Suicide Squad (2016) Explained in Detail: Complete Summary, Ending, and More

Suicide Squad (2016), directed by David Ayer, is a gritty and chaotic entry into the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). With a cast of anti-heroes, a dark visual tone, and a soundtrack full of bangers, the film promised a fresh, edgy take on superhero team-ups. While reception was mixed, the movie gained attention for its characters, particularly Harley Quinn, and its stylish presentation.

Detailed Summary

The Setup: Amanda Waller’s Crazy Idea

After Superman’s death in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, government official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) proposes forming Task Force X—a black ops unit made up of dangerous criminals with unique abilities. These “expendable” assets are coerced into service by the threat of explosive devices implanted in their necks.

The team includes:

• Deadshot (Will Smith): elite assassin with a soft spot for his daughter
• Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie): former psychiatrist turned Joker’s deranged girlfriend
• Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney): an Aussie thief with a mean right hook and a thing for pink unicorns
• Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje): reptilian brute with a sewer-dweller attitude
• El Diablo (Jay Hernandez): a pyrokinetic gang member haunted by his past
• Slipknot (Adam Beach): a guy who climbs ropes (and gets zero character development)
• Enchantress (Cara Delevingne): an ancient sorceress who possesses archaeologist June Moone

Waller demonstrates control over Enchantress by stabbing her heart (literally), but things go sideways fast.

Enchantress Goes Rogue

Enchantress escapes Waller’s control and awakens her brother, Incubus, to help her build a machine that will wipe out humanity. They occupy Midway City, where Enchantress begins summoning an army of zombie-like creatures.

Now, the Suicide Squad is activated and deployed into this war zone—although they’re not told the real mission at first.

The Real Mission: Rescue and Revelations

The team fights through hordes of creatures and is eventually told their mission is to rescue a “high-value target.” Surprise—it’s Amanda Waller herself, trapped in a secret office within Midway City. This moment reveals Waller’s ruthlessness when she casually kills her own staff to protect classified information.

The squad begins to bond, particularly through El Diablo’s tragic backstory—he accidentally killed his family in a rage and has sworn off violence. Harley’s psychotic charm continues to shine, and Deadshot takes on a reluctant leadership role.

Joker’s Interference

Meanwhile, the Joker (Jared Leto) is trying to rescue Harley Quinn. He hijacks a military chopper, hacks into the squad’s neck bomb system, and almost gets her out—until the chopper is shot down. Harley thinks he dies (he doesn’t), and rejoins the squad, heartbroken.

Final Battle Against Enchantress

Waller is eventually captured by Enchantress, prompting the team to take matters into their own hands. After an emotional bar scene (a rare quiet moment), they decide to be “heroes” for once.

In the final showdown, Enchantress tempts each of them with visions of their deepest desires. They reject the illusions, and El Diablo transforms into a fiery Aztec deity to battle Incubus, sacrificing himself to kill the monster. The rest of the team takes down Enchantress, and Harley finishes her off by ripping out her heart.

Resolution: Deals and Freedom (Sort Of)

The squad saves the day, but Waller is back and ice-cold as ever. She reduces each member’s sentence by a few years (except for Captain Boomerang, who gets nothing), and returns them to Belle Reve prison.

But then… Joker arrives, blowing a hole in the wall and rescuing Harley in a dramatic prison break. It’s the kind of chaotic punctuation mark the movie thrives on.

Movie Ending

In full detail, the ending shows:

• El Diablo sacrifices himself, embracing his monstrous side to atone for his sins.
• Enchantress is killed after her heart is destroyed; June Moone survives and is freed from her possession.
• Waller reasserts her dominance over the team, manipulating their “victory” into leverage.
• Deadshot gets to see his daughter again under supervised visitation.
• Harley returns to her cell with espresso machine dreams—only to be rescued by Joker in a brazen escape, setting up potential sequels or spin-offs.

The movie ends on a note of chaos and instability, true to the characters it portrays.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a mid-credits scene (but no post-credits scene).

In the mid-credits:

• Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) meets with Amanda Waller. He requests top-secret files about metahumans (including Enchantress, Flash, and Aquaman), which Waller hands over. In return, Bruce offers her protection from future fallout.
• As he walks away, he says something ominous: “You should shut it down… or my friends and I will do it for you.” This line teases the formation of the Justice League and sets up the next chapter in the DCEU.

Type of Movie

• Genre: Superhero / Action / Crime / Dark Comedy
• Tone: Violent, stylized, rebellious, with a punk-rock edge

Cast

• Will Smith as Deadshot
• Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
• Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
• Jared Leto as Joker
• Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag
• Jay Hernandez as El Diablo
• Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang
• Cara Delevingne as Enchantress
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc
• Karen Fukuhara as Katana

Film Music and Composer

• Composer: Steven Price
• The movie also features an eclectic mix of popular music, including tracks by Eminem, Twenty One Pilots, Queen, and Rick Ross. The soundtrack was a commercial success and received praise for its energetic tone.

Filming Locations

• Filmed primarily in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Various downtown areas were transformed into Midway City, the fictional warzone in the film.
• Some scenes were shot in Chicago and Los Angeles.
• The gritty urban environments gave the movie its grimy, chaotic feel—perfect for showcasing destruction, disorder, and supervillains running wild.

Awards and Nominations

• Won:
  • Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling (the film’s only Oscar win, and the first for a DCEU film)
• Nominated:
  • People’s Choice Awards (Favorite Action Movie)
  • Teen Choice Awards (multiple categories including Choice Movie: Villain and Action Actress)

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director David Ayer had only six weeks to write the script.
• The tone of the film changed drastically during post-production after Batman v Superman received criticism for being too dark.
• Multiple cuts of the film existed—studio edits emphasized humor more than Ayer’s original darker vision.
• Jared Leto claimed many of Joker’s scenes were cut from the final film.
• The cast underwent military-style training together to build camaraderie.
• Margot Robbie performed many of her own stunts and stayed in character as Harley Quinn between takes.

Inspirations and References

• Based on DC Comics’ Suicide Squad, originally created in 1959, with a major revamp in the 1980s by John Ostrander.
• Themes of expendability, redemption, and anti-heroism draw influence from war films and crime thrillers.
• Stylistically inspired by music videos, punk aesthetics, and urban street art.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• Several Joker scenes were cut, including more backstory with Harley and a confrontation between Joker and Task Force X.
• An alternate ending reportedly included Joker pushing Harley out of the chopper, rejecting her love—a darker tone than what was shown.
• More footage of Katana’s backstory and Boomerang’s eccentricity was trimmed for pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• The film has several novelizations and comic prequels, but it’s not based on a specific comic arc.
• In the comics, characters like Enchantress and El Diablo are not major players in the Suicide Squad—choices made for the film to add variety and powers to the team.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Harley diving into the vat of acid during her origin flashback
• El Diablo’s emotional confession in the bar
• Joker and Harley’s car chase with Batman
• The squad walking together in the rain before the final fight—classic “team shot” moment
• Joker’s helicopter escape attempt

Iconic Quotes

• Harley Quinn: “We’re bad guys, it’s what we do.”
• Deadshot: “So that’s it? What, we some kind of Suicide Squad?”
• Amanda Waller: “You think you can do my job? Go ahead. But I warn you: the price of freedom is high. It always is.”
• El Diablo: “I already lost one family. I’m not gonna lose another one.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Captain Boomerang has a unicorn plushie—same as Deadpool in Deadpool (2016), a nod to antihero trends.
• Flash makes a cameo, capturing Captain Boomerang in a quick scene.
• Harley Quinn’s file briefly mentions her killing Robin—a reference to a major DC storyline.
• Joker’s “damaged” tattoo references his mental instability but was widely criticized.

Trivia

• Jared Leto stayed in character off-set and sent bizarre gifts to his co-stars, including a rat to Margot Robbie.
• Ayer described his cut as a “soulful drama” and has publicly supported #ReleaseTheAyerCut.
• Cara Delevingne prepared for her dual role by dancing in the woods and channeling “primordial energy” for Enchantress.

Why Watch?

If you like chaotic anti-heroes, stylized action, and a film that dares to be messy but bold, Suicide Squad is worth a watch. Harley Quinn’s breakout performance, the stacked soundtrack, and the twisted sense of humor all stand out. It’s flawed but undeniably unique in its genre.

Director’s Other Movies

• End of Watch (2012)
• Fury (2014)
• Training Day (2001) – writer
• Bright (2017)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Suicide Squad (2021) – James Gunn’s spiritual sequel/reboot
• Deadpool (2016)
• Birds of Prey (2020)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Watchmen (2009)
• The Dirty Dozen (1967) – an old-school inspiration