Materialists' Controversial Pedro Pascal Ending Twist Explained
Pedro Pascal's character in Materialists looks like the dream package: handsome, rich, emotionally available, lives in a $12 million Manhattan penthouse. But midway through the film, that package reveals a twist—Harry, the so-called "unicorn," wasn't born that way.
During a late-night scene, Dakota Johnson's character Lucy spots scars on Harry's legs. He catches her looking. In the kitchen, he tells her the truth: years ago, he had leg-lengthening surgery that took him from 5'6" to 6 feet tall. To demonstrate, he even bends down to show her where his eye level used to be.
"Before I got the procedure, talking to girls was very difficult," he says. Afterward? His dating life transformed.
Lucy says it doesn't bother her—but by the end of that same scene, she cancels their Iceland trip and breaks up with him. She insists it's not about the surgery. Harry clearly thinks otherwise. So do a lot of viewers.
Why the Twist Hit a Nerve
Audience reactions to this twist have been split.
Some believe Lucy left because she couldn't see Harry the same way after learning he was, in her eyes, "manufactured." Others say it's just another example of her character's superficial streak—she dumped her last boyfriend for not being wealthy enough, so this tracks.
Celine Song, who wrote and directed Materialists, says that's exactly the point.
"This movie is about the way that we commodify and objectify each other in the dating market, how much it crushes all of us, and I want it to be fair to men too."
"Harry, who seemed like he was above it all—I think it turns out that he's crushed by it as well."
Even though Lucy calls Harry's surgery a "good investment," it's clear she struggles with it on a personal level. The film doesn't say she's wrong—but it also doesn't let her off the hook.
Wait—This Surgery Is Real?
Yes. According to NBC News, leg-lengthening surgery costs around $75,000 and involves breaking the thigh bones, inserting rods, and slowly extending them using an external remote over several months. It adds up to 3–5 inches in height—and it's become increasingly popular among men who feel pressure to appear taller, especially in dating.