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At one point in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Finn and BB-8 are talking. Finn gives BB-8 a thumbs-up. In return, BB-8 extends a little lit welding torch. I've heard two different understandings of BB-8's gesture:

  1. It was a thumbs-up, agreeing with Finn.
  2. It was a middle finger, as BB-8 disagreed with Finn.

Which is the accurate analysis?

TheLethalCarrot
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    The question, while goofy, doesn't really deserve downvotes IMO. Any good reason for the vote, downvoters? – Gabe Willard Jan 18 '16 at 20:12
  • I didn't downvote. I look forward to the near future when we'll be able to have clips of TFA to link to, so we can better speculate on the answer. – Mikey Jan 18 '16 at 20:18
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    I've actually seen a lot of speculation on other websites as to what he was doing, it's obviously a thumbs up, but a lot of people aren't getting that. It's a good question. – Exploitable Jan 18 '16 at 20:24
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    @Mikey - You'll be pleased to learn that that clip is already available, as part of the latest trailer; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cTjX1WOMhw – Valorum Jan 18 '16 at 20:38
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    The first time I saw it, I totally thought it was a middle finger. After two more viewings and hearing everyone else’s opinion, I think it was a thumbs up too. I think either interpretation kind of works, but thumbs up seems more in keeping with BB-8’s character. – Paul D. Waite Jan 18 '16 at 21:08
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    @PaulD.Waite I didn't even consider the middle-finger possibility until I saw this question, so it goes both ways. – JAB Jan 18 '16 at 21:25
  • Context feels like a thumbs up to me, but I can see how you might misread the context. –  Jan 18 '16 at 21:47
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    Is lighting a cigarette lighter at a concert passe? Clearly it was meant as a positive gesture. – JTP - Apologise to Monica Jan 18 '16 at 22:03
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    I definitely thought it was a middle finger, along with a thinly-veiled threat, since it's a blow-torch. Like "Just try and cross me - I will burn your hand off!" A little disappointing if it wasn't intended that way... – Darrel Hoffman Jan 18 '16 at 22:57
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    I'm reasonably sure it was a kindhearted gesture, I've read BB-88 was designed to be cute. – Xandar The Zenon Jan 19 '16 at 05:03
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    I like the way it could be read both ways. Or 'mess this up, I will burn you!' :) – Sobrique Jan 19 '16 at 10:28
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    Evidence that the middle finger controversy is real - a poll of 2,700 (not quite randomly selected) twitter users showed that over one third of them thought it was a middle finger: https://twitter.com/leyawn/status/685642947732344832 – recognizer Jan 19 '16 at 16:42
  • @JoeTaxpayer Not so clear. The end of the noise he makes could be interpreted as making his whole noise a scowl. I thought Finn was seeking support, and BB8's middle finger was "no, I'm totally not on your side. Your idea should be burnt up." The flame rather cemented that – TOOGAM Jan 19 '16 at 19:43
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    Anyone with a modicum of exposure to character profiling and body behavior will tell you it's a thumbs up. It's clear that BB-8 is mimicking the positively reinforcing behavior displayed by Finn after they reach a newfound level of trust. – TylerH Jan 19 '16 at 20:27
  • It's clearly a thumbs up. Everyone who was watching it in the cinema when I went to see it got it straight away. – maguirenumber6 Jan 20 '16 at 05:55
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    Regardless of the intent of the creators, it should be said that both interpretations are valid. The character has motivations in the moment that would convince a viewer of one gesture or the other. – mendota Jan 20 '16 at 23:39
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    I've watched the movie twice and both times, I thought it was a raised middle-finger. I find it more satisfying, as it gives BB-8 a real personality, rather than just making him a cutesy cuddly toy. And it fits the situation better, IMO. Let's review: Finn was basically emotionally blackmailing the little droid into something it was reluctant to do. Flipping the bird is a very natural response in this situation. But I can understand why some would "prefer" to see it as a thumbs up. My theory is that those who see it as a thumbs up are the same people who are fine with Greedo shooting first. :) – Deepak Jan 21 '16 at 11:50
  • While the OP asks for an analysis, both views are valid (IMO, the source their DVs). Asking only for the creators intent would remove its POB status. – Mazura Jan 23 '16 at 22:33
  • HA! Someone flagged this as "primarily opinion-based". Ridiculous. – Rand al'Thor Jan 24 '16 at 03:18
  • @maguirenumber6: “Everyone who was watching it in the cinema when I went to see it got it straight away.” It was very canny of you to take a poll before everyone left. – Paul D. Waite Nov 10 '16 at 17:10
  • @PaulD.Waite Why thank you :-) – maguirenumber6 Dec 28 '16 at 13:19

3 Answers3

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Some Industrial Light and Magic people discussed the process behind animating that moment, in an interview with MTV:

“We did several different prototype ideas of what that could look like, and we had various amounts of metal and plastic on there,” added Patrick Tubach, another ILM visual effects supervisor for the film. “One of the difficult things with animating something like that is you have to be very careful that it doesn’t look like he’s giving you some other sort of gesture! We moved all the pieces around to make sure it was very clearly a thumbs up over any other kind of ’salute.'”

So it is meant to be a thumbs up.

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    Extended discussion on self answers had been removed. Please continue in [chat] if you wish to continue. – AncientSwordRage Jan 18 '16 at 22:27
  • I just assumed it was a shout-out to Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy. Stan had a "magic lighter" where he could generate a small flame from his thumb. (Of course when Hardy managed to do it, he burned his thumb). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDrYVzb5KAU – Paul Johnson Jan 20 '16 at 19:16
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The novelisation of the film explicitly states that it is indeed intended to be a "thumbs-up" from BB-8

“Doing the best I can down here.” Rey vanished again. As soon as she was out of sight, the grateful Finn gave BB-8 a thumbs-up. The droid responded by shooting out a welding torch in imitation of the human’s gesture.

As does the 2017 Star Wars Annual

enter image description here
"After BB-8 reveals the location of the Resistance base, both exchange a thumbs-up."

As does the Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded edition

enter image description here
"Using his welding torch to give a thumbs up"

The original screenplay is slightly more ambiguous, but the intention seems pretty clear

Finn: Yeah, the Ileenium system, that's the one -- get us there as fast as you can.

A smiling Finn gives BB-8 a THUMBS UP. BB-8 quickly extends his WELDING TORCH and TURNS IT UPWARD, then retracts it.

enter image description here

The film's special effects master, Neal Scanlan, explicitly confirmed in an interview with MTV.com that it was intended to be a 'thumbs up'.

"I think the reaction that BB-8 has to Finn would have been a practical effect that we shot on the Milennium Falcon, but the reaction to the thumbs up is something that definitely came later in the day," Scanlan said.

"That thumbs up moment is exactly that," confirmed Guyett. "I think it’s a real BB-8 and then we inserted a CG panel and its arm that came out. So all of his tools, if you like, when he fires his wires and he does that stuff, that’s sort of digital CG."

‘STAR WARS’: BB-8’S THUMBS UP MOMENT ALMOST DIDN’T HAPPEN

Community
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Valorum
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I always thought it was a thumbs up. BB-8 thinks that Finn is honest about who he is, and BB-8 respects his honesty somehow and decides he may be a good guy after all.

Mithical
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Jim
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