The Emotional Reality of the Five Feet Apart Ending and Whether Will Survives
The 2019 film Five Feet Apart, directed by Justin Baldoni, concludes with a sequence that balances devastating loss with a hard-won sense of individual survival. Central to the story are Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), two teenagers living with cystic fibrosis (CF) who fall in love despite a mandatory six-foot distance required to prevent cross-infection. The ending of the film focuses on the resolution of Will's unsuccessful clinical trial, Stella’s long-awaited lung transplant, and the ultimate decision to separate for the sake of survival.
The Climactic Decision: Life Over Proximity
The conclusion of Five Feet Apart is set in motion by a series of high-stakes events at the hospital. After the tragic death of their friend Poe, Stella experiences a shift in perspective. She decides that her life has been defined by restrictions and hospital walls, leading her to convince Will to leave the hospital grounds to see the city lights. This act of rebellion results in a life-threatening accident when Stella falls through the ice of a frozen pond.
Will’s decision to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Stella after pulling her from the water is the pivotal moral crux of the film. For a patient with CF, particularly one like Will who carries B. cepacia, this contact is a death sentence for the other. Will chooses to risk infecting Stella’s current lungs to save her life in that immediate moment. This action highlights the film's theme: the desperate need for human touch and the inherent danger it poses to those with compromised immune systems.
The Lung Transplant and the Final Goodbye
Upon returning to the hospital, Stella is informed that a pair of lungs has become available. Initially, she hesitates, feeling the weight of survivor's guilt and the realization that new lungs only offer a temporary extension of life—typically five to ten years. Will, however, insists that she take the chance. He realizes that as long as he is in her life, he is a constant threat to her new immune system.
The final goodbye is a meticulously staged scene of distance. Will sets up a display of lights outside Stella’s recovery room window, fulfilling her wish to see the lights. Through the glass, he speaks to her via a monitor, confessing his love but explaining that his clinical trial has failed. He acknowledges that he cannot stay. He asks Stella to close her eyes, stating that he cannot leave if she is looking at him. As she closes her eyes, Will walks away into the night, leaving behind a sketchbook filled with drawings of her—a visual testament to the time they spent "five feet apart."
The Science Behind the Separation: B. Cepacia
In Five Feet Apart, the primary medical obstacle is Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia). This is a group of bacteria found in the environment that is generally harmless to healthy individuals but highly dangerous for those with cystic fibrosis. It is often resistant to common antibiotics. If a CF patient with B. cepacia passes it to another CF patient, it can lead to a rapid decline in lung function and typically disqualifies the recipient from receiving a lung transplant. This clinical reality is why Will and Stella’s "five feet" (stealing one foot back from the recommended six) was such a radical and dangerous choice.
The Time Jump and the Ambiguous Final Scene
The film concludes with a significant time jump, appearing approximately eight months after the events at the hospital. Stella is shown in a new YouTube video, a callback to her vlogs at the start of the film. She looks healthier, her breathing is easier, and she speaks with a newfound appreciation for the ability to touch those we love. She emphasizes that we need touch as much as we need air.
In the theatrical cut, the film ends on this contemplative note, suggesting that Stella has honored Will’s sacrifice by living her life to the fullest. However, there has been much discussion regarding an alternate ending and the version presented in the novelization. In the alternate ending, Stella is at an airport with her friends when she sees Will across the terminal. They lock eyes, maintaining their distance, and share a knowing smile. This suggests that while they cannot be together in a traditional sense, they both survived the immediate aftermath of their hospital stay and continue to exist in each other's peripheries.
Does Will Die? Analyzing the Fate of Will Newman
One of the most frequent questions from viewers is whether Will Newman survives after walking away from the hospital. The film purposefully leaves this unanswered to maintain the emotional weight of his departure. However, several factors provide clues:
- The Failed Trial: Will explicitly mentions that his drug trial for B. cepacia did not work. This implies that his long-term prognosis remains grim.
- The Director's Intent: Justin Baldoni has stated in interviews that the ending was intended to be about the sacrifice of love rather than the finality of death. By leaving Will’s fate open, the audience is forced to focus on the impact he had on Stella's will to live.
- The Actor's Perspective: Cole Sprouse has mentioned that the ending is open to interpretation, noting that while the odds are against Will, the film is a celebration of the life he chose to live in his final months.
Comparing the Film and the Novelization
The book Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott was developed alongside the screenplay by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. While they share the same DNA, the book offers a slightly more concrete conclusion. In the novel's final pages, Will is at an airport months later, waiting for a flight to Rio with his friend. He sees Stella there, heading to Rome. They stand six feet apart, then five, and the book ends with them looking at each other. This version leans more heavily toward the idea that Will survived his immediate illness and that both characters are fulfilling their dreams of traveling the world.
The Legacy of Claire Wineland
The emotional depth of the ending is deeply rooted in the influence of Claire Wineland, a real-life CF activist and YouTuber who served as a consultant for the film. Claire’s philosophy was not about "beating" the disease but about living a life that one can be proud of while having the disease. She passed away following complications from a lung transplant in 2018, shortly before the film was released. The film’s ending, which prioritizes Stella’s quality of life and Will’s selfless love over a traditional "happily ever after," is a tribute to Claire’s advocacy for the dignity and agency of terminally ill patients.
The Symbolic Meaning of the "Stolen Foot"
The title refers to the characters' decision to shorten the medically mandated six-foot distance to five feet. This "stolen foot" is a powerful metaphor for reclaiming control in a life dictated by medical protocols. By the end of the movie, the distance becomes irrelevant in spirit but absolute in physical reality. Will gives back the foot—and many more—to ensure Stella can breathe. The ending suggests that true intimacy is not always about physical contact, but about the distance one is willing to travel (or maintain) to protect another.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ending
Why did Will have to leave Stella at the end?
Will had to leave because his presence was a direct threat to Stella’s new lungs. His B. cepacia infection could be fatal to her. After she received her transplant, his love for her was best expressed by staying away so she could have the longest life possible.
Is the ending of Five Feet Apart based on a true story?
While the characters Stella and Will are fictional, the film was heavily inspired by Claire Wineland and the real-world experiences of the cystic fibrosis community. The medical "six-foot rule" is a real guideline established by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
What was in the sketchbook Will gave Stella?
The sketchbook contained drawings Will had made of Stella throughout their time together. It included a detailed "cartoon" version of her life and the people she loved, serving as a reminder that he saw her as more than just a patient.
Did Stella’s transplant cure her?
No. A lung transplant is not a cure for cystic fibrosis. CF is a genetic disease that affects the entire body, including the digestive system. A transplant replaces the damaged lungs, but the new lungs can eventually face rejection or other complications. It is a way to extend life, not a permanent cure.
Where can I see the alternate ending?
The alternate ending, which features the airport encounter, was released on certain digital platforms and social media as a "deleted scene" or "alternative cut." It provides a more hopeful, albeit still distant, resolution for the pair.