History Main / FocusGroupEnding

* ''Film/IAmLegend'' massively changed the original ending, which was closer to Richard Matheson's novella. In the original ending, [[spoiler:the protagonist has a HeelRealization]]. This twist was averted in the new ending into [[spoiler:a HeroicSacrifice]], basically the exact opposite of what the novel did and what the rest of the film was building up to. Several plot details hinting at the original ending remain in the film. Bizarrely, the film went through three rounds of focus groups, with the composition of the groups being changed each time to exclude everyone who liked the original ending and/or disliked the altered ending. Normally a focus group is used to find out whether making changes would increase a movie's popularity. But in this case, the executives were rigging the focus group in order to validate their own pre-conceived [[ExecutiveMeddling meddling]].

* ''Film/JawsTheRevenge'': The original theatrical ending had Jake be eaten by the shark and the shark killed by impalement on the boat's prow. However, test audiences were very disturbed by Jake's death, so he (somehow) survives. They also changed the shark's death to [[MadeOfExplodium massively exploding for no reason whatsoever when it's impaled.]] The former is ridiculous, but WordOfGod has it that while the studio demanded changes, they didn't give the production enough money to re-shoot. (The original intent was the shark to be impaled, die and sink - taking much of the boat with it.)

* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' had a DistantFinale coda showing Judgment Day had been prevented. Even if the producers had disapproved it, Creator/JamesCameron only decided to cut it once test audiences reacted badly as well, instead finishing on a more open ending that also didn't [[MoodWhiplash have a vastly different tone from the rest of the movie.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'': Originally, there was a character called P.T. Boomer that served as the film's villian, but he wound up getting canned when kids in the test audience got bored during his scenes (or were terrified by him, depending on the source). Subsequently, Diesel 10 was created to act as his replacement, and while both villains have their followers, fans are generally unable to determine which of the two they like better.

** And "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E20TheOldManAndTheCStudent The Old Man and the C Student]]" has the end of ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' edited to appeal to seniors with the poorly dubbed: "Frankly my dear, I love you, let's remarry".

Endings in particular are known to often be changed based on focus group feedback, probably because it's one of the most memorable parts of a movie (especially if you have to fill out a questionnaire right after watching.) And also because it is usually easier to change without affecting other parts of the film.

* ''Film/IAmLegend'' massively changed the original ending, which was closer to Richard Matheson's novella. In the original ending, [[spoiler:the protagonist has a HeelRealization]]. This twist was averted in the new ending into [[spoiler:a HeroicSacrifice]], basically the exact opposite of what the novel did and what the rest of the film was building up to. Several plot details hinting at the original ending remain in the film.

* ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'': Notably averted; the producers were concerned how audiences would react to the idea of Hiccup [[spoiler:losing a foot in the battle against the Red Death dragon]], but test audiences went up to them on their own account saying that they loved this powerful and daring twist for a family film and asked them to keep it.

Endings in particular are known to often be changed based on focus group feedback, probably because it's one of the most memorable parts of a movie (especially if you have to fill out a questionnaire right after watching.) You can either blame test audiences for ruining a lot of would-have-been-good movies, or praise them for improving a lot of would-have-been-crap movies. [[SturgeonsLaw Probably both]].

* The 1956 film adaptation of ''[[Literature/NineteenEightyFour 1984]]'' was initially shot with two endings; a DownerEnding that was faithful to the book [[note]]Smith is successfully broken and brainwashed by the party, becoming a stupefied and loyal citizen who genuinely loves Big Brother[[/note]] and a BittersweetEnding that shows the spirit of human defiance [[note]]Smith snaps out of it during a rally and begins screaming "Down with Big Brother" before getting shot by the Thought Police[[/note]]. The reason for this was it was an American co-production and it was feared American audiences wouldn't appreciate an ending as bleak as the book's. Then to the surprise of everyone the opposite turned out to be true; American focus groups preferred the unaltered ending, while British ones liked the bittersweet finish. The UK distribution wound up going with the defiant-to-the-end cut, leading to very negative reviews by critics and a lackluster box office return. The latter was helped along by George Orwell's widow Sonia boycotting the film for the change in ending.
-->"The producer said "I know it's got an unhappy ending but I have a belief in human nature." And I said "Well, your belief does you credit but you've simply missed the point.""

* The movie version of the musical ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors'' originally retained the DownerEnding in which Audrey and Seymour are killed and Audrey II begins its spectacular conquest of Earth to the tune of the song "Don't Feed the Plants". This went over so badly with test audiences that much of the final section of the film -- from Audrey II trying to eat her onward -- was reshot and recut to change things to a happier ending; the original finale had to be jettisoned altogether, until the Blu-ray release, which included a "Director's Cut" containing the original ending.

* The 1956 film adaptation of ''Literature/{{1984}}'' was initially shot with two endings; a DownerEnding that was faithful to the book [[note]]Smith is successfully broken and brainwashed by the party, becoming a stupefied and loyal citizen who genuinely loves Big Brother[[/note]] and a BittersweetEnding that shows the spirit of human defiance [[note]]Smith snaps out of it during a rally and begins screaming "Down with Big Brother" before getting shot by the Thought Police[[/note]]. The reason for this was it was an American co-production and it was feared American audiences wouldn't appreciate an ending as bleak as the book's. Then to the surprise of everyone the opposite turned out to be true; American focus groups preferred the unaltered ending, while British ones liked the bittersweet finish. The UK distribution wound up going with the defiant-to-the-end cut, leading to very negative reviews by critics and a lackluster box office return. The latter was helped along by George Orwell's widow Sonia boycotting the film for the change in ending.

* ''Film/SuperMarioBros'' had a focus group ''beginning'', as test audiences weren't getting the concept of the parallel dimensions, so a pixelated intro was made in postproduction to spell it out.