10 Alternate Scenes That Completely Change Famous Movies
7. Clarice's Sacrifice - Hannibal
Hannibal had a pretty troubled pre-production, with cast members and directors coming and going. One of the big changes made during this turmoil was a new ending for the film.
A big part of the plot to The Silence of the Lambs' sequel involves the growing romantic attraction between Anthony Hopkins' titular serial killer and Julianne Moore's (replacing Jodie Foster from the first film) FBI agent Clarice Starling.
In the film's ending, Clarice allows Lecter to kiss her as a method of distracting him while she handcuffs her wrist to his. With the police arriving, Hannibal threatens to cut off Clarice's hand to escape. However, in a moment that proves Hannibal is genuinely in love with Clarice, he chooses to cut his own hand off instead.
The film's alternate ending completely flips that on its head though. In it, the two kiss and then Clarice allows Hannibal to escape, staying behind to face the police herself.
It's an ending that completely reverses the meaning of the film, changing it from Hannibal sacrificing himself to avoid hurting Clarice to her sacrificing herself for him. Still, it's nothing compared to the bonkers ending of the book it's based on which sees Clarice suddenly give up her entire moral code and run off with Hannibal to Argentina.