One Missed Call ending explained: What happens at the end of One Missed Call (2008) on HBO Max?

The start of each month doesn’t only bring new content to streamers, but old favorites, too! At HBO Max, we have One Missed Call, a 2008 horror movie that may have scared us when we were young, but it’s a total cringe-fest now.

One Missed Call (2008) is now streaming on HBO Max, and if the title doesn’t ring a bell, the jingle in the movie sure will! The movie is a remake of the 2003 Japanese horror of the same name (directed by Takashi Miike), and follows Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) and her circle of friends who receive strange phone calls that are followed by hallucinations and, ultimately, death.

Beth partners up with detective Jack Andrews (Ed Burns) to get to the bottom of things before they are next to receive a call. One Missed Call also stars Ana Claudia Talacon, Ray Wise, and Azura Skye. The movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of terror, frightening images, sequences of violence, some sexual material, and thematic elements.

If you don’t remember the movie too well and need a quick recap of the One Missed Call ending, or you just want to skip to the spoilers, you’ve come to the right place!

One Missed Call ending explained

Well, for starters, this movie doesn’t make much sense. But here’s what we’ve put together! As Beth and Jack were able to figure out, Laurel’s abuser was never her mother Marie, but her sister, Ellie. All Laurel’s mother ever tried to do is protect Laurel. Marie also saved Beth, not once, but twice. So why did Jack’s phone start making another call? It’s possible Marie could feel Beth’s pain, as she was abused by her mother as a child, so she saved her, but isn’t able to step in for anyone else. Ellie’s dark and vengeful spirit will continue the chain of missed phone calls.

All in all, this is a miss in our book. From the cringe-performances to the predictable story, One Missed Call is a movie you want to hang up on. And, for once, I agree with critics in giving this movie a 0% Fresh Score.

Horror movies on HBO Max

Need a good horror? Don’t leave HBO Max, the streamer has plenty of great horror features. Some of our favorites include Barbarian, The Witch, The Cabin in the Woods, and many others.