It's rare that a Hollywood adaptation of a famous book sticks to the original work. They can't all be loyal visualisations like the Coen Brothers' No Country for Old Men or most of the Harry Potter movies. Especially when it comes to challenging or controversial or just plain really long (*ahem*, Lord of the Rings) source material, film producers are apt to make some big changes. And often, if these studios want to make money, it has to have a happy, perfect Hollywood ending. Sometimes this works out for the best—other times, not so much.
It (2017)
In the book: Stephen King's novel takes place in the 1950s, with a second half (presumably the source for It's forthcoming sequel) when they're adults. Also, the book features a really bizarre and problematic orgy, along with some real weird stuff about a giant magic turtle that created the universe.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Ring (2003)
In the book: After all of that—the giant war, the journey into Mordor, destroying the One Ring—the fight isn't over for these poor hobbits. They go back to the Shire and find it under attack from Saruman and Wormtongue. Since they're badass hobbits now, they defeat him and presumably live happily ever after.
Fight Club (1999)
In the book: Rather than happily watch the destruction of the city, hand-in-hand with Marla, the narrator wakes up in the hospital where all the doctors and nurses are members of Project Mayhem.
A Clockwork Orange (1972)
In the book: Alex is rehabilitated and grows up to become a moral law-abiding non-murderer. Author Anthony Burgess didn’t agree with Stanley Kubrick omitting that part, which he felt was crucial to the thematic and narrative arc.
First Blood (1982)
In the book: If the movie ended in the same way as David Morrell's novel, there wouldn’t have been a Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, or Rambo. In the book, John Rambo dies from gunshot wounds in the end of the book. Obviously, that didn't happen in the movie, which was good news for Sylvester Stallone's career.
Forrest Gump (1994)
In the book: Sweet, dear Forrest goes to space, lives with cannibals, and has an active sex life!. Also, Jenny lives, but their relationship falls apart, so you can choose which ending is sadder.
Watchmen (2009)
In the graphic novel: Ozymandias destroys New York by teleporting a giant squid rather than just blowing it up by the more traditional means of explosives.
Jurassic Park (1993)
In the book: They do exactly what should have been done in this situation, which is blow up the whole damn island. Also, Richard Attenborough and Jeff Goldblum’s characters die.
I Am Legend (2007)
In the book: Unfortunately for Will Smith's character, the vampires end up establishing their own new society and put him in jail for his crimes—which honestly makes sense from their perspective.
The Natural (1984)
In the book: Roy Hobbs strikes out at his final at-bat. No fanfare. He tries to win, but fails. Such is life.
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
Dom Nero is a staff video editor at Esquire, where he also writes about film, television, tech, and video games.
