Was BB8 returning Finn's thumbs-up or flipping him the bird?

People seem to have come away with clear impressions of both scenarios.

Perhaps Finn was insulting BB-8. Thumbs up is not a universally positive gesture.

Perhaps Finn was insulting BB-8. Thumbs up is not a universally positive gesture.

A third option appears!

Totally a thumbs up.

Thumbs up for sure, me and my brother lost it at that point

Thumbs up. They were total bros in that scene

My mind went to Flipping the finger but I think it's a return of the thumps up.

It sort of flipped up. It didn't turn up like a thumb. Plus he had every reason to flip him the bird.

Or maybe he was threatening him.

Or ironically pretending to threaten him.

JJ will have to decide this.

This is a very important topic that needs an official weigh in by JJ. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of BB8 using an obscene gesture, but next I see the movie(hopefully this weekend at some point) I will be watching more closely to try catch subtle context.

I think BB-8 is not nearly as much of a pottymouth as R2-D2. BB was probably just giving him the thumbs up as well, it could still have been in a sarcastic manner.

Thumbs up.

BB is a rather friendly droid, unlike R2. Plus he had just helped him iirc; so I saw it as more of a slightly awkward "he's being a friend, I'll be a friend back" situations for BB. Like scrambling to return a fist bump or high five.

BB is the cutest **** thing that's ever been in Star Wars. He's awesome. So yeah he was giving a thumbs up the best way a so soccer ball can...with a bic lighter? I didn't know BB units come with smoking accessories. Does Poe indulge in death sticks?

Thumbs up was how I interpreted it. More like he was agreeing to keep the secret at that point...

This is a very important topic that needs an official weigh in by JJ. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of BB8 using an obscene gesture, but next I see the movie(hopefully this weekend at some point) I will be watching more closely to try catch subtle context.

I literally didn't even consider it being anything besides a rude gesture until afterwards when people were talking about it.

You might be thinking of Chopper. He would definately make a rude gesture. And then push you out an airlock.

The conspiratory thumbs-up has been a staple of cinema for generations.

It was definitely the latest in a long line of sneaky "affirmative" pantomimes.

I thought BB was gesturing a smoke break.

Is this going to be needed in the next faq?

After using bb.8, you may give a thumbs up or extend a different finger to your opponent?

Dunno, could be op....

Edit .. and to the post, I had the finger thought, but agree it looks like a thumbs up .. a parrot gesture so to speak ...

Thumbs up, who do you think this is Chopper!

Thumbs up for sure. Brothers from other mothers!

I definitely thought finger immediately which seemed to be in line with the rest of the crowd. I guess I'd find thumbs up accept as well

I definitely thought finger immediately which seemed to be in line with the rest of the crowd. I guess I'd find thumbs up accept as well

It would be interesting to map this out. I know you can take the same facial expression to different parts of the country and get region-dependent reactions.