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In a near-future Los Angeles grappling with impending disaster, social unrest, and economic instability, a group of disparate individuals finds their lives intertwined. Over three days leading up to a major holiday, Boxer Santaros, Krysta Now, and Roland Taverner confront amnesia, the pervasive influence of reality television, and complex conspiracies. As the city hurtles towards chaos, revelations emerge that have the potential to drastically alter their understanding of reality and the future.

In a near-future Los Angeles grappling with impending disaster, social unrest, and economic instability, a group of disparate individuals finds their lives intertwined. Over three days leading up to a major holiday, Boxer Santaros, Krysta Now, and Roland Taverner confront amnesia, the pervasive influence of reality television, and complex conspiracies. As the city hurtles towards chaos, revelations emerge that have the potential to drastically alter their understanding of reality and the future.

Does Southland Tales have end credit scenes?

No!

Southland Tales does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Southland Tales

Explore the complete cast of Southland Tales, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


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Ratings and Reviews for Southland Tales

See how Southland Tales is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Southland Tales stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

44

Metascore

6.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

TMDB

51

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Southland Tales Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Southland Tales with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Southland Tales Quiz: Test your knowledge on the intricacies of the dystopian narrative in 'Southland Tales'.

What event triggered the chaos in the United States in 'Southland Tales'?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Southland Tales

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Read the complete plot summary of Southland Tales, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


On July 4, 2005, a catastrophic event unfolds in a fictionalized alternate history of the United States, where two Texas towns, El Paso and Abilene, face destruction from twin nuclear attacks. This disaster leads to the deaths of thousands and triggers a state of sheer chaos, engulfing the nation in hysteria as it spirals into a Third World War—a grim reflection of what the United States might have become under the pressure of the War on Terror. In this maelstrom, the government resorts to reintroducing the draft, eliciting fear and confusion among its citizens.

Amidst this turmoil, the PATRIOT Act has granted extensive authority to a new surveillance agency known as US-IDent. This agency operates under the pretense of security, monitoring citizens incessantly. The extent of its measures includes the censorship of the Internet and the need for fingerprints merely to access computers and bank accounts, marking a significant erosion of personal freedoms.

Responding to the dire fuel shortages arising from the ongoing global warfare, the German company Treer has developed an innovative generator called Fluid Karma. This device, designed to harness the inexhaustible energy of perpetual ocean currents, promises a solution to the energy crisis. However, lurking beneath the surface is a troubling secret: its inventor, Baron von Westphalen, and his team conceal the fact that this technology disrupts ocean currents and slows down the rotation of Earth itself. Furthermore, the process of transmitting Fluid Karma to portable receivers via quantum entanglement is leading to catastrophic rifts in the very fabric of space and time, placing the world precariously at risk.

Fast forward to the near-future year of 2008, Los Angeles, or as the locals refer to it, “The Southland,” emerges as a dystopian city teetering on the brink of collapse. In this world overshadowed by the rise of a powerful underground neo-Marxist organization, the narrative weaves through the complex fates of key characters. Central to this tale is Boxer Santaros, an action film star burdened by amnesia, and Krysta Now, a psychic former porn star who is in the throes of producing a reality TV show. Their lives intersect with those of twin brothers Roland and Ronald Taverner, whose identities become intricately woven into a larger destiny that impacts all of humanity.

As the story unfolds, the Taverner twins reveal a shocking truth: they are, in fact, the same person, a result of Roland’s journey through a rift in space-time initiated by the very technology from Treer. Meanwhile, Boxer finds himself thrust into the spotlight as the most wanted man on the planet. Despite his connections to political circles, he holds in his grasp the future itself—encapsulated in a prophetic screenplay that ominously foretells the end of the world as they know it. The intertwining stories of these characters paint a vivid picture of desperation, hope, and the unyielding quest for truth in a world on the brink of apocalypse.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Southland Tales

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Southland Tales. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Original Trailer

Cars Featured in Southland Tales

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Explore all cars featured in Southland Tales, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Acura

1994

Integra

AM

General HMMWV M998

BMW

3 E46

Chevrolet

Step-Van

Chevrolet

1994

Suburban

Chrysler

2005

300

Dodge

2006

Charger

Dodge

2006

Magnum

Ford

1995

Econoline

Ford

2005

Mustang

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


doppelgangersatire comedydark comedyamnesiaconspiracyyear 2005chaospolice officerdystopiapoliticsnuclear attackuniverse collapsing on itselfdystopian futureend of the universetime travelerspiritualitychristianitychrist allegoryforgivenessdestinyprophetexperimental filmperpetual motioncorruptionalternate historypolice brutalitymanipulationmegalomaniacambiguous endinganarchynuclear wartime shifttime paradoxneo noircyberpunkmegacorporationanti herofighting the systemsocial commentarylynchianfourth dimensionneo marxistmemoryenvironmental issueprophecyreference to karl marxend of the worldcult filmsurrealismabsurdism

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