The climax of “Inglourious Basterds” takes place at a movie premiere hosted by the Nazis at a cinema in Paris. The premiere is attended by high-ranking Nazi officials, including Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler himself. Unknown to them, a group of resistance fighters, including Lt. Aldo Raine’s (played by Brad Pitt) Basterds and the Jewish cinema owner Shosanna Dreyfus (played by Mélanie Laurent), have orchestrated a plan to assassinate the Nazi leadership.
As the premiere unfolds, Shosanna prepares to enact her revenge by burning down the cinema with all the Nazi officials inside. Simultaneously, the Basterds, disguised as Italian filmmakers, infiltrate the premiere with the intention of planting explosives. However, their plans are complicated when one of their members, Sgt. Donny Donowitz (played by Eli Roth), is recognized by a German soldier.
Chaos ensues as the plan is exposed, leading to a violent shootout between the Basterds and the Nazis. Meanwhile, Shosanna locks the theater doors and ignites the highly flammable nitrate film, causing a massive fire that engulfs the entire cinema.
As the flames consume the building, Hitler and his associates are trapped inside, meeting a fiery demise. Outside, Shosanna and her lover, Marcel (played by Jacky Ido), watch as the cinema burns to the ground, fulfilling their mission of revenge.
In the aftermath of the attack, the surviving Basterds, including Aldo Raine and Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz (played by Til Schweiger), escape into the night, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The film concludes with a triumphant moment as Shosanna’s face is projected onto the burning cinema screen, symbolizing her victory over the Nazis and her ultimate sacrifice for the cause of justice.
Overall, the ending of “Inglourious Basterds” is a dramatic and satisfying conclusion to the story, showcasing Tarantino’s knack for blending historical fiction with his trademark style of storytelling. It’s a climactic and unforgettable finale that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.