Have you ever watched a movie and felt like something was missing? Well, maybe something was missing. Making a movie is not a simple process and sometimes things end up on the cutting room floor. Whole subplots are eradicated, certain characters never see the light of day and some scenes simply fade into history. Once upon a time, when a scene was a cut, it was never seen again.
But with the advent of VHS and DVD, directors were given the chance to release their fully realized visions in the form of "extended" or "director's" cuts. And now in a world of streaming, the opportunity to release your full and untampered work is more open than ever before. But which films have the most versions on record? Which cut is the definitive one? And where can you find these multiple movies? All the answers you seek can be found down below.
10 'Justice League'
Justice League has been in the headlines a lot recently, and for good reason. Because the drama and scandal surrounding this movie could probably fill a very long book. But here's a general summary, just in case you're not caught up. Back in 2017, Zack Snyder stepped down as director of the film, due to the tragic death of his daughter. In his absence, Warner Bros decided to greatly alter Snyder's original vision, hiring Joss Whedon to complete the film.
Upon its release, the film received an overwhelmingly negative reception from critics and audiences alike. With many agreeing that the film felt like a hybrid of two very different filmmakers. In the following years, hardcore DC fans have advocated for the release of Snyder's version to be released, with #ReleasetheSnyderCut trending on Twitter across the globe. In 2020, it was announced that Snyder's original vision would be released on HBO Max in 2021. Meaning that there will be two versions of the film available in the near future.
9 'Superman II'
Long before the whole Justice League controversy, another DC film was stirring up the ever-bubbling drama pot. This film was Superman II and it left fans and critics divided for almost thirty years before the dispute was settled with the release of an alternate version. Director Richard Donner had originally intended to shoot the first two Superman films back-to-back, meaning he had half-finished the sequel before the first film had even been edited. However, Donner was not hired back for Superman II, and his finished material was given to Richard Lester to complete. The film was an overall success, but many fans still wanted to see Donner's original vision for themselves. In 2006, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was released on DVD. Leaving the franchise with two very different versions of the same film.
8 'Alien 3'
Alien 3 just might be the most controversial entry in the Alien franchise, due to its sombre tone, bleak narrative and divisive ending. The brainchild of several writers and would-be directors, the film was eventually passed onto David Fincher (yes, that David Fincher) as his directorial debut. Fincher's time as director was tumultuous: the script was unfinished, the producers despised his input and the production was losing money. In the end, the theatrical cut of the film received a lukewarm response from critics and audiences, with Fincher even disowning the film after his own subsequent success. In 2003, a version of the film called "The Assembly Cut" was released on DVD. This version of the film closely resembled Fincher's original vision, although he had no part in its creation. This version went on to be more warmly received by critics and fans, with Fincher even giving the film his approval.
7 'Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers'
Probably the most infamous entry in any horror franchise, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is now remembered by fans for its poor story and multiple versions. Released in 1995, the film was the sixth instalment of the Halloween franchise and the conclusion to the so-called "Thorn Trilogy." The original cut of the film was a long and confusing ordeal, complete with druid cults, ceremonial rape and heavy-handed lore. It went on to be received poorly by test audiences, leading to the film going through extensive reshoots before its theatrical release. However, the original cut would live on as a poor-quality internet bootleg, known among the fandom as "The Producer's Cut." Subsequently, this version of the film has been received more positively over the years and in 2014 the film was released on Blue-ray. But that's not all, for there is also a lesser-known director's cut of the film, meaning that there are currently three versions of this film in circulation.
6 'The Hobbit Trilogy'
There's no denying that The Hobbit films are long, with each film in the franchise rounding up to three hours in length. But did you know there are even longer versions of all three movies in circulation? That's right, following in the footsteps of its sister series, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit films each have their own extended cut. However, if watching a nine-hour trilogy is not your idea of a fun weekend, you could always watch "The Tolkien Edit" instead. This version of the story condenses all three movies down into a single, four-hour adventure, which more closely resembles Tolkien's original novel. However, unlike the extended cuts, "The Tolkien Edit" was not sanctioned by Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. But was instead compiled together by a fan known only as The Tolkien Editor. To date, many fans of the franchise believe this to be the superior cut and a vast improvement over the original trilogy.
5 'The New World'
Based on the story of John Smith and Pocahontas, Terrence Malick's The New World is another film that has seen its fair share of alternate versions. Released in 2005, the first version of the film was hastily cut together to meet award season deadlines and ran at 150 minutes in length. Following this, a theatrical version was released in cinemas, which ran at a shorter 135 minutes. But it wouldn't be until 2008 that Malick would release the definitive version of the film. This "Extended Cut" ran at a whopping 172 minutes and was received positively by fans and critics alike, who praised the dream-like visuals and extended scenes.
4 'Brazil'
Another film that has risen to infamy due to its behind the scenes drama, Terry Gilliam's Brazil is now often considered to be one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. Well, depending on what version you watch. Gilliam's original cut of the film ran at 142 minutes in length and ended on a dark and sombre conclusion. This particular version of the film was released in Europe without any issue and went on to receive nothing but praise. However, for the US release, Universal decided to heavily edit the film, cutting out 85 minutes of material and having it end on a happier note. Gilliam saw the decision as a betrayal of his original vision and was furious with the final result. After a lengthy dispute, Universal agreed to release a modified 132-minute version of the original cut.
3 'Apocalypse Now'
In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola made cinematic history with the release of his Vietnam War epic, Apocalypse Now. During its theatrical release, the finished film ran at a staggering 153 minutes in length. But it seemed Coppola was not entirely satisfied with the final product as he would then go on to release an extended cut in 2001. This extended version was to be called Apocalypse Now Redux and it added almost an hour of new footage into the original film. However, if three hours wasn't enough for you, there is an even longer cut of the film currently in circulation. This workprint version runs at a truly heart-stopping 289 minutes, which includes a longer opening montage as well as extended versions of the film's most iconic scenes. This particular edit was yet to be officially released to the public, and can only be viewed as a video bootleg. However, Coppola still wasn't finished tampering with the film and in 2019, he released Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut. A 202-minute version of the film to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
2 'The Exorcist'
With the amount of controversy, scandal and acclaim surrounding William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist, it should come as no surprise to learn that there are a lot of different versions of the film in circulation. In fact, there are five! After its critically acclaimed release in 1979, the film went on to air on CBS in the 1980s. However, this version of the film was greatly edited to omit the excessive amounts of violence and profanity seen in the theatrical cut. Jump to the early 2000s and another cut of the film was released for its 25th Anniversary, which included the original deleted ending. This was closely followed by a new version entitled The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen. This version was seen to be the definitive director's cut of the film and it ran for 135 minutes. But with the advent of Blu-ray, two new versions were again released to the public. These being altered versions of both the theatrical and director's cut. With such a long history, it's no surprise that The Exorcist is still as current today, as it was in 1979.
1 'Blade Runner'
If you're a huge film buff, you probably guessed that this film would hit the top of the list. Blade Runner is known as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, but it is also infamous for the numerous versions it has in circulation. To date, there have been seven recorded versions of the film, each differing in their story and visuals. The first version of the film was screened in Denver in 1982 and was received negatively by test audiences. The poor reception led to the studio changing the film's ending, as well as adding in an expositional voice over. This version of the film is now known as "The Domestic Cut" and was hated by the original director, Ridley Scott. Another cut of the film was eventually screened in San Diego, however, it was never released commercially.
Following that, another version of the film was released in Europe, Australia and Asia, and was dubbed "The International Cut" by fans. A fifth version of the movie was released on CBS in 1986, which was edited to remove profanity and nudity. It wouldn't be until 1992, that Ridley Scott would release his first director's cut of the movie, which removed any trace of the studio mandated elements. However, Scott was still not satisfied and in 2007, he would release Blade Runner - The Final Cut. This version of the film has been critically acclaimed and is now considered the definitive version of the film. It only took seven tries to get it right!
