The 1985 cult classic Clue was released with three different theatrical endings
In short: When Clue hit theaters in 1985, audiences never knew which conclusion they would see. Depending on the screening, the mystery resolved in one of three ways, with the true culprit changing entirely. This experimental approach to storytelling helped the film evolve from a mixed critical reception into a beloved cult favorite.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn, the film adapts the classic board game into a 1954-set murder mystery. Six strangers are invited to a remote mansion, where they are assigned aliases like Colonel Mustard and Miss Scarlet. They soon discover they are all being blackmailed by a man named Mr. Boddy regarding their various illicit secrets. When Boddy turns up dead, the guests must identify the killer among them before the police arrive.
The production was marked by creative turbulence. Playwright Tom Stoppard spent a year on the script before departing, and the final screenplay was completed by Lynn. John Landis, who originally intended to direct, is credited with the concept of multiple endings. A fourth, darker ending—in which the butler Wadsworth kills everyone—was ultimately cut because it was deemed too obvious. This discarded conclusion appeared later in the film's novelization and a youth-oriented storybook.
Upon its initial release, critics were largely unimpressed. Reviewers like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert dismissed the multiple-ending format as a distracting gimmick, and the film struggled at the box office, grossing $14.6 million against a $15 million budget. However, the film's reputation improved significantly over time. Its ensemble cast, featuring actors like Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn, is now widely praised for elevating the material. Today, home media releases allow viewers to watch the endings sequentially, cementing the film's status as a unique piece of cinematic history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Clue (film)
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