Tiffany Haney
The 1985 film Clue, based on the board game, has three endings, with a fourth ending filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. Each of the three endings was screened at different theatres, with the home media releases including all three endings. The endings are intriguingly distinct, with only one of them fitting the on-screen action. The film initially received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, but later developed a cult following.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of endings | 3 (theatrical release) |
| 4 (including an unreleased ending) | |
| Format of endings | A, B, and C (theatrical release) |
| Ending 1, Ending 2, Ending 3, and "What Really Happened" (home media release) | |
| Intent of multiple endings | Encourage repeat viewings in theatres |
| Emulate the gameplay experience of the board game | |
| Commercial performance | Poor box office performance |
| Cult following and commercial success on home media and streaming platforms |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The multiple endings were a marketing gimmick
The 1985 film Clue is based on the board game of the same name and features three distinct endings, with a fourth ending that was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. Each of the three endings was screened at different theatres, with copies of the movie containing either ending A, B, or C sent to theatres.
The multiple endings can be seen as a marketing gimmick, as they were likely intended to encourage superfans to watch the film multiple times in the hopes of seeing all three endings. However, this proposition failed, and Clue performed poorly at the box office, grossing less than $15 million against its $15 million budget.
The failure of the multiple endings gimmick can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the endings were distributed by region, implying that viewers would have to travel outside their usual theatres to see all three endings. Secondly, even if they went to a different theatre, there was no guarantee which ending they would see, as there was no indication of the regional divide to ticket-buying customers.
Despite the initial box office failure, the film has since gained a cult following, with DVD, television, and streaming versions containing a clever edit of all three endings. The multiple endings have contributed to the film's success in its second life, as fans debate the plausibility of each ending and the true conclusion to the mystery.
While the multiple endings may have been intended as a marketing gimmick, they have ultimately enhanced the film's reputation and appeal, solidifying its status as a cult classic.
Silverstone Pots and Pans: Teflon-Free?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film's commercial failure is attributed to the multiple endings
The 1985 film Clue, based on the board game, has three endings, with a fourth ending filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. Each of the three endings was screened at different theatres, with no guarantee for viewers which ending they would see. This was intended to encourage superfans to watch the film multiple times, but the proposition failed miserably.
The film grossed less than $15 million at the box office, just short of its $15 million budget. Its box office failure is usually attributed to this stunt. However, the DVD, television, and streaming versions, which contain all three endings stitched together, have enjoyed a successful second life, and the film is now considered a cult classic.
The first ending depicts Miss Scarlet as the killer and ultimate blackmailer. In the second ending, Mrs. Peacock is revealed to be the killer. In the third ending, the guilt is more evenly distributed, with every character having killed at least one person, and Wadsworth is the real blackmailer.
The "lost" fourth ending features Wadsworth explaining how he killed Boddy and the other victims, then revealing to the guests that they've all been poisoned, leaving no witnesses to his perfect crime.
All-Clad Stainless Steel: Oven-Proof?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The endings were distributed by region
The 1985 film Clue, based on the board game, has three endings that were distributed by region. Theaters were sent copies of the film with one of the three endings, labelled Ending A, Ending B, or Ending C. The intention was to encourage superfans to watch the film multiple times, but this plan failed. The film performed poorly at the box office, grossing less than $15 million against a budget of $15 million.
In Ending A, Miss Scarlet is revealed to be the killer and the blackmailer. She attempts to shoot Wadsworth, thinking he is Mr. Boddy, but fails due to a lack of bullets in the gun. Wadsworth is an FBI agent, and Miss Scarlet is arrested.
Ending B, also known as the "How About This?" ending, reveals Mrs. Peacock as the murderer. She killed the victims to prevent them from exposing her for accepting bribes from foreign politicians, leveraging her husband's diplomatic work. She outsmarts Wadsworth and the other guests, holding them at gunpoint, and makes it to the front door before being arrested. Wadsworth, an undercover FBI agent, offers fruit or dessert to the guests.
Ending C, titled "And Here's What Really Happened," reveals that every character has killed at least one person, and Wadsworth is the blackmailer. Mr. Green is an FBI agent who calls the police, leading to the arrest of everyone involved.
A fourth ending was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. In this ending, Wadsworth explains that he is the killer and that he has poisoned the guests. He attempts to escape but is caught by the police.
The different endings were likely intended to emulate the gameplay experience of the board game, where the outcome can vary each time. While the film initially received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, it has since gained a cult following, with many fans appreciating its wit, clever plot twists, and fast pace.
The Perfect Domino's Pan Pizza Build
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The endings can be judged by their entertainment value
The 1985 film Clue, based on the board game, has three endings, with a fourth ending filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. The multiple endings were intended to emulate the gameplay experience, where the game can end differently each time. However, the gimmick failed miserably, with Clue grossing less than $15 million at the box office.
The second ending, or Ending B, reveals Mrs. Peacock as the killer, who murders everyone to cover up the fact that she was taking bribes from foreign powers. This ending is considered less believable due to Mrs. Peacock's athleticism and advanced age, and has been described as "the worst".
The third ending, or Ending C, is referred to as "What Really Happened" and spreads the blame around to all the characters. Wadsworth is revealed to be Mr. Boddy in disguise, and he invited everyone to the party with the hope that they would kill each other, allowing him to dispose of his blackmail victims and continue his blackmail scheme. This ending has been described as "the most outlandish".
Despite the initial box office failure, the film has since gained a cult following, with fans enjoying the wit, clever masking of the killings, and fast pace. The multiple endings add to the entertainment value, allowing viewers to experience different resolutions and encouraging rewatches to uncover the "real" killer.
Base Pan Heaters: Necessary for Mini-Splits?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
There was a fourth ending that was cut from the film
The 1985 black comedy murder mystery film Clue, based on the board game of the same name, has three endings. However, a fourth ending was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. This ending was alluded to by Tim Curry in interviews after the film's release.
In this fourth ending, Wadsworth, the butler, explains that he killed Mr. Boddy and the other victims. He then reveals to the guests that they have all been poisoned and will not survive to report his perfect crime. As Wadsworth disables the phones, the police chief, who had previously posed as an evangelist, returns with a squad of officers who disarm him. Wadsworth manages to escape and attempts to get away in a police car, only to crash when Dobermanns attack him from the back seat.
This ending was included in the novelisation of the film, written by Michael McDowell, and a youth adaptation, Clue: The Storybook, co-written by Landis, Lynn, and Ann Matthews. Both were published in 1985.
The decision to split up the endings of the film was influenced by director Jonathan Lynn's desire to emulate the gameplay experience. The film's mansion, with its secret passages, was modelled after the board game. The multiple endings were intended to encourage superfans to watch the film multiple times, although this proposition failed miserably.
Coconut Oil and Non-Stick Pans: A Bad Combination?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The film Clue has three endings, with a fourth ending that was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut.
The multiple endings were likely a marketing scheme to encourage superfans to watch the film multiple times. The gimmick failed miserably, and Clue performed poorly at the box office.
In the first ending, Miss Scarlet is revealed to be the killer and the ultimate blackmailer. She attempts to shoot Wadsworth but fails due to a lack of bullets, and is arrested by the FBI.
In the second ending, Mrs. Peacock is revealed to be the killer. She murdered the victims to ensure that they wouldn't reveal her secret—that she accepted bribes from foreign politicians as part of her husband's diplomatic work. She is arrested by the FBI.
In the third ending, known as "What Really Happened", the guilt is spread out among the characters. Wadsworth is revealed to be Mr. Boddy in disguise, and he invited everyone to the party with the hope that they would commit murders, allowing him to dispose of his network of informants.
