20 Movies That Almost Ended Completely Differently

In the original ending, Neville discovers the darkseekers are merely trying to rescue their captured companion. He releases her and leaves New York peacefully, but test audiences rejected the revelation.

James Cameron filmed an alternate modern conclusion where Brock Lovett and Rose's granddaughter catch her on the railing. Lovett holds the diamond, laughs, and asks Rose's granddaughter to dance.

Sylvester Stallone filmed the novel's original tragic climax where Rambo forces Trautman's hand on a shotgun trigger. Stallone convinced producers that surviving sent a more supportive message to veterans.

Originally scripted as a bleak drama titled 3,000, Edward abandoned Vivian in a dark alley before driving away. Disney acquired the script and transformed it into a modern fairy tale.

Jordan Peele originally shot an ending where police cruisers arrive instead of Rod's TSA vehicle. Chris was imprisoned for the family's deaths before Peele decided audiences deserved a triumphant escape.

In the director's cut, Evan realizes his existence inevitably brings tragedy to everyone he loves. He watches home video of his mother giving birth and strangles himself with his umbilical cord.

The original cut ended with Alex slicing her throat to Madame Butterfly and Dan getting handcuffed. Test audiences demanded retribution, so the studio shot the famous bathroom shootout instead.

Studio executives feared Ridley Scott's ambiguous ending and forced an upbeat conclusion using spare aerial footage from The Shining. Scott later restored the elevator door closure in his director's cut.

James Cameron shot a flash-forward confirming Judgment Day never happened, showing John Connor as a U.S. Senator. Cameron cut the scene before theatrical release to keep the future open and ominous.

Stephen King's original novella ended on an ambiguous note with the survivors driving into Maine. Director Frank Darabont created the devastating military rescue sequence, which King praised.

Danny Boyle originally had Jim succumb to his gunshot wounds in the abandoned medical ward. Test audiences found it too depressing, prompting reshoots of the cottage rescue in Cumbria.

Frank Oz filmed a 23-minute visual effects finale where Audrey II devours both lead characters and crushes the Statue of Liberty. Test crowds revolted, forcing an upbeat electrocution ending.

Sam Raimi originally had Ash swallow too much sleeping potion in the cave, awakening to Big Ben in ruins. Universal Pictures preferred a heroic conclusion, adding the S-Mart shotgun shootout.

The original script skipped the helicopter battle entirely, showing an embittered McClane forcing Simon to answer riddles with a rocket launcher. The studio felt McClane seemed too cruel and replaced it.

Studio heads pitched numerous changes to avoid the box delivery, including Somerset shooting John Doe. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman refused to film unless the authentic script remained intact.

Early storyboards showed Scar laughing as fire engulfed him after throwing Simba off the ledge. Animators dropped the concept because it was too grim and weakened Simba's victory over his uncle.

Kevin Smith originally ended his debut comedy with a sudden fatal robbery at the counter. Film mentors warned Smith that killing his protagonist destroyed the comedy, so the scene was trimmed.

Edgar Wright filmed an ending where Scott stayed with Knives because the graphic novel was not finished yet. Once the comic concluded with Ramona, Wright filmed the snowy subway farewell.

Oren Peli originally showed police discovering Micah's body and firing at an unresponsive Katie holding a knife. Steven Spielberg suggested the jump-scare ending where Katie throws Micah at the lens.

The initial cut featured Alex sacrificing himself to electrical lines, leaving Clear to deliver his child months later. Test screeners disliked the shift into melodrama, leading to the Paris cafe sequence.