10 Original Endings That Would Have Ruined Famous Movies

10. Rocky Balboa - Middle-Aged Boxer Emerges Victorious

The Actual Ending:

The sixth - and what was reported to be final - installment in the Rocky saga comes full circle, with the 55-year-old coming out of retirement for one last fight against the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Mason Dixon, only to lose by a split decision in the end.

Just like the original Rocky movie, it doesn't really matter that Balboa ultimately lost the fight. It's only important that the perpetual underdog was able to go the distance with a much younger fighter, proving that he still has what it takes to hang inside the ring.

The Ending We Almost Got:

Sylvester Stallone, who felt his lack of involvement behind-the-scenes in Rocky V had allowed the franchise to end on a sour note, had repeatedly pitched a sixth installment to MGM Studios in the hopes he could give his character some real closure.

That closure? Rocky once again becomes the Heavyweight Champ by laying the smackdown on Dixon in the final round.

It's a huge change that favors a brief feel-good moment in place of a deeper statement about the Rocky mythos. The best Rocky movies aren't about the judges' decision. They aren't about winning or losing on the scorecards. They're about one man proving to himself that he's something more than the rest of the world thinks he is.

The actual ending may not be perfect, but it does a better job of capturing the true spirit of the franchise.