La La Land's ending subverts romantic expectations and emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's dreams, even if it comes at the expense of a relationship. Mia and Sebastian broke up because they both wanted to pursue their dreams, showing that sometimes sacrifices must be made for personal fulfillment. The dream sequence in the ending highlights what could have been for the couple and underscores the choices they made, leaving a lasting impression of their love and growth.

The La La Land ending doesn't give the audience the romantic conclusion audiences might have wanted, but it's one that fits the movie's core themes. Damien Chazelle's award-winning film is a musical love story about Mia (Emma Stone) and Seb (Ryan Gosling) as the couple meet, sing, dance, and romance their way through the City of Stars, seemingly setting up a happy ending much like those of the films La La Land is so influenced by.