Birdman Ending Explanation

Birdman 2014 Ending

Remember, this is just my interpretation of the ending, this movie is one that leaves itself purposefully ambiguous, you may be just as correct interpreting it a different way.

In the beginning of Birdman, we see a meteor streaking through the sky, as the narrator's (Birdman's) voice explains how Riggin Thomas is washed up, even though he deserves better than everyone else.

Later in the movie, we hear Riggin rant to his ex-wife, uncovering a lot of the deep emotional problems we see expressed in his character throughout the film, the need to be remembered, the need to be free of his stressful and miserable life, etc. Specifically, he talks about the time he was on a plane with George Clooney; he speculates that if the plane had crashed, the only thing in the papers would be Clooney's name (overshadowing his, leaving him forgotten).

Soon after this, but closer to the ending, we see the meteor pop up again, this time right after Riggin embraces his Birdman side, and decides to commit suicide during his act, creating an "super-realistic" performance.
However, as we all know, Riggin survives.

Most of the confusion in the ending is caused by Riggin's daughter, Sam, looking up in the sky, which she certainly would NOT do if he had just committed suicide, and was lying on the pavement below.

However, the alternate suggestion, that Riggin's superpowers were not just imagined, and he actually can fly, seems equally absurd.
As many of you may have guessed by now, Riggin did commit suicide, and his body was laying on the ground, dead.

Then what would cause Sam to ignore his body, and look up?
A meteor, streaking towards a collision with the largest city in America.
The ending of Birdman is the ultimate irony, Riggin tries to commit the ultimate sacrifice for his craft, fails, and then finally, after he receives all of the awards and respect he deserves, cements his legacy by committing suicide, ensuring theater-goers will whisper his name with awe for decades to come.

But, just like in his story about his doomed plane, no one will remember Riggin, no one will think of his legacy, no one will even know his name.
Because the day he died was the greatest tragedy in American history, for entirely different reasons.

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