Inglourious Basterds ending explained

What happens

Shosanna's cinema burns with Hitler and the Nazi leadership inside, and the Basterds shoot Hitler and Goebbels before the building explodes. The war is ended by a revenge plot, not by history. Landa defects, but Aldo carves a swastika into his forehead.

The last image

Aldo, having carved a swastika into Landa's forehead, studies his work with satisfaction.

What it says

The ending is an open fantasy of cinematic justice: film itself becomes the weapon that destroys evil. Landa's mark means he can never hide, and the film asks you to notice how good that felt.