8 Original Movie Endings That Never Made It To Screen

Sylvester Stallone's Rocky is the only sports film to ever live by example: the little film that could about the little fighter that could. It was modestly budgeted and studios didn't hold it in high regard, allowing an unknown Stallone to take the film's lead from proven knowns like James Caan, but it fought its way into the hearts of the country and, yes, Adrienne.

It's apparent to even the most casual viewer that Rocky is doomed from the start. His rags-to-riches story is orchestrated by champ Carl Weathers as a publicity stunt to fail. And while he may not be literally taking the fall, participating is unwittingly doing so. It's only that he is fighting for Adrienne's heart that we're ultimately on his side at the end. It's almost as if it didn't matter if he threw the fight.

Because it was written as such. Originally, Stallone's own ego worked its way into the script and he couldn't see his way clear to letting his creation see defeat in the ring fair and square. Instead, he threw the fight for the mob, using the profits to live out Adrienne's dream of owning a pet store.

Thematically, it's still by and large unchanged, but the character's sudden shaky moral high ground wouldn't have gone over well with audiences.