While film audiences often enjoy a good, happily-ever-after conclusion of a movie, there are plenty of films that almost had far darkeralternate endingsthan what they ended up receiving. Whether it was an ending that was actually filmed or just an idea conceived during pre-production, lots of films very nearly had much darker conclusions than the version that audiences eventually saw in theaters. This is an interesting example of how much movies can change throughout their productions, and even though the final product feels so definitive, movies are subject to serious changes well after the initial scripts have been written.
Some ofthe best movies of all timehave surprisinglyalternate endingsthat lean into the darker sides of storytelling. In some instances, this included characters who later went on to lead sequels and franchises, dying prematurely, meaning if the alternate ending had been used, the series would have been over right then and there. Whileaudiences can argue about which version would have been better, all of these alternate endings were much darker and more sinister than what finally made it to theaters.
28 Days Later
Cast
28 Days Later depicts a post-apocalyptic Britain devastated by a virulent outbreak. Directed by Danny Boyle, it follows a group of London survivors as they navigate the chaos caused by a rapidly spreading virus, transmitted by humans and animals, that transforms the infected into dangerous beings. Released in 2002.
28 Days Laterwas one of the greatest zombie movies of all time and helped reinvigorate the genre for a new generation of viewers. As a realistic depiction of a post-apocalyptic landscape,28 Days Latersaw a man named Jim awake from a coma only to discover the world had been ravaged by a zombie outbreakand society had entirely broken down. While in the theatrical ending, Jim survived to the end and will appear in the long-awaited 2025 sequel,28 Years Later, this could have been a very different story.
28 Days Later hadnot one but three alternate endings, which have been included on theDVD extrasof the movie. These range from Jim succumbing to gunshot wounds and even waking to discover the entire outbreak had been a dream. Another alternate ending, which was not filmed and was presented using storyboards, saw Frank survive and Jim giving him a blood transfusion to save his life. While it’s interesting to imagine how the legacy of28 Days Laterwould have changed if these had been used, the film’s place among the greatest zombie movies ever stands for itself.
Army of Darkness
The third film in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, is a horror comedy film that sees Bruce Campbell return to the role of Ash Williams. Sucked out of his timeline and tossed to 1300 A.D., Ash is found and thrown in a pit after he is believed to be a spy against King Arthur. After proving himself and slaying a supernatural Deadite creature, Ash is freed and told to return home; he must find the Necronomicon and dance with the dead again.
Sam Raimi’sEvil Deadfranchise has become one of the most enduring horror series ever made, and Bruce Campbell’s portrayal of Ash Williams made him a true cinematic icon. The third movie in the series,Army of Darkness, explored a dark fantasy style as it transported Ash to the Middle Ages, where he battled undead creatures in an epic quest to return to his own time. As an outlier in this horror series, it feels appropriate thatArmy of Darknesshas two different endings.
The theatrical ending sawAsh make it back to his timeline and accidentally recite the words of the Necronomicon once againas he tried to tell his story to customers at the S-Mart supermarket where he was working. However, the alternate ending featured an even darker tone as Ash took too much of the sleeping potion, which caused him to wake up in a post-apocalyptic future in England. As Ash screamed, “I slept too long!” before the credits rolled, it looked like he had accidentally sent himself on another death-defying adventure.
Clerks
Clerks follows Dante and Randal, two clerks working at adjoining convenience and video stores. The film explores their mundane yet eventful day-to-day life as they engage with customers, play rooftop hockey, and navigate personal relationships, characterized by sharp wit and casual banter.
Kevin Smith’s debut filmClerkswas a landmark release of indie cinema in the 1990s and kickstarted the View Askewniverse as it introduced the world of the slacker employees Dante and Randall, as well as the iconic stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob. As a hilarious representation of one day at the Quick Stop Groceries store, the hilarious customer interactions and everyday frustrations meant viewers could quickly connect with Smith’s absurd depiction of retail life.Clerksended on a lighthearted note as Dante and Randall got to the end of an eventful workday, but this was almost very different.
The original ending of Clerks continued past its final scene and featured a thief coming into the Quick Stop after it had closed and shooting Dante as he stole from the register. Smith himself said he wrote this version because he didn’t know how to end the film (viaMental Floss), and after early viewers were displeased with this version, he recut the movie so it didn’t end on such a down note. The original ending ofClerkswas included in the tenth-anniversary special editionClerks Xand is easily accessible to viewers who wish to see it.
Die Hard: With a Vengeance
Die Hard: With a Vengeance, the third installment in the Die Hard series, follows New York detective John McClane, portrayed by Bruce Willis, as he teams with civilian Zeus Carver. Together, they navigate a series of challenges orchestrated by the antagonist Simon in an attempt to save innocent lives in the city.
The third film in theDie Hardfranchise saw John McClane (Bruce Willis) once again embroiled in a mission to stop a terrorist group wreaking havoc. This time, it was an East German group that planted bombs across New York City and plotted to steal the gold bullion of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.Die Hard with a Vengeancefeatured McClane facing off against Hans Gruber’s brother Simon (Jeremy Irons) and eventually taking him down as he shot his helicopter out of the air with a pistol.
However, a much bleaker alternate ending saw Simon escape, but McClane catches up with him months later to play a unique game of Russian roulette he calls “McClane Says.“McClane then asked Simon riddles similar to the ones he had been asked in New York, and when he got one wrong, he forced him to fire a rocket launcher that then killed him. This dark moment of vigilante justice was an intense look at McClane’s darkest side as he went out of his way to kill in cold blood the man who had wronged him.
Finding Dory
The sequel to Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Finding Dory focuses on the character of Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) as she sets off to locate her parents. Still living with amnesia after the events of Finding Nemo, Dory is unable to remember her parents, but an unexpected flashback prompts her to find them. Her journey takes her not only across the ocean but also out of it, enlisting all manner of marine life to help her in her quest.
The long-awaited sequel to Pixar’s beloved classicFinding Nemosaw Ellen Degeneres return as the amnesiac fish Dory on a journey to find her long-lost parents. With stunning animation and a story that captured the poignant sentimentality of the original,Finding Dorywas yet another family-friendly entry in Pixar’s incredible catalog, although real-life issues meant its original ending had to be tweaked.Finding Doryoriginally concluded with the fish ending up in a marine park similar to SeaWorld.
However, the release of the documentaryBlackfishin 2013 caused the staff at Pixar to rethink aspects ofFinding Dory’sconclusion.Blackfishshowcased the negative impact of captivity on orcas at SeaWorld, so rather than have the fish definitively end up at a marine facility, the story was restructured so that the fish had the option to leave if they wanted to. This change showcased the complex real issues at the heart of life under the sea, as human interference, overfishing, and meddling in the natural order of aquatic creatures have had a real impact on ocean life.
First Blood
First Blood is an action-thriller film starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who drifts into Hope, Washington, in search of an old buddy. However, he is mistreated by the local sheriff, leading to a violent confrontation that sets off a chain of events, forcing Rambo to rely on his combat skills to survive.
The action thrillerFirst Bloodwas the first entry in theRamboseries and gave Sylvester Stallone yet another iconic role to stand alongside his career-defining performance as Rocky Balboa.First Bloodstarred Stallone as John Rambo, a PTSD-suffering Vietnam War veteran whose triggering wartime flashbacks spark a massive manhunt by police and government to bring him down as he used his combat skills to survive in the forest of a small town. WhileFirst Bloodended with Rambo alive and well, the alternate ending was far darker.
First Bloodwas based on a novel by David Morrellwhere Rambo didn’t make it out alive, and the movie’s alternate filmed ending saw Rambo killed by his former mentor, Sam Trautman. After being captured, Rambo did not go peacefully and grabbed Trautman’s M1911 pistol and quietly asked for death, saying, “You trained me, you made me, you’ll kill me. You owe me that.” While Trautman looked like he was going to refuse Rambo’s plea, he pulled the trigger and, had this version made it to theaters, would have effectively ended theRamboseries with its first entry.
Get Out
Jordan Peele made his directorial Horror debut with Get Out, a terrifying Psychological Horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya. In the 2017 release, Chris Washington heads to Upstate New York to meet the family of his girlfriend, Rose. What follows is a horrifying ordeal for the anxious photographer.
Get Outwas one of the most impactful horror movies of 2017 and signaled the dawning of Jordan Peele as a major new voice in cinema. Prior to the release ofGet Out, Peele was known for his comedic work as one half ofKey & Peele, and this movie showcased his skill for deeply compelling horror that was not only scary but also socially and politically relevant.Get Outaddressed issues of race and classin a way few movies had before it, and its ending of Chris making it out alive was a welcome reveal after all the terrifying incidents that preceded it.
Get Out’s 2 Alternate Endings Both Saw Chris Lose
Get Out sees Chris walk away from his nightmarish experiences, but Jordan Peele’s alternate endings almost saw things end badly for him.
However,Get Outhad two alternate endings, and neither of them were good for Chris. Peele’s initial plan was to have two cops stumble upon a blood-soaked Chris strangling Rose and being arrested, which would have acted as a bleak but thought-provoking look at how marginalized identities are unfairly apprehended, in this instance for a clear-cut case of self-defense. Another alternate ending that wasn’t filmed would have seen Chris recaptured and undergoing the transplant procedure, becoming trapped in “The Sunken Place” and having his body used by one of the Armitages.
The Lion King
The Lion King is an animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released in 1994, it tells the story of Simba, a young lion cub who faces the responsibilities of adulthood and reclaiming his birthright as king of the Pride Lands. Featuring an iconic voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, and Jeremy Irons, the film explores themes of family, duty, and the circle of life.
The Lion Kingstands as one of Disney’s best-loved animated features and perhaps the defining release of the Disney Renaissance. With a story loosely based on William Shakespeare’sHamlet, the timeless themes of betrayal, family, and madness meant thatThe Lion Kingwas a children’s movie with all the depth and nuance of the greatest works of literature. For this reason,The Lion Kinghas endured for the past three decades, although it’s hard to tell if this would have been the case had the alternate ending made it to the final cut.
The dark alternate ending ofThe Lion Kingstill featured Simba’s climactic battle against Scar, but this time, instead of ambiguously falling to his demise at Pride Rock, Scar’s defeat was much more overt. While in the originalThe Lion King, Scar’s death was implied but not shown, in this ending, he became engulfed in flames, and there was little left to the imagination regarding his gruesome death. As a film beloved by small children worldwide,it was a wise decision on Disney’s part to leave Scar’s fate up to viewers' imaginationsand avoid kids' nightmares.
Paranormal Activity
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 found-footage horror film following a young couple who move into a suburban house and experience disturbing nocturnal events. The movie, which sparked a successful franchise, centers around the couple’s attempts to document the eerie occurrences they suspect are of supernatural origin.
The found-footage horrorParanormal Activitywas a surprise success that managed to gross an astounding $194.2 million(viaThe Numbers) against its initial production budget of just $15,000. This independent film was picked up by Paramount after some successful festival screenings, although before it received a widespread release, the studio cut the original ending and added new scenes for a cost of an additional $200,000. The theatrical conclusion ofParanormal Activitysaw a possessed Katie give a demonic snarl, and the screen cut to black.
However, the original ending ofParanormal Activitywas far darker, as it saw two policemen enter the house and encounter a possessed Katie along with the bodies of the deceased. It was at this point that Katie suddenly returned to her normal state, and a police officer panicked and shot her dead. While this ending was featured at the 2007 Screamfest Film Festival, it was never officially released by Paramount, although it has been leaked online.
Pretty Woman
Directed by Gary Marshall, Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere as Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis. Lewis is a wealthy New York businessman who hires Hollywood sex worker Ward to accompany him during his stay in Los Angeles. Initially wary of each other, the couple’s relationship grows steadily deeper over Lewis' stay, causing Ward to begin to rethink her career path.
The 1990s classic rom-comPretty Womantold the strange story of a Hollywood prostitute and a wealthy businessman falling in love. With Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the starring roles, this unconventional love story was originally envisioned as a cautionary tale about class and sex work, although it was soon reimagined as a more typical tale of two people with opposite lifestyles falling for one another. The almost fairytale-like conclusion ofPretty Womantied everything up with a heartwarming happily ever after, although it was almost a far bleaker story.
The original ending ofPretty Womansaw Edward throwing Vivian out on the street with the $3,000 he had promised her. This change would have taken away all joy and hopefulness fromPretty Woman. Instead of being a romantic classic, this would have revealed the pair’s deal as a simple business transaction and that Edward had merely used Vivian for his sexual fulfillment. While thisalternate endingmay have some merit in spreading a message about the dangers and uncaring dark underbelly of prostitution, it certainly wouldn’t have turned Roberts into the mainstream movie superstar she became after its release.
