Poll: Alternate Movie Endings

Results of 1,502 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Alien (1979)

    

   in Ridley Scott’s original vision, Ripley would make good her escape from the exploding Nostromo, only for the xenomorph to reappear on her shuttle, bite her head off, and start communicating with Ear…
2. 2.
   

   Se7en (1995)

    

   A scene that was storyboarded but never shot, the alternate ending of Se7en, would have Morgan Freeman’s Somerset kill John Doe SPOILER: instead of Brad Pitt’s Mills. Choosing the original ending help…
3. 3.
   

   I Am Legend (2007)

    

   Instead of SPOILER: Neville blowing himself and the hemocytes up with a grenade, we would see the Darkseekers break into Neville's lab because they were looking for the female Darkseeker he has been e…
4. 4.
   

   The Terminator (1984)

    

   The alternate ending would feature a group of company suits hiding the Terminator remains from the police during the clean-up at the factory. The film would then end by showing the camera panning out …
5. 5.
   

   Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

    

   Instead of bittersweet and poignant [George Lucas] wanted a euphoric ending with everybody happy. The original idea was that they would recover [the kidnapped] Han Solo in the early part of the story …
6. 6.
   

   The Butterfly Effect (2004)

    

   The "director's cut" alternate ending shows Evan turning on the home movies, only this time instead of SPOILER: watching a home movie at a neighborhood gathering, he's watching the video of …
7. 7.
   

   Donnie Darko (2001)

    

   In the version, we watched SPOILER: Donnie wake up following his journey through the Tangent Universe before getting squashed by the jet engine in the Primary Universe. The alternate ending still sees…
8. 8.
   

   Titanic (1997)

    

   Instead of SPOILER: Aged Rose quietly dropping her priceless Heart of the Ocean bauble into the abyss, the original ending had her giving a seriously cheesy speech about life being the only thing that…
9. 9.
   

   The Birds (1963)

    

   The original script had called for the final shot to show the Golden Gate Bridge completely covered in feathered foes. The scene, however, was scrapped when it became clear how expensive it would be t…
10. 10.
    

    The Lion King (1994)

     

    Scar still SPOILER: meets his much-deserved end, but he burns to death instead of SPOILER: being ripped to pieces by hyenas. During their big battle, Scar throws Simba off of a cliff, saying, “Goodnig…
11. 11.
    

    The Descent (2005)

     

    Sarah apparently escapes from the evil cavern and makes it to her car, before it is revealed that she is, in fact, hallucinating, and is doomed to stay trapped within its terrifying confines. A truly …
12. 12.
    

    Orphan (2009)

     

    The action stops after Kate's rescue of Max. Esther runs up to her room, reapplies her makeup then, when the police arrive, she appears at the top of the steps, calmly introducing herself and curtseyi…
13. 13.
    

    Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

     

    The film would end with a giant custard pie fight in the war room. It would also featuree Dr Strangelove wriggling around on the floor, before unsuccessfully attempting to shoot himself, then suggesti…
14. 14.
    

    2012 (2009)

     

    In the original version, it was made clear that the entire African continent was spared the global flooding, and now the ark’s built and populated by the world’s elite are now on their way there to fo…
15. 15.
    

    Thelma & Louise (1991)

     

    The iconic finale for this film was nearly ruined by showing just a little too much. Instead of their SPOILER: death dive off the cliff being cut off in glorious flight, we would have been treated to …
16. 16.
    

    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

     

    Scott has now finally achieved his goal, through the course of events, he has realized that Knives is the one meant for him - especially given her help against Graves. It's a more 'traditional' ending…
17. 17.
    

    Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

     

    The 1986 version of this iconic movie-musical was supposed to end with Audrey II killing Audrey and Seymour and taking over New York City. That's in keeping with the off-Broadway ending, which is what…
18. 18.
    

    28 Days Later (2002)

     

    Instead of SPOILER: Jim being saved, he dies on the operating table. Distraught, the two have no choice but to arm themselves again and walk out through swinging hospital doors into the unknown. Boyle…
19. 19.
    

    Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

     

    The ending we were treated to was SPOILER: Butch and Sundance leaving the house with guns a'blazing, as we hear the return fire, though we don't actually see anyone die. This left us in a slight state…
20. 20.
    

    Rocky (1976)

     

    Stallone’s original screenplay had Rocky accepting money to throw the fight against Apollo Creed—who would have, for some reason, been Jamaican. Rocky would then proceed to use the cash to help Adrian…