20 Alternate Endings That Almost Transformed These Classic Movies
The endings of movies are a pretty big deal. From shocking revelations to crazy plot twists, there are plenty of iconic moments that come at the very end of films. Because of that, a radical rewrite of a movie’s closing scenes can completely change the audience’s perception of the production. Prepare to be shocked, then, by how some of your favorite flicks could have turned out. Oh and just a heads up – this article is littered with spoilers…
20. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
We’ve all seen – and likely cried over – Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic about a boy’s friendship with a loveable alien. It broke box office records on its release and became the highest-grossing film of all time, until Jurassic Park dinosaur-stomped on that record. Who could forget that tear-jerking final scene when Elliott and his family watch E.T.’s spaceship soar into the skies? But the goose-bump-inducing climactic moment was almost never made.
In the original ending, reports have it, Elliot would’ve delivered a pretty mature monologue to an unknown adult, that goes like this, “We come in peace. We’ve been on this journey for many days. We are adventurous, searching for experience, and if we don’t got any, then we’re not going to be able to survive in this world. Goodbye, E.T.” In the next scene, Elliott is seen playing happily with other children. Not nearly as powerful perhaps, but a neat ending nonetheless.
19. Alien
Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror flick sees a psychotic alien xenomorph embark on a grisly killing spree aboard the spacecraft Nostromo. Even if you haven’t actually seen the movie, you’ll likely be familiar with its famous – and often parodied – scene where the killer creature bursts from the chest of one unfortunate crew member. Alien was the first big feature-film role for a young Sigourney Weaver, in the role of the movie’s heroine, Ripley.
In the actual ending, Ripley barely escapes with her life after a final-hour grapple to the death with the murderous beast. But the originally conceived ending saw things playing out a little differently. And it’s one for gore fans… Instead of coming off the loser after the previously mentioned battle to the death, the alien finishes off Ripley. It then imitates her while talking to Earth. Chilling? Yes. Crazy? Absolutely.
