it another shot.

The Importance Of Ethan’s Failed Polygraph Test

It Sets Up Carry-On's Big Theme

At one point in Carry-On, Ethan reveals to the Traveler why he was kicked out of the police academy. Ethan explains that it is because he lied on a polygraph test, causing him to fail it. Ethan lied when he was asked if he had ever witnessed a crime that he didn't report, with this playing a major role in Carry-On's themes. Ethan's decision to take action and stop the Traveler's crimes allows him to redeem himself after his mysterious past incident, with stopping the Traveler being what Ethan needs to finally become a police officer.

The Real Meaning Of Carry-On’s Ending

It Has To Do With Ethan's Change

Carry-On leaves audiences with a lot to think about, but the main theme of the film is the importance of action versus inaction. Throughout the film, Ethan is set up as a character who is OK with being in stasis. Ethan doesn't want to ask for a promotion, doesn't want to work toward his goal of being a police officer, and doesn't really want to improve his life in any meaningful way. Ethan's wife Nora is dismayed by this, with her highlighting how much Ethan has changed by reminding him how persistent he was when he first asked her to go out with him.

The dilemma set up by the Traveler's plan challenges Ethan's sense of stasis. Either Ethan can do nothing, take no risk, and let everyone die, or he can attempt to do something greater that risks his personal status quo. Ethan not having any desire to move forward in his life is something that many viewers can relate to, and while these viewers typically don't have a criminal conspiracy involving a deadly nerve agent to snap them out of it, this story acts as a perfect way to fuel Ethan's character transformation.

Will There Be A Carry-On 2?

Nothing Has Been Announced Yet

There has been no word on a Carry-On 2 yet, but it is possible that one could happen in the future. While director Jaume Collet-Serra hasn't directed a sequel before, he has been behind several films that were meant to have sequels, such as Jungle Cruise and Black Adam. So, if Carry-On is a success for Netflix, it is possible that the streaming service would want to turn it into a franchise. A potential sequel could follow Ethan Kopek as a police officer, with him getting involved in another criminal conspiracy similar to the one seen in Carry-On.