Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Fantastic Mr Fox. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Mr. Fox outsmarts the three cruel farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who have dug up his home and surrounded the hill to starve him out. He tunnels underground into their storehouses, steals food for a feast with all the animals, and the book ends with the farmers still sitting outside the hole in the rain, waiting forever.
Quick facts
– Book: Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
– First published: 1970
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Triumphant and funny
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Mr. Fox steals chickens, ducks, geese and cider from the three nastiest farmers. They try to shoot him, losing only his tail, and then dig up the hill with shovels and mechanical diggers. Mr. Fox and his family are trapped underground, starving, along with other digging animals.
What Happens at the End of Fantastic Mr Fox
Starving, Mr. Fox has a brilliant idea: he and his four children dig tunnels beneath the farmers' land. They break into Boggis's Chicken House Number One, then Bunce's huge storehouse of ducks, geese and hams, collecting food as they go. On the way they meet Badger, who worries that stealing is wrong, but Mr. Fox points out that the farmers are trying to kill them all. In Bean's secret cider cellar, they nearly get caught by Mabel, Bean's maid. Mr. Fox throws a great feast for all the digging animals, and they decide to build an underground town where they can live safely forever, with Mr. Fox shopping at the farms each day. Up above, the three farmers sit by the hole in the pouring rain, still waiting for the fox to come out.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Mr. Fox outsmarts the farmers.
- The animals feast.
- They build an underground town.
- The farmers wait forever.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Mr. Fox | Triumphs |
| Mrs. Fox | Joins the feast |
| Badger | Joins the feast |
| Boggis, Bunce and Bean | Wait in the rain |
What the Ending Means
The ending celebrates cleverness and community.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers enjoy the humour and the satisfying revenge on three unpleasant farmers, though some adults question the story's cheerful view of stealing. Badger's worried question gives Dahl a chance to answer it.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Cleverness. Mr. Fox outsmarts the farmers.
Community. The animals work together.
Greed. The farmers' greed.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Fantastic Mr Fox as triumphant and funny. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Roald Dahl to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are triumphant and funny will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Roald Dahl closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2009 Wes Anderson film adds new characters and a different ending set in a supermarket.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Fantastic Mr Fox with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about cleverness, and do you agree with Roald Dahl's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as triumphant and funny, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces cleverness and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Roald Dahl leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Fantastic Mr Fox often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Fantastic Mr Fox earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Fantastic Mr Fox on Amazon
Books to Read After Fantastic Mr Fox
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Related: Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Fantastic Mr Fox You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Fantastic Mr Fox?
Mr. Fox outsmarts the three cruel farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who have dug up his home and surrounded the hill to starve him out. He tunnels underground into their storehouses, steals food for a feast with all the animals, and the book ends with the farmers still sitting outside the hole in the rain, waiting forever.
Is the ending of Fantastic Mr Fox happy or sad?
Most readers call it triumphant and funny.
What does the ending of Fantastic Mr Fox mean?
The ending celebrates cleverness and community.
Is the ending of Fantastic Mr Fox the same in the adaptation?
The 2009 Wes Anderson film adds new characters and a different ending set in a supermarket.
Who wrote Fantastic Mr Fox and when was it published?
Fantastic Mr Fox was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1970.
Is Fantastic Mr Fox worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Roald Dahl prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Fantastic Mr Fox before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.