Fullmetal Alchemist 2017

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

Box Office

$8.1M

Runtime

135 mins

Language

Japanese

Directed by

Fumihiko Sori

Made by

Square Enix

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Fullmetal Alchemist Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Fullmetal Alchemist (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In the country of Amestris, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric live with their mother Trisha in a quiet rural town while they teach themselves the arcane art of alchemy. When the brothers attempt a forbidden ritual—Human Transmutation—to resurrect Trisha after she dies of illness, the act backfires in brutal fashion. The tragedy leaves Edward missing a left leg, and Alphonse’s soul ripped from his body, fused to a suit of armor at the Gate of Truth. To save his brother, Edward sacrifices his right arm and binds his soul to the armor, a drastic move that marks the beginning of a long, arduous journey. Their automail prosthetics are crafted by the town’s skilled mechanic, and the brothers’ childhood friend, Winry Rockbell, soon becomes a key ally in their quest to fight back and heal.

Edward receives an invitation from Colonel Roy Mustang to join the military, a path that makes him the country’s youngest State Alchemist with the title “Fullmetal Alchemist.” This new status thrusts the brothers into a bitter, sprawling search for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary prize believed to restore their bodies and fully undo the horror they endured. As they push forward, they cross paths with powerful figures who test their resolve and their ethics, including the enigmatic Major General Hakuro, who offers guidance and reveals the deeper costs behind alchemy’s promises. He introduces them to Shou Tucker, a controversial bio-alchemy expert who earned his State Alchemist credentials by creating a talking chimera, and Tucker points them toward Dr. Tim Marcoh, a former Stone laureate who has gone into hiding.

When Edward and Winry locate Marcoh, they are shocked to discover that he has been murdered by Lust. Returning to the Tucker residence, they uncover a grimmer truth: Tucker has transmuted his own young daughter Nina and his dog into a sentient chimera in a desperate bid to retain his status. They arrest Tucker, but he tries to turn Alphonse against Edward, triggering a painful confrontation between the brothers as they realize how thin the line is between science and monstrosity. [Maes Hughes], Mustang’s close ally, makes a troubling discovery from Marcoh’s notes, but is killed by Envy, an associate of Lust who has her own hidden agenda.

Using Marcoh’s notes, Edward is led to the clandestine Fifth Laboratory, where the now-insane Tucker holds Alphonse and Winry hostage. A mounting crisis hits when Edward learns that Philosopher’s Stones are ethically created from human lives, a revelation that shatters his faith in the very method he had pursued. Lust’s manipulation is unveiled as Tucker’s secrets unravel, and the military’s corrupt underpinnings come into sharper view as Hakuro’s true loyalties surface, revealing a larger conspiracy behind the alchemical riches. Hakuro attempts to unleash a hidden army of Mannequin Soldier Homunculi powered by stones, but is ultimately slain in the aftermath of the explosive confrontation.

In the end, Mustang defeats Lust and tears out the Philosopher’s Stone powering her body, but he refuses to hand the stone to Edward, and the brothers decline the offer to restore Alphonse by human means. Instead, Edward uses the stone to appear before Alphonse’s corporeal form at the Gate of Truth and pledges to seek another way to save his brother—one that does not rely on the unethical power of human-alchemy. The story closes on a cautiously hopeful note, even as a mid-credits scene reveals Envy surviving Mustang’s assault and slipping away in its true parasitic form, hinting at further danger to come.

Fullmetal Alchemist Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

The Forbidden Transmutation

In a rural town in Amestris, Edward and Alphonse attempt to resurrect their mother Trisha through human transmutation. The ritual backfires catastrophically: Edward loses his left leg, and Alphonse's soul is dragged into the Gate of Truth as his body is destroyed. To save his brother's soul, Edward sacrifices his remaining right arm and binds Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor.

Immediately after Trisha's death Rural town, Amestris

Automail Arrives

With their bodies badly damaged, Edward and Alphonse receive automail prosthetics to replace their missing limbs. The town's automail mechanic forges their new limbs, and his granddaughter Winry Rockbell becomes a trusted ally and friend. The automail enables them to continue their dangerous pursuit of alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone.

Soon after the transmutation Automail workshop

State Alchemist Invitation

Edward is invited by Colonel Roy Mustang to join the military and soon becomes the youngest State Alchemist, earning the title Fullmetal Alchemist. The appointment grants him influence and access to powerful, questionable resources. Alphonse supports his brother from the shadows as they pursue a way to restore their bodies.

Soon after automail installation Amestris military headquarters

Quest for the Philosopher's Stone

Years after becoming State Alchemists, the brothers embark on a long quest to obtain the legendary Philosopher's Stone, hoping it can restore their bodies. Their pursuit takes them across Amestris to dangerous laboratories and secretive factions, drawing new allies and deadly enemies. They cling to the belief that the Stone can bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange.

Years after becoming State Alchemists Across Amestris; various laboratories

Hakuro's Grim Reality

Major General Hakuro helps the brothers after another failed attempt to obtain the Stone. He introduces them to a harsher reality about state alchemy and the people who profit from it. Hakuro's presence expands their understanding of systemic corruption within the military.

Years later Military research circles

Tucker the Chimera Alchemist

Hakuro directs them to Shou Tucker, a bioscience alchemist who earned his State Alchemist credential by creating a talking chimera. Tucker's experiments push ethics to the breaking point, showing how far some alchemists will go for power. The brothers realize the stone's power may come at an unbearable price.

Shortly after meeting Hakuro Tucker's laboratory

Marcoh the Philosopher's Stone

Hakuro points them to Dr. Tim Marcoh, who once crafted a Philosopher's Stone and then went into hiding. Edward and Alphonse search for Marcoh, hoping his knowledge can guide them toward a cure. Marcoh's notes hint at the Stone's true moral cost.

During their search Marcoh's hiding place

Lust Strikes

Edward and Winry locate Marcoh, only to discover that Lust has murdered him. The loss hardens their resolve to uncover the truth behind the Stones and the military's complicity. The team mourns Marcoh while continuing their mission.

After locating Marcoh Marcoh's location

Tucker's Chimera and Arrest

Back at Tucker's home, Edward and Winry confront Tucker as he has transmuted his young daughter Nina and his dog into a talking chimera, hoping to preserve his State Alchemist credentials. They arrest him, but he tries to turn Alphonse against Edward, triggering a tense confrontation between the brothers. The ethical line is crossed, and the brothers confront the consequences of their choices.

After discovering Marcoh's murder Tucker's home

Hughes's Discovery and Death

Maes Hughes uncovers crucial notes from Marcoh revealing dangerous truths about Philosopher's Stones. He is killed by Lust's associate Envy, cutting a key source of support for Edward. The discovery deepens the conspiracy surrounding the military and the stones.

Soon after Marcoh's notes are discovered Military compound

Fifth Laboratory

Using Marcoh's notes, Edward winds his way to the clandestine Fifth Laboratory where Tucker holds Alphonse and Winry hostage. A dangerous standoff ensues as Edward fights to rescue his brother and friend. He begins to confront the grim reality of human experimentation and the cost of their pursuit.

During the pursuit Fifth Laboratory

The Cost of Stones

Edward learns that Philosopher's Stones are created from human lives, a revelation that shatters his faith in the Stone's ethics. He breaks down under the weight of the truth and confronts the scope of his and his brother's actions. The moral price of their quest becomes impossible to ignore.

Revelation moment Fifth Laboratory

Lust, Hakuro, and the Army

Lust kills Tucker, exposing herself as a homunculus. Hakuro's duplicity is revealed as he orchestrated the Stones' use and activates a Mannequin Soldier army powered by the Stones; the mastermind is killed by the very force he unleashed. Mustang kills Lust and tears out the Philosopher's Stone powering her body, signaling a collapse of the conspiracy.

Climax Battlefront vicinity

A New Path to Restoration

Mustang tears out Lust's Stone and offers Edward the power to restore Alphonse, but the brothers refuse to rely on human lives for power. Edward instead uses the Stone to reach the Gate of Truth and appears beside his brother's corporeal body, vowing to seek another way to restore him. This marks a turning point in their quest.

Final moment Gate of Truth

Envy's Escape

In a mid-credits scene, Envy is revealed to have survived Mustang's attack, escaping its parasitic form from the charred remains of its host. The threat lingers as the credits roll.

Mid-credits Mid-credits scene

Fullmetal Alchemist Characters

Explore all characters from Fullmetal Alchemist (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Edward Elric (Ryōsuke Yamada)

Edward is a teenage State Alchemist known as Fullmetal Alchemist. After a failed Human Transmutation to resurrect his mother, he sacrifices his right arm to bind his brother's soul to a suit of armor and adopts automail prosthetics. He joins the military on an invitation from Roy Mustang and relentlessly searches for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies, grappling with the moral costs of that power.

⚡️ Prodigy

Alphonse Elric (An Altum Not Provided)

Alphonse's soul is bound to a suit of armor after the failed transmutation. He travels with Edward as they pursue a way to recover their bodies, maintaining a protective, compassionate demeanor despite his imposing form. His journey with Edward highlights loyalty and the costs of their quest.

🛡️ Loyal Partner

Winry Rockbell (Tsubasa Honda)

Winry is the brothers' childhood friend and the granddaughter of the town's automail mechanic. She provides crucial prosthetic support for Edward and embodies the human cost and personal stakes behind alchemy and invention. Her presence anchors the brothers' humanity amid their arduous journey.

🛠️ Mechanic

Roy Mustang (Dean Fujioka)

Colonel Roy Mustang recruits Edward to join the military and becomes a central figure in their pursuit of power and truth. He is strategic, capable of both sharp authority and emotional resolve as he confronts the state's ethical lapses. Mustang embodies the tension between ambition and moral responsibility.

🔥 Flame Alchemist

Maes Hughes (Ryuta Sato)

Maes Hughes is a close ally and loyal friend to Mustang, with a sharp investigative mind who uncovers crucial information from Marcoh's notes. His optimism and dedication highlight the personal costs of digging for truth in a dangerous system. He is ultimately killed, marking a stark turn in the story.

🕊️ Loyal Ally

Lust (Yasuko Matsuyuki)

Lust is a ruthless homunculus assassin who manipulates events from the shadows and is ultimately exposed as part of the state-facilitated power structure. She murders Dr. Marcoh and wields significant influence until her eventual demise at Mustang's hands.

💀 Villain

Shou Tucker (Yo Oizumi)

Shou Tucker is the bio-alchemy authority whose State Alchemist credentials come from a grim transmutation that creates a talking chimera. His reckless experiments culminate in a horrific betrayal, leading to his arrest after the incident.

🔬 Scientist

Tim Marcoh (Jun Kunimura)

Dr. Tim Marcoh is the creator of a Philosopher's Stone and the source of notes that guide Edward's search. He is murdered by Lust, and his writings reveal the dark origins and ethical implications of Philosopher's Stones.

🧬 Scientist

Envy (Kanata Hongo)

Envy is the true parasitic form behind Lust, a cunning homunculus who manipulates events from the shadows. Their fate becomes entangled with the military's use of stone-powered soldiers, and the character reappears beyond a pivotal confrontation.

👁️ Trickster

Gluttony (Shinji Uchiyama)

Gluttony is one of the homunculi encountered by Edward and Alphonse, representing another facet of the hidden force driving the conflict. The character joins the chain of manipulations that the Elrics must navigate.

🍖 Predator

Cornello (Kenjirou Ishimaru)

Cornello is a schemer who uses popular belief and manipulation to influence events around alchemy in Amestris. His presence foreshadows the broader manipulation and loss of trust that permeates the early parts of the story.

🗝️ Schemer

Hakuro (Fumiyo Kohinata)

Major General Hakuro appears as a source of guidance for the Elrics after a failed attempt and helps reveal the military's hidden costs. His role ties the brothers' personal quest to the larger machinations of the state.

🧭 Ally

Gracia Hughes (Natsuki Harada)

Gracia Hughes is Maes Hughes's wife, adding emotional stakes and emphasizing the human cost of the investigation and the missions surrounding the State Alchemists.

💖 Spouse

Fullmetal Alchemist Settings

Learn where and when Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The story unfolds across several years, following the brothers from their early lessons in alchemy to their teenage years as they search for a way to restore their bodies. It centers on the consequences of their choices over time, rather than a single moment in history. The events highlight a world where power and discovery progressively escalate the stakes.

Location

Amestris

The Elric brothers live in a rural town within the country of Amestris, a world where alchemy intersects with daily life and state power. The setting contrasts small-town life with a pervasive military influence over science and society. These conditions frame the ethical and personal costs of pursuing forbidden knowledge.

🗺️ Fictional World ⚔️ Military State

Fullmetal Alchemist Themes

Discover the main themes in Fullmetal Alchemist (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⚖️

Ethics

Human Transmutation is a forbidden act with catastrophic consequences. The pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone is framed as a shortcut that relies on unethical means and sacrifices. The narrative tests whether the ends justify the means, forcing characters to confront the moral costs of their quest. The revelation that stones are powered by human lives deepens the moral stakes and questions the price of knowledge.

🏛️

Power

The military uses alchemy to pursue its ambitions, including the creation of Philosopher's Stones. The clandestine activities of the Fifth Laboratory and the deployment of Mannequin Soldier homunculi reveal how power can be built on deception and human cost. Mustangs and others seek truth and accountability in a system that hides its true ethical price. The existence of homunculi exposes the corrupt underpinnings of state power.

❤️

Family

Family bonds motivate the brothers' actions, from their mother's death to their devotion to each other. Edward's protection of Alphonse's soul and their insistence on finding a real restoration underscore a core familial duty. Winry, as their childhood friend and automail mechanic, ties personal ties to the larger conflict, reminding them of what they fight to safeguard. The story treats family as the emotional center that sustains risk, sacrifice, and moral choice.

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Fullmetal Alchemist Ending Explained

Unravel the ending of Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) with our detailed explanation. Understand the final scenes, character fates, and unresolved questions.

The climax of Fullmetal Alchemist delivers a powerful resolution to the Elric brothers’ journey, anchored in the thematic contrast between selfish ambition and selfless sacrifice. As the battle against Father reaches its final stage, the villain attempts one last desperate move by stealing a Philosopher’s Stone from Greed. However, Greed betrays him from within, weakening Father’s body at the cost of his own existence. With Father finally defeated and dragged before Truth to face judgment, Edward is left with the devastating reality of his brother’s sacrifice—Alphonse gave up his soul to restore Edward’s arm during the fight.

In a defining moment of character growth, Edward makes the ultimate choice: he offers his own Gate of Truth to bring Alphonse back. This means surrendering his ability to use alchemy forever, a profound sacrifice from a prodigy who built his identity around the craft. This act encapsulates the story’s core message—true strength comes not from power, but from connection. While Father tried to hoard power for himself, Edward learned that relying on others makes him stronger, a realization that Truth accepts with satisfaction.

The aftermath provides closure for everyone. Roy Mustang regains his sight through Dr. Marcoh’s Philosopher’s Stone and commits to rebuilding Ishval as atonement, while Scar joins the restoration effort. Hohenheim passes away peacefully at his wife’s grave, finally content. The epilogue shows life moving forward—Alphonse travels to Xing to study Alkahestry, and Edward and Winry confess their love, eventually marrying and starting a family. The journey ends not with alchemical might, but with something far more human: the understanding that love and sacrifice are the true equivalents of exchange.

Fullmetal Alchemist Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Fullmetal Alchemist (2017). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the industrious nation of Amestris, alchemy is both a scientific art and a forbidden craft, governed by the immutable Law of Equivalent Exchange. The world hums with steam‑driven machinery, towering factories, and a military that weaves the power of transmutation into its very strategy. Against this backdrop, the story unfolds with a blend of epic adventure and quiet introspection, inviting viewers to wonder what price is worth paying for a second chance.

The brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric are bound by more than blood; their shared love of alchemy and the memory of a gentle mother drive them toward the impossible. After a desperate experiment goes awry, they are left with a stark reminder of the law they once studied—loss and sacrifice. Edward walks with a mechanical arm and leg, a marvel of “automail” engineering crafted by the town’s skilled mechanic, while Alphonse carries his soul within a suit of armor, a living reminder of their pact. Their childhood friend, Winry, a bright and resourceful automail technician, adds both warmth and technical brilliance, grounding the brothers’ lofty ambitions in heartfelt camaraderie.

When Roy Mustang extends an invitation to join the nation’s military, Edward embraces the title of the youngest State Alchemist, taking on the moniker “Fullmetal Alchemist.” Together with Alphonse and the steadfast support of Winry, they set out on a quest for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—a fabled catalyst said to restore what they have lost. The journey promises dazzling displays of alchemical prowess, moral puzzles, and the tension between personal desire and the broader consequences of wielding such power. As the trio ventures deeper into a world where science and mysticism intertwine, the audience is invited to share in their hope, curiosity, and the lingering question: how far will one go to reclaim what was taken?