The Electric State Ending Explained: Does Michelle Reunite with Chris?

Based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel, The Electric State movie arrived on Netflix for global fandom to enjoy in March 2025. What is attracting viewers to the film is Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt’s involvement. The story basically revolves around Michelle Green, who lost her parents in a car accident and believed that she lost her beloved brother, Chris, too, in the tragedy. However, one night, she is approached by a robot with Chris’ consciousness, and after that, the girl embarks on a journey full of deadly challenges. So, if you are curious about the ending of The Electric State, Netflix’s latest sci-fi film release, we have got you covered.

Spoiler Warning:
This post includes spoilers for the new Netflix sci-fi film, The Electric State. So proceed with caution.

Does Michelle Get Her Brother Back in The Electric State?

Yes, Michelle and Chris reunited in The Electric State, but not as we wanted them to. When the Cosmo bot informs Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) about Chris, she first decides to find the doctor who lied to her about her brother. On the way, she comes across a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt) and his robot friend Herman (Anthony Mackie). Keats joins forces with Michelle, and together, they confront Dr. Amherst, who dies after revealing Chris’s whereabouts to them.

Before meeting his dark fate, the doctor also reveals that Skate has been using Chris’s genius brain to keep the drones of the Sentre functional. Apparently, Chris’ brain was powerful enough to establish a connection between a human brain and Sentre’s drones. So, Ethan decided to use the young boy’s brain (literally) to build up his massive empire. But Michelle can’t let go of her brother easily, of course, so she decides to infiltrate Sentre’s HQ to get her brother back.

While Keats, along with other robots, distracts the evil people of the Sentre, Michelle heads straight towards the chamber where Chris has been kept, thanks to Dr. Amherst’s PC. She gets emotional after watching Chris on the life support, so without delaying, she wears the neurocaster. Michelle gets to meet Chris in his physical state in the virtual world.

Chris tells her about his symbiotic relationship with the Sentre. When Michelle asks him to come with her, Chris states that he can’t leave like that. He also tells her that Michelle must put him to eternal sleep to stop the drones of the Sentre from playing with the lives of the humans.

Sentre can keep me alive like this for hundred years. I think… I think, I need to die – Chris to Michelle

Chris knew that Skate wouldn’t let his conscious travel out of the premises of the Sentre again, so this time, he asked Michelle to let him go forever. Chris says that Michelle is the one who can save people from addictive technology, so she must do the tough task for the sake of humanity.

Chris Sacrifices Himself for Good in The Electric State

For several years, humans used robots for their selfish desires until the latter started standing up for themselves. Sentre was initially built to eradicate the robots, but Skate’s hunger for power started affecting the lives of humans.

Humanity starts getting invaded by the dangerous technology that gave it a chance to escape the real-world tragedies temporarily. So, after getting acquainted with Skate’s motives, Chris asks his sister not to let him become one of the reasons for the massive destruction.

Everyone told me to move on, but I couldn’t. You were all I had – Michelle to Chris

After having the final meet up with Chris, Michelle returns to the real world and switches off the life support and bids goodbye to her brother with a heavy heart. Chris’ sacrifice shuts down the entire network of Sentre, and all the drones around the world come down crashing. However, it is not the end of the line for Chris’ consciousness. In the movie, we see him send his consciousness to the Cosmo robot. His body dies, but his consciousness survives.

The entire world is shocked to hear that Ethan is conducting experiments on humans, and some humans and robots collectively fight against this evil corporation. Ethan gets arrested for the crimes he committed against humanity and robots, and humanity starts wondering if they can live in harmony with the robots.

How Does the Movie’s Ending Differ from the Book’s

The Electric State novel’s ending is not exactly similar to that of the movie, but they are not that different as well. In the book, Chris takes off his neurocaster and comes back to the real world. His drone is also discarded, suggesting that the boy will let go of the virtual world for good.

However, the fact that Chris will be able to survive without the neurocaster is left to the reader’s imagination. Either he dies after not being able to face reality, or he escapes with his sister. Readers can go with one option, or they can give it the Schrödinger’s cat treatment — Chris is both alive and dead until the creator opens up that box and lets us know his clear fate.

In the movie, however, we see Chris successfully sending his consciousness to the Cosmo robot. So, in a sense, he lets go of the virtual world he was trapped in for three years and embraces reality. His body dies, but his consciousness survives. So, while the novel and the book keep the readers in the dark, the movie leaves us with a clear answer.