‘The Instigators’ Ending Explained: Why Are Matt Damon and Casey Affleck Freed From Jail?

The Instigators on Apple TV+ is a new Matt Damon and Casey Affleck movie that quietly released on streaming today.

Despite the star-studded cast—which, in addition to Damon and Affleck, also includes Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, and Ron Perlman—there’s been very little hype for this new action heist comedy. Perhaps Apple knew it couldn’t possibly compete with the box office juggernaut that is the new Borderlands film. (That was a joke.)

Directed by Doug Liman, and written by Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, The Instigators stars Damon and Affleck as the only survivors of a heist gone wrong. And it takes place in Boston, of course! The movie comes to Apple TV+ today after a week-long run in theaters. Though the marketing campaign was all but nonexistent, Apple TV+ subscribers will no doubt be curious about this new Matt Damon movie. But if you’re not paying attention to the end of The Instigators, you might find yourself confused. Not to worry, because Decider is here to help. Read on for an analysis of The Instigators plot summary and The Instigators ending explained.

Warning: Spoilers for The Instigators ahead. Duh!

The Instigators plot summary:

We meet Rory (Matt Damon), in the office of his therapist, Dr. Rivera (Hong Chau). Rory calmly tells Dr. Rivera that he has messed up his life with his ex-wife and his son, and that it can’t be fixed. He said that a year ago, he made a plan to wait a year, see if he felt better, and if not he was going to “cash in his ticket.” Though it’s not spoken out loud, the implication is that Rory plans to take his own life.

We meet Cobby (Casey Affleck) using a child to bypass the breathalyzer test he needs to take to unlock his motorbike, in order to drive to his favorite bar so he can drink even more. While at the bar, Cobby gets a call from an old buddy, Scalvo (Jack Harlow), who needs his help. Scalvo is in trouble with a mafia boss named Mr. Besegai (Michael Stuhlbarg), and he needs a few guys to do a robbery job to make amends. Scalvo promises Cobby a big payout.

When Cobby shows up for the job, Rory is also there. Apparently, Rory knows Scalvo, too—but he only agrees to take the job if he can get a very specific $32,480 payout. Mr. Besegai explains the job: The corrupt, fictional Boston Mayor Miccelli (Ron Perlman) is about to win re-election. He is expected to take a lot of under-the-table cash donations on election night. Rory, Cobby, and Scalvo’s job is to rob that event and steal from the mayor.

Almost immediately, the job goes wrong. They don’t get the cash. In desperation, Scalvo robs the mayor and his pals at gunpoint, taking the cash in their wallet and a bracelet that the mayor is very reluctant to give up. Then Scalvo gets shot and killed. Rory and Cobby grab the cash and bracelet, and manage to flee the scene together.

For the rest of the movie, Rory and Cobby are on the run together. Rory gets Dr. Rivera involved, because he needs someone to tend to Cobby’s gun wound. Rory tells Dr. Rivera that he will turn himself in as soon as he gets his $32,480, which we learn is the amount of money needed to pay off his debt for his son’s child support, mortgage, school fees, and more. He tells Cobby he can’t face his son until his debts are paid.

Meanwhile, Mayor Miccelli really, really wants his bracelet back. As it turns out, he lost the election and his successor, Mayor Choi, is waiting to move into his office. Mayor Miccelli can’t get into his safe without the combination on his bracelet, and if he can’t get into his safe, he can’t destroy the evidence of all of his corruption and embezzlement. Miccelli sends Officer Toomey (Ving Rhames) after the thieves to return his bracelet.

After a confrontation with Toomey, Cobby realizes that the numbers on the bracelet must be the combination to the mayor’s safe. Cobby and Rory decide to plan another heist to rob the mayor—successfully, this time. Rory and Cobby disguise themselves as firefighters, call in a fire, and manage to successfully sneak into the mayor’s office. Unfortunately, the mayor’s assistant Alan (Toby Jones) is also there. They claim him as their hostage. Using the combination, the guys open the safe and discover a lot of money.

The Instigators ending explained:

Toby Jones, eager to not be implicated in any corruption charges, also gives them hard drives containing oodles of evidence of the many years of stealing. Dr. Rivera acts as the “hostage negotiator,” but rather than turn the guys in, she offers to get the money to Rory’s son, and give them a head start to get away from the cops. She also gets Rory to admit he does not want to kill himself. Yay!

Rory and Cobby flee the scene, but Detective Toomey catches them. Cobby offers Toomey the hard drives of evidence in exchange for their freedom. But in the next scene, Rory and Cobby are in jail. We assume they are now going to serve time for the many, many crimes committed. But not so fast! Suddenly, they are let free. Why? Well, there is a scene that explains it, but it happens quickly, so you have to pay attention.

Why do Matt Damon and Casey Affleck go free in The Instigators?

In a scene with the new Mayor Choi, a lawyer presents Choi with the hard drives of evidence with the previous mayor’s corruption. The suit explains to Choi that there is a lot of unaccounted stolen money that will go back to the city, thanks to this evidence. Either that or… Choi could take the money for himself. But in order for Choi to take the money for himself, those hard drives can’t be seen a by a court of law. If Choi prosecutes Rory and Cobby, then their lawyer will enter the hard drives into evidence. Ergo, if Choi lets Rory and Cobby go, he can keep the money for himself.

It’s a little complicated, and might not be how the law actually works. (Don’t ask me, I’m a blogger, not a lawyer, Jim!) But that’s the reason that Rory and Cobby ultimately walk free. Choi, despite his campaign, is just another corrupt Boston mayor.

In the final scene of the movie, Rory goes to his son’s hockey practice, and Cobby pay a visit to Dr. Rivera, presumably so he can actually get some much-needed therapy. And with that, the movie ends. I can’t believe no one said “wicked!”