11 iconic films that almost had totally different endings, from Thelma & Louise to Titanic (yes, really!)
One thing that'll always blow our minds is the idea of an alternative ending to a TV show or film we know and love. It changes everything, especially when it comes to the latter.
Most movies with strong plots have the capacity to result in different outcomes, that much we know. But it doesn't make it easier to wrap our heads around what could have been. For instance, what if Vivian and Edward didn't get their happily ever after in Pretty Woman (believe it or not, it almost happened)? Or what if Elle Wood's fate was the complete contrast of what we saw in Legally Blonde? Well, it turns out that was almost the case too.
According to the film's co-writer Karen McCullah, there was an original ending planned that didn't include Elle graduating, however it was scrapped last minute. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, McCullah explained that the initial ending saw Elle winning the case as a first year law student, everyone congratulating her - including Emmett (Luke Wilson), who sealed it with a kiss - before we're flashed into the future a year on, where Elle and Vivian are handing out leaflets for their new Blonde Legal Defence Fund.
While it's still cute, it's not the ending we know and love, meaning it automatically feels so wrong. It has, however, inspired us to see just how many of our other favourite films almost didn't turn out the way we know them to be. It turns out, like Frozen, which almost turned out very differently, or Titanic, which went viral for its unpopular alternative ending, there are a lot. So, here are few that'll totally blow your mind...
Get Out, 2017
How it ends: Like most writers, Jordan Peele had a couple of possible endings for his modern classic, Get Out, but he ultimately went for the happy(ish) one where protagonist Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) is rescued by his friend Rod after escaping from the capture of his girlfriend Rose's dangerously racist family.
Alternative ending: One of Peele's other endings was a lot darker and depressing as it involved the police showing up whilst Chris is strangling Rose (Allison Williams). He's then sentenced to prison, where Rod comes to visit him.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961
How it ends: It's common for films that have been adapted from novels not to stick to the script entirely and that was certainly the case here. In the movie, Holly and Paul share a passionate kiss in the rain after finding her cat. It's one of the most romantic movie moments in history.
Alternative ending: In the actually book by Truman Capote, however, Holly ends up lost in a strange place as she continues to search for her cat, and Paul loses track of her.
Forrest Gump, 1994
How it ends: One of the greatest films of all time, Forrest Gump has a dear place in many hearts. But the ending isn't quite the happy ever after you'd expect as Jenny dies and Forrest is left to raise their son by himself.
Alternative ending: The film is based on Winston Groom's book of the same name, however, the original ending is completely different to the one we see in the movie. In that one, Jenny doesn't die - she and Forrest still have a son but she ends up marrying another man instead.
Pretty Woman, 1990
How it ends: In one of the most romantic endings in cinema, Pretty Woman's final scenes see Edward realising that he can't live without Vivian and wins her back by climbing up to her apartment via the fire escape with flowers between his teeth and proposes to her. However, that wasn't always the plan...
Alternative ending: The original screenplay written by J. F. Lawton has a completely different and a lot darker ending. It involves the two not ending up together at all as Edward returns Vivian to Hollywood Boulevard and throws a stack of cash at her before saying: "You'll regret not taking it, you'll regret it as soon as I leave."
The final scene then sees Vivian in Disney land, where she's blowing all the money with her friend.
Se7en, 1996
How it ends: There's a lot going on in this high intensity thriller from the get go. But the movie ends with Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) shooting John Doe (Kevin Spacey) after finding out that he murdered his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow).
Alternative ending: Director, David Fincher had multiple endings on his storyboard when creating the movie. One that almost made the cut was having Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) shoot Doe instead. But in the end, he decided against it.
The Shining, 1980
How it ends: The famous Stephen King novel was adapted into a screenplay by Stanley Kubrick in 1980, becoming one of the greatest films of all time. In Kubrick's ending, which differs a lot from King's original (so much so that he has publicly expressed his dislike for it) hotel cook Dick Hallorann is killed by Jack (Jack Nicholson), and after chasing him through the hedge maze, Danny (Danny Lloyd) reunites with Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and they escape, leaving Jack to freeze to death. The final shot of the movie then shows Jack with other guests in the hotel’s ballroom.
Alternative ending: One other ending that Kubrick and his team considered included killing Danny and having Wendy kill Jack in self-defence, while Hallorann was possessed by the hotel. However, he ultimately changed his mind.
Thelma & Louise, 1991
How it ends: Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) became feminist icons at a time where on-screen moments of women empowerment were few and far between. The film's iconic ending sees the two driving their '66 Thunderbird convertible off a cliff near the Grand Canyon as they're chased by the police. The picture of the two holding hands as they fall to their death has gone down in history as one of the best movie moments of all time but it almost didn't happen.
Alternative ending: Once again, director Ridley Scott wasn't completely sold on the ending, which was written by screenwriter Callie Khouri. Actress Susan Sarandon once told Entertainment Weekly that Scott had played with the idea of killing just one of the women, making Louise save Thelma by pushing her out of the car right before they went down the cliff. Luckily he changed his mind as the existing endings is way more powerful.
I Am Legend, 2007
How it ends: This film really puts us through it and the ending always divides people as the final scenes show Robert Neville (Will Smith) dying.
Alternative ending: Another ending that almost made it into the film saw the leader of the zombies come to Robert to take back the person he loves, proving that they are in fact capable of love and attraction. Most importantly though, this version also included Robert staying a live and leaving the city.
Alien, 1979
How it ends: Another timeless classic, Alien was the movie that brought us the great Sigourney Weaver who plays badass alien slayer Ellen Ripley. As we know, the film ends with Ripley ultimately winning her tiring battle against the aliens before falling back into cryo-sleep for her journey home. However director Ridley Scott initially had other ideas about how he wanted the movie to end...
Alternative ending: "I thought that the alien should come in, and Ripley harpoons it and it makes no difference, so it slams through her mask and rips her head off," Scott once admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "It would mimic Captain Dallas [Tom Skerrit] saying, ‘I’m signing off."
Fight Club, 1999
How it ends: While director David Fincher pretty much followed Chuck Palahniuk's book to a T for most of the Fight Club film adaptation, he completely changed the ending. In the movie, Jack (Edward Norton) and Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) choose each other and hold hands as they watch the old world collapse.
Alternative ending: In the book, things are far less romantic and more disturbing as 'the narrator' (Brad Pitt/Edward Norton) wakes up in a mental institution surrounded by hospital attendants who are desperate to save their leader and continue their war against society. Tyler Durden also dies, leaving things on a sad note.
Titanic, 1998
How it ends: It may take three and a half hours to get through but this classic is iconic for its ending. As we know, the film ends with the revelation that Rose secretly had the infamous necklace (the one she and her crew was on board the Titanic in search of) all along and in the last scenes of the movie, she throws it overboard so that it can be laid to rest with her lover, Jack.
Alternative ending: In a deleted scene that went viral in early 2021, we were shown a completely different ending to the film that fans were in agreement was terrible. It involved Rose handing the necklace to
to Bill Paxton’s treasure hunter, Brock Lovett, who is thrilled to finally discover it. However, after looking deeply into Rose’s eyes, he comes to realise that there’s no real value in the jewel after all, despite crossing oceans to find it. Rose then makes a sudden squeal and throws it into the ocean in a scene which feels almost comical. It's all very cringe!
