Filmmakers adapting books onto the screen face an incredible challenge that they often don't meet. It's rare to find a movie that not only does a book justice, but ends up being better. Beyond the challenge of truncating a lengthy novel into a two-hour film, movies based on books tread a fine line of staying true to the source content and standing out in their own right. These films took a gamble by changing the ending of the story - sometimes drastically, sometimes minimally - and it paid off. The filmmakers took the opportunity to rewrite the narrative and actually improved it. Read on for the movie endings that are better than the books.
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How the book ended: Forrest runs into Jenny (a very different character than in the film) after an impromptu trip to Savannah, where he is playing harmonica on the street. She is with a boy, also named Forrest, who she reveals is his son. Forrest Gump talks to the boy briefly and then they part ways. Forrest decides to set aside money for his son from his shrimping business. He briefly considers attempting to reunite with Jenny, who is married and raising Forrest Jr. with another man, but ultimately decides his son is better off without him as the father.
How the movie ended: Forrest is visiting Jenny in Savannah after receiving a letter from her. Upon seeing her, he meets his son, Forrest, and Jenny reveals that she is sick with an incurable virus (thought by many viewers to be HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C). Mother and son move back to Alabama to live with Forrest, where he and Jenny marry. She passes the following year, and Forrest is shown taking his son to the bus stop for his first day of school.
In the book version, Jenny is content raising Forrest's child with another man and never informs him of his existence until she happens to run into him on the street. Rude. The other problematic piece of the book ending is that Jenny and Forrest both seem to believe that because he is intellectually disabled he is incapable of raising a child. The ending of the book suggests that Forrest does the right thing for his son by removing himself from the picture, whereas the film ending shows Forrest as the loving and devoted father we all know his character can be.
- Actors: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field
- Released: 1994
- Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Is the movie ending better?- 1Sally Field37 Votes
- 2Gary Sinise36 Votes
- 3Tom Hanks35 Votes
- 4Robin Wright26 Votes
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How the book ended: Nicholas Sparks's book ends in a similar scene to the film - Noah slips into Allie's bedroom at night. The book's ending is more ambiguous: He kisses her and she starts to unbutton his shirt, and... that's it. We learn in the sequel, The Wedding, that Allie passed that night but Noah lives on.
How the movie ended: Noah sneaks into Allie's room. She has a lucid moment where she remembers him and the two pass away in each other's arms... to sobbing heard round the world.
The movie ending is memorable and bittersweet. It provides closure to the two characters and their love story. To have them start to get freaky and then call it a wrap in the film version would've cheapened their romance to viewers, and to have only one of them pass would've been too cruel to digest. The whole point of the story (and all those tears) is that their love defies all obstacles and odds, and the movie proves that to be true with its ending.
- Actors: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marsden
- Released: 2004
- Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Is the movie ending better?How the book ended: Angier is living in two duplicated forms after Borden mistakenly saves his duplicate version backstage. The Angier duplicate attacks a Borden twin, who later perishes. Original Angier, who is terminally ill, also passes. The duplicate version tries to teleport into dead Angier's original body in the hopes of uniting as a whole again. Through Angier and Borden's great grandchildren, it's revealed that Angier, in some version, lives on.
How the movie ended: After Borden is found backstage with a deceased Angier duplicate, he is eventually hanged for his murder. Before Borden's demise, Angier visits disguised as Lord Caldlow, with Borden's daughter as his ward. The remaining Borden twin later shoots Angier, revealing their "trick" as Angier perishes. As he leaves, Borden #2 finds the tanks of deceased Angier duplicates and realizes that Angier was effectively drowning himself night after night.
Both tellings manage to be confusing as hell. But the book and the film diverge when the book has Angier live on in two forms. While both narratives have a supernatural element chalked up to "science," the book's version becomes unnecessarily convoluted and lowers the stakes. With two versions of a main character existing, neither of them fully whole, they both feel unimportant. The book breaks its own rules and ends up feeling like a cheap trick, while the film's ending is smarter and finishes like a well-executed illusion.
- Actors: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo
- Released: 2006
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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How the book ended: After telling off Miranda Priestly, Andrea is blacklisted from the publishing industry and moves back home with her parents. She works on her writing and sells off her designer clothing. She eventually lands an interview in the same building as Runway and sees Miranda's latest miserable assistant.
How the movie ended: On the Paris trip with Miranda, Andy realizes she is morphing into the monster that is her boss, and walks away on the spot. She reunites with her boyfriend Nate and is shown interviewing at another writing job. She gets the job and the editor tells her that Miranda Priestly informed him that Andy was her "biggest disappointment" but that he would be an idiot not to hire her. Andy later sees Miranda getting into a car and waves. Miranda doesn't acknowledge her but smiles once inside the vehicle.
Lauren Weisberger's ending just feels meh. Andrea moves on from Runway but we don't get a lot of closure on her relationship with Miranda or what her future holds. In the film ending, Miranda and Andy demonstrate a mutual respect for each other that feels true to the characters and their relationship. Neither are black and white characters. They may take different paths but they also share an understanding and appreciation for what the other is trying to accomplish.
- Actors: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt
- Released: 2006
- Directed by: David Frankel
Is the movie ending better?- 5
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How the book ended: The book jumps from "the Losers" characters as children to the same characters in adulthood. But the childhood portion ends with a Bill-versus-It sewer showdown with the help of an ancient tortoise named Maturin. After defeating It, the Losers have a casual orgy and make a blood oath to return to Derry if It should ever return.
How the movie ended: The Losers venture into the sewers to save Beverly, who has been captured by It. It attempts to lure in Bill by appearing as his deceased brother Georgie, and then attempts to turn the group against Bill, offering to take only him and go into hibernation. Ultimately, the friends all face their fears to defeat It, and they swear to return to Derry if It comes back.
First of all, the book's version of events is way too complicated for the film version. The more otherworldly and fantastical elements that are added to the final battle, the less terrifying and important It seems. By simplifying the film's ending into the characters all battling their own fears, the audience can better understand what It is and what It wants, making It a more satisfying monster. And thankfully, the movie decided to do away with the child group sex scene.
- Actors: Tim Curry, Seth Green, John Ritter, Annette O'Toole, Jonathan Brandis
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace
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How the book ended: Tyler Durden's ultimate mission for Project Mayhem is a suicide bombing in a national museum, but the device fails. Instead, as in the film, the Narrator shoots himself in an attempt to get rid of Tyler Durden. The Narrator awakens in a hospital, which he believes to be heaven. The hospital staff are revealed to be members of Project Mayhem, reassuring Mr. Durden that everything is going according to plan.
How the movie ended: Similarly to the book, the Narrator shoots himself in the cheek to trick Tyler into dying without actually taking his own life. Marla is brought to the building and the Narrator reassures Marla he's okay just as bombs set by Project Mayhem begin to go off, demolishing the surrounding buildings that house credit card companies and their debt information.
Both endings (along with the entire plot) have a lot to unpack. Both indicate that Project Mayhem is alive and well, but the book finishes on a more sinister note. The Narrator is trapped and confused, surrounded by the henchmen he created. He lacks any sense of authority or control over the future. In the film version, the Narrator appears to find a moment of clarity and hope with Marla. He dismisses the members of Project Mayhem, and though this crucial step of their plan comes to fruition, the Narrator appears to be back in the driver's seat. What comes next is left open-ended, but the film ending manages to bring a feeling of finality yet also a sense of a new beginning. And David Fincher's final shot of Marla and the Narrator hand in hand, facing the obliteration of the world as they know it as "Where is My Mind" by the Pixies blares, is memorable.
- Actors: Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Jared Leto
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: David Fincher
Is the movie ending better?- 1Edward Norton33 Votes
- 2Meat Loaf41 Votes
- 3Jared Leto30 Votes
- 4Brad Pitt29 Votes
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How the book ended: After escaping wild boars, Hannibal holds Starling captive and attempts to brainwash her into believing she is his deceased younger sister, Mischa. This doesn't work, but Hannibal does lobotomize Agent Krendler and the two casually feast on his brain in front of him. Starling then breastfeeds Hannibal and the two abscond as lovers. Three years later, they are spotted by the hospital worker Barney in Buenos Aires, who flees at the sight of this terrifying twosome.
How the movie ended: After escaping wild boars, Starling wakes up drugged at the house of Agent Krendler, where he is being lobotomized and fed his own brain, much to her horror. She attempts to slay Hannibal but is too weak, and in the ensuing struggle, she handcuffs their wrists together. As police near the house, Hannibal is shown about to chop off Starling's hand to free himself. It's later revealed that he cut off his own hand to escape, and he is shown on a plane with his arm in a sling, eating Krendler's brains and offering them to a way-too curious boy.
If you saw Hannibal the film and thought it couldn't possibly be anymore messed up and upsetting, try the book! Thomas Harris's book ending, while definitely creepy, doesn't feel in line with Agent Starling's character. Despite the connection she's shown to have with Hannibal Lecter, a romantic relationship doesn't feel justified, nor does her throwing away any sense of morality to eat brains. Rather, the literary ending seems more for shock and awe than true character development. The film ending still demonstrates the disturbing relationship between the two without verging into the ridiculous territory.
- Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie R. Faison
- Released: 2001
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
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How the book ended: After knocking Annie unconscious with the typewriter, Paul is despserate to save his Misery manuscript as police arrive on the scene. They eventually find Annie deceased in the barn, apparently heading back toward the house to slay Paul. Misery's Return is published to great success, but Paul is still haunted by Annie.
How the movie ended: Paul knocks Annie unconscious with the typewriter, but she attacks him again, at which point he beats her to death. Paul is shown 18 months later at a restaurant with his book editor. She tells him that his latest novel (not of the Misery franchise) is getting a positive response. He appears to be suffering from PTSD and hallucinates Annie as a waitress tells him she's his No. 1 fan.
The main difference in the film's ending is what happens to the Misery series. In the book, Paul burns a copy of the book Annie has forced him to write, saving and publishing it after she perishes. In the film, Paul actually burns the book and goes a different direction with his writing, as he always wanted to do. The book ending almost feels like a creepy homage to his captor - Annie was obsessed with the series and her main goal was to have this final book published. The film ends with Annie's desires for a final book never coming to fruition. Misery ends along with Annie, and Paul realizes his own dreams of writing a different novel.
- Actors: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
Is the movie ending better?How the book ended: David and his mist-surviving friends mostly escape the supermarket (RIP Ollie) and drive through the monster-filled mist. They eventually find an abandoned Howard Johnson's to stay the night, and David hears the word "Hartford" on the radio. He plans to make their way to Hartford in the hopes of finding refuge there.
How the movie ended: David and his mist-survivng friends are again driving, but rather than succumb to a terrifying death-by-mist, they all agree to have David off them instead. He shoots the other passengers (including his son) and surrenders himself to death. Suddenly, the military arrives on site to save the day and the mist dissipates, leaving David with the realization that he took his companions' lives for nothing.
The book ending follows a very familiar ending of the science fiction/apocalyptic genre, where the future is ambiguous but there is a thread of hope in some safe haven or future. This makes the film ending, where this is just a temporary catastrophe and the world is not, in fact, ending, all the more jaw-dropping and gut-wrenching. It emphasizes the importance of human actions and how we react to disasters and unknown phenomena over the phenomenon itself.
- Actors: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby Jones
- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Frank Darabont
Is the movie ending better?- 10
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How the book ended: After Mr. McAllister's election tampering is revealed, he gets a job at a car dealership. His wife decides to stay with him. A year later, Tracy visits him at the dealership and the two end up making nice, with Tracy asking him to sign her yearbook.
How the movie ended: Mr. McAllister's wife divorces him, and he moves to New York where he works as a museum tour guide. On a trip to DC, he happens to spot Tracy getting into a limo with a congressman. Mr. McAllister throws his drink at the car and runs away. We see him asking a question to students at the museum and a Tracy-esque child raises her hand in the air, which he ignores.
The book ending of Election just doesn't pack the same punch as the film's ending. The idea of Tracy backing down and reconciling with a former nemesis feels incredibly out of character and just isn't as funny. The ending of the film is also all better for showing the complete unraveling of Mr. McAllister's life and the oppositional rise of Tracy's. The movie shows Tracy winning, as she will always win, while the book version just makes it more of a wash.
- Actors: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: Alexander Payne
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How the book ended: Neville meets an infected woman, Ruth, who reveals that there is a developing society of living humans infected with the virus, different from the risen-from-the-dead vampires only out for blood. They capture Neville with the intention of making him pay for the demise of their loved ones at his hands. Ruth, however, takes pity on him and gives him suicide pills. Neville comes to understand the perspective of this new society and takes the pills.
How the movie ended: Neville, immune to the virus, finally finds two other people, Anna and Ethan, who tell him of the existence of a survivors' camp. They hide out at Neville's house, where he discovers that his attempts to cure an infected woman he trapped have been successful. The trio is attacked by the infected, and Neville hands off the cure to Anna and Ethan before sacrificing himself so they can escape. Anna and Ethan make it to the survivors' camp where they hand over Neville's cure to the virus.
These drastically different endings offer two different interpretations of the titular "legend." In the book ending, Neville's legend status is as the last member of an extinct society - he will become the "monster" of folklore in years to come as the new society begins. In the film's ending, Neville represents a heroic legend; in sacrificing himself to save humanity he has cemented himself as a martyr. While the book ending poses an interesting scenario, the film chooses to emphasize Neville's humanity. His decision to perish to save the future of humankind aligns with his actions throughout the story. To have Neville resignedly off himself in deference to a new world order, after fighting for a cure for so long, doesn't feel like a legendary way to meet one's fate.
- Actors: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield
- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Is the movie ending better?- 1Mad Max: Fury Road14 Votes
- 2Train to Busan14 Votes
- 3Snowpiercer12 Votes
- 4The Midnight Sky10 Votes
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How the book ended: Alex briefly reunites with former droog Pete and meets his wife. Alex begins to picture a family of his own and yearns for a future unlike his violent past. He finds he has grown up and is ready to abandon the criminal lifestyle of his youth.
How the movie ended: Alex is recovering in the hospital after his suicide attempt. Through psychological testing, it's revealed that his aversion therapy no longer works and he has reverted to his previous self. Government officials offer Alex a job in an attempt to keep him on their side as their successful guinea pig. Alex fantasizes about having exhibitionist sex with a woman and realizes he is "cured" of the aversion therapy.
The final chapter of Anthony Burgess's novel, which shows main character Alex growing up into a changed man, was omitted from the US publication of the book and from Stanley Kubrick's film version. Burgess believes that the final chapter is crucial to the novel, as showing characters capable of change is essential to preventing a novel from becoming a fable or allegory. Kubrick's ending definitively changes the story and finishes on a much darker note. It suggests that Alex does not change and that his desire for violence is an innate part of his nature. It's a stronger ending for the film, whereas showing Alex growing out of his perverse predilections would feel sudden and untrue. It also heightens the central conflict of the story between individual free will and the greater good of society. If Alex turns out to be good after all, it gives us the answer rather than leaving viewers to think it through.
- Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke, John Clive
- Released: 1971
- Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Is the movie ending better?
