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21 Iconic Movies Where the Director Rewrote the Ending

August 16, 2024

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In the world of filmmaking, endings can make or break a movie, and sometimes, directors make drastic changes to ensure their vision resonates with audiences. Changing conclusions or completely reimagined finales, these updates can alter the tone and message of the film.

Whether driven by studio pressure, test audience reactions, or creative instincts, these revised endings have left a lasting impact on cinematic history.

Let’s take a closer look at the most famous movies where the director decided to change the ending, transforming the final product in unexpected ways.

Blade Runner

Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner famously had its ending altered before its theatrical release. The original cut ended ambiguously, leaving viewers uncertain about Deckard’s fate and whether he was a replicant. However, the studio insisted on a happier ending, complete with a voiceover and footage of a serene landscape, which Scott later removed in his 2007 Final Cut version.

Titanic

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James Cameron’s Titanic almost had a different, more vengeful ending involving the Heart of the Ocean necklace. Initially, the ending shows treasure hunter Brock Lovett throwing the necklace into the sea after a confrontation with Rose. However, Cameron opted for a more poignant and emotional conclusion, with Rose alone tossing the necklace into the ocean, symbolizing her final goodbye to Jack.

I Am Legend

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The ending of I Am Legend was dramatically changed from its original dark conclusion. In the initial cut, Will Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, realizes the creatures he’s been fighting see him as the monster, leading to a powerful but somber ending. However, test audiences found it too bleak, leading to a more conventional, action-packed finale where Neville sacrifices himself heroically.

I Am Legend (Alternate)

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Another alternate ending for I Am Legend is truer to the original novel, where Dr. Neville realizes that the creatures have developed their own society and sees him as a monster. This ending was ultimately scrapped for a more action-oriented conclusion. However, the alternate ending has since gained popularity, with many fans preferring its deeper philosophical implications.

Little Shop of Horrors

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The 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors originally had a much darker ending, staying true to the off-Broadway musical’s conclusion. In this version, Audrey and Seymour are both eaten by the plant, which then takes over the world. Test audiences disliked the downbeat ending, leading director Frank Oz to shoot a happier conclusion where the couple survives.

Fatal Attraction

Fatal Attraction originally had a much darker and more tragic ending. Glenn Close’s character, Alex, was meant to commit suicide, framing Michael Douglas’s character, Dan, for her murder. However, the ending was changed to a more dramatic showdown, where Dan’s wife, played by Anne Archer, kills Alex, giving the film a more satisfying, albeit violent, resolution.

The Butterfly Effect

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The original ending of The Butterfly Effect was far darker than what audiences eventually saw in theaters. In the initial version, Evan travels back in time to his own birth and strangles himself with his umbilical cord to prevent the chain of tragic events. Due to its bleakness, the ending was changed to a more hopeful one where Evan ensures he never meets his love interest, preventing the disastrous timeline.

First Blood

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First Blood, the first film in the Rambo series, originally had a much more tragic ending. In the novel and initial screenplay, Rambo dies by suicide, reflecting his deep trauma and disillusionment with society. However, the ending was changed to allow Rambo to live, setting the stage for the sequels that followed.

The Descent

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Neil Marshall’s The Descent had its ending changed for the American audience, leading to a more upbeat conclusion. The original U.K. ending reveals that the main character’s escape was just a hallucination, and she remains trapped in the cave. However, the U.S. version cuts this twist, ending with her escape, which test audiences find more satisfying.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

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The original ending of Dodgeball had the underdog team losing the final match, in keeping with the film’s offbeat humor. However, test audiences didn’t respond well to this downer conclusion, so director Rawson Marshall Thurber changed it to the more traditional happy ending, where the underdogs win in a sudden-death match.

Clerks

Kevin Smith’s Clerks originally had an extremely bleak ending where the main character, Dante, is shot and killed in a robbery. Smith intended this ending to underscore the randomness of life’s tragedies. However, after feedback from friends and mentors, Smith removed the ending, leaving the film on a lighter note and allowing for the sequels that followed.

Clerks II

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Kevin Smith initially wanted Clerks II to end on a darker note, with Dante leaving his friends and the convenience store behind. However, after reflecting on the tone and themes of the first film, Smith chose a more uplifting conclusion, where Dante and Randal buy the Quick Stop, ensuring the characters remain together.

Pretty in Pink

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Pretty in Pink originally had Andie ending up with her best friend, Duckie, instead of her rich love interest, Blane. Test audiences disliked this ending, believing it was more fitting for Andie to be with Blane, the character she had pursued throughout the film. Director John Hughes reshot the ending to give audiences the romantic conclusion they wanted.

The Shining

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining had an additional scene at the end that was cut just before the film’s release. The scene shows Wendy and Danny in a hospital, revealing that they have survived the horrors of the Overlook Hotel. Kubrick decided to cut this scene, leaving the film with its more ambiguous and unsettling ending.

Brazil

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Terry Gilliam’s Brazil had its ending changed by the studio to make it more palatable for a broader audience. The original ending, known as the “Love Conquers All” version, was dark and dystopian, with the protagonist succumbing to the oppressive government. The studio released a more optimistic version, but Gilliam fought back, and his original vision was eventually restored in later releases.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

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Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World originally had Scott ending up with Knives Chau, his high school girlfriend. However, after considering feedback and the evolution of the characters, Wright changed the ending to have Scott rekindle his relationship with Ramona Flowers, which aligned better with the film’s emotional arc.

The Graduate

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The Graduate almost had a much darker ending than the one that made it to theaters. Originally, after crashing Elaine’s wedding, Benjamin and Elaine were to sit in stunned silence, realizing the bleak future that awaited them. Director Mike Nichols opted for a more ambiguous ending, where the couple’s future remains uncertain, but they share a moment of triumph.

Alien

The original ending of Alien had the xenomorph killing Ripley and mimicking her voice to send a message to Earth. This ending was scrapped in favor of Ripley’s heroic escape, setting her up as one of the most iconic final girls in film history. The change also allowed for the continuation of the series, with Ripley as the central character.

Rocky

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The original script for Rocky had the titular character throwing the final fight for money. However, Sylvester Stallone, who also starred in the film, felt this ending didn’t align with Rocky’s character or the film’s message of perseverance. Instead, the ending was rewritten to focus on Rocky going the distance, even if he didn’t win, which became the film’s iconic, uplifting conclusion.

28 Days Later

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Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later had several potential endings, with the theatrical one being a more hopeful conclusion. Initially, the film was to end with Jim dying in a hospital after being shot, emphasizing the grim nature of the post-apocalyptic world. However, test audiences preferred a less bleak conclusion, leading Boyle to shoot the ending where Jim survives and escapes with his companions.

Army of Darkness

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The original ending of Army of Darkness was much darker and apocalyptic. Sam Raimi initially concluded the film with Ash sleeping too long and waking up in a dystopian future. However, Raimi changed it to a more upbeat ending where Ash returns to the present day and heroically fights off another Deadite, fitting the film’s comedic tone better.

Hancock

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The ending of Hancock was significantly altered from its original, darker version. Initially, the film was supposed to end with a much more intense and tragic battle where Hancock sacrifices himself. However, the studio pushed for a more hopeful ending that left room for potential sequels, resulting in a less bleak conclusion.