Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled with secrets, but one of its most poignant details has only recently come to light. A Reddit user has discovered that Arthur Morgan’s iconic death scene – watching the sun rise over the mountains – is actually a homage to a classic 1973 film. If you’ve never seen Soylent Green, you probably missed it.
The Final Sunrise
For those who have completed Red Dead Redemption 2 on the high‑honor path, the ending is unforgettable. After fighting off Micah and ensuring John Marston’s escape, Arthur Morgan climbs up a rocky slope, exhausted and dying from tuberculosis. He collapses, takes one last look at the rising sun, and breathes his last. It’s a moment of peace amidst chaos, a dying outlaw finding beauty before the end.
That image – a dying man facing a golden horizon – was not created in a vacuum. As Reddit user RecentDivide6022 pointed out, it mirrors the ending of Soylent Green, the dystopian sci‑fi film starring Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson.
The Soylent Green Connection
In Soylent Green, the character Sol Roth (played by Edward G. Robinson) chooses euthanasia. He lies down in a clean, white room as a screen displays images of a pristine natural world – forests, animals, and sunsets – while a gentle voice describes the beauty of life. Sol’s final vision is of a vast, peaceful wilderness. He dies smiling, having made a sacrifice that helps the protagonist uncover the film’s horrifying secret.
Rockstar’s adaptation is subtle but unmistakable. Arthur, like Sol, is a man at the end of his life. He doesn’t die in a blaze of glory but in quiet acceptance. Both characters face a natural horizon – for Arthur, an actual sunrise; for Sol, a projected one. Both moments are about finding solace in nature and sacrificing oneself for the good of others.
RDR2 Ending is a reference to Soylent Green (1973)
by u/RecentDivide6022 in reddeadredemption
A Deeper Meaning
The reference adds another layer to Arthur’s redemption arc. In Soylent Green, Sol’s death allows the truth to come out. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur’s sacrifice ensures John can escape and raise his family – setting the stage for the original Red Dead Redemption. Both are stories about giving up everything for something greater.
Fans who recognized the homage were impressed. One Redditor commented, “This is a very good connection with proof, congratulations. I knew of Soylent Green and had it in my list, another reason to have it in mind, thanks for sharing!”
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The Takeaway
Even nearly eight years after its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to surprise. This hidden film reference shows the level of thought Rockstar Games poured into every frame. Next time you replay Arthur’s final mission, keep an eye on that sunrise – and remember that sometimes the most powerful moments are borrowed from the past.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.