Amadeus ending explained

What happens

Back in the asylum, Salieri finishes his confession to the young priest. He admits he did not kill Mozart, only ruined him, and now calls himself the patron saint of mediocrities, absolving every inmate as Mozart's laugh echoes.

The last image

Wheeled through the asylum corridors, Salieri blesses the inmates while Mozart's laugh rings out over the soundtrack.

What it says

Salieri cannot beat God, so he takes the side of ordinary people who must live beside genius. The ending is a bitter mercy, and the laugh shows Mozart still has the last word.