Ending the story the right way can make or break a movie in the eyes of audiences. When the ending fails to connect, the entire movie can leave fans with a bad impression. And in some cases, the movies had a much better ending in hand only to choose a different, less satisfying path.
Alternate endings offer fans a glimpse at what might have been with certain movies. Though some are better left on the cutting room floor, fans on Reddit have identified some of these proposed endings that they feel would have been a vast improvement over what was ultimately chosen.
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Ashton Kutcher stars in The Butterfly Effect as a man who is able to return to certain parts of his life by reading his journal. When he starts alternating aspects of the past, he finds that it has drastic consequences, even harming those close to him.
The original ending had Kutcher going back to ensure he and the girl he loves never meet, thus giving her a better life. the director’s cut offers a darker solution as Kutcher’s character goes back to his birth and kills himself to prevent him from ruining anyone’s life. Redditor StMcAwesome suggested, "I think the director's cut ending was more fitting."
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
In the wacky sports comedy Dodgeball, Vince Vaughn's team of misfits go up against Ben Stiller's team of bullies in a dodgeball tournament. As to be expected, the movie ends with the good guys winning the match and using the prize money to save their gym.
However, the entire movie would have had a different feel had the original ending remained. It simply had Stiller eliminating Vaughn in the final match and the villains winning. Redditor Gorrondonuts felt it "would have been great for that movie that was billed as a 'A True Underdog Story' to end with them losing."
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner is known for its many different versions, offering a few different endings. The original ending found Deckard and Rachel leaving the city and heading out into freedom with a hopeful ending for the pair.
The ending released as the "Final Cut" leaves things very uncertain for them as it is hinted that Deckard is a replicant as well and he realizes that their time together will be short anyway. The alternate ending is now accepted as the true ending and Redditor Tony_Yeyo pointed out that the "happy ending for general public was a bit schmaltzy."
The Descent (2005)
The claustrophobic horror movie The Descent follows a group of female friends who explore a cave during a getaway and find themselves trapped with the flesh-eating ghouls hiding in the darkness. As they are killed off, one by one, the ending showed to American audiences found the protagonist escaping the cave and driving off.
The European ending had the same escape, but it was then shown to be a dream and she was still in the cave as the monsters close in. Redditor Daeldalus_ expressed that "that ending really hammers home the terror of that situation."
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Following the T-800 sacrificing himself, James Cameron's Terminator 2 ended with Sarah and John Connor driving off into the sunset with Sarah's narration explaining that Judgement Day will still come and she'll be ready.
That ending allowed for the several Terminator sequels that followed, but some preferred the more definitive alternate ending. It also features narration from Sarah explaining that they did in fact stop Judgement Day and she was able to see John grow up. Redditor MartyrMcFly felt "it falls in line with 'no fate but what we make'' which was the theme of the story.
First Blood (1982)
Rambo's first movie, First Blood, is a much quieter thriller than the over-the-top sequels that followed. It follows the Vietnam vet as he is harassed by local police while hitchhiking which reignites his killer instinct. The movie ends with Rambo being arrested by the police while leaving him sympathetic.
Like Terminator 2, the alternate ending would have made sequels difficult as Rambo has his old war companion kill him instead of allowing him to be arrested. Redditor Low-Cantaloupe9426 felt that a darker conclusion was "a better fit for that reality."
Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995)
Die Hard with a Vengeance found John McClane returning to face off with a new villain, played by Jeremy Irons. Following a massive gold heist, the theatrical ending featured a big action sequence in which the bad guys are killed and McClane saves the day again.
The alternate ending was a quieter conclusion with McClane hunting down Irons years after he got away with the heist. With McClane's life in shambles, he challenges the villain to a game of Russian roulette with a rocket launcher which McClane wins. Redditor bolshevik_rattlehead stated it would have been "way cooler than the helicopter shootout" the official ending delivered.
Clerks (1994)
The indie comedy Clerks is a simple story of Dante, the employee of a small grocery store, as he spends his boring work day. Appropriately, the movie doesn't have a big ending, but simply has Dante closing up shop at the end of the day.
Interestingly, the alternate ending ended the comedic story on a very dark note as Dante is closing up only to be suddenly gunned down by a robber just as the credits roll. Redditor brnjenkn insisted the shocking ending, "fit the movie so much better."
Get Out (2017)
After suffering through an intense and horrific experience, Get Out allows Chris a happier ending. When flashing lights appear, it looks very bad for Chris, only for it to be his faithful sidekick Rob coming to save him.
The alternate ending robbed fans of the crowd-pleasing moment but delivered more poignant commentary. Chris is arrested for all the deaths of the Armitage family and the final image shows him in prison surrounded by other Black men. Redditor odintantrum admitted, "it's bleak and hopeless but I think it's the right ending to the story."
I Am Legend (2007)
Based on the sci-fi novel of the same name, I Am Legend stars Will Smith as the last survivor of an outbreak battling mutants to find a cure. The movie ends with Smith's hero saving newly discovered survivors and taking out the mutants, thus giving humanity some hope.
The alternate ending stuck to the ideas of the novel by showing the mutants were not mindless monsters, but rather they saw Smith's character as the monster who threatened them. Redditor DredZedPrime called it "absolutely the biggest disparity between a good alternate ending vs bad theatrical ending I've ever seen."