Spoiler Warning
This article contains major spoilers for Life of Pi (2012).
So what actually happens at the end?
An editorial breakdown of the closing minutes of Life of Pi is in progress. Full beat-by-beat coverage will publish shortly; for now, the plot summary below covers the major narrative arcs through the climax.
Plot recap leading into the ending
Life of Pi is a Canadian philosophical novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist is Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry, who explores issues of spirituality and metaphysics from an early age. After a shipwreck, he survives 227 days while stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker and an orangutan named Orange Juice along with several other zoo animals, raising questions about the nature of reality and how it is perceived and told.
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What is Life of Pi about?
The story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper's son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck sets them adrift in the Pacific Ocean.
Where can I watch Life of Pi?
See the Where to Watch section below for the current streaming, rental, and purchase options in your region.