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22. The Santa Clause (1994)
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: Heaven knows how many other kids would have dialled that number - and gotten a very big shock.
23. Conan the Barbarian (1982)
The Studio Interference: We like to look at this as more of a helping hand than all-out interference. After all, if it hadn’t been for Universal Studios jumping in to finance and distribute the film, it would have lingered in Development Hell for even longer.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: Not only that, but the studio prevented Arnold Schwarzenegger from filling the film’s role as narrator, instead insisting that Mako take on voice-over duties. Thank goodness. Really, can you imagine the number of butchered vowels we were spared?
24. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
The Studio Interference : 'Suits' stepped in when director Rawson Marshall Thurber shot the film’s original ending, in which our underdogs lose their final dodgeball match to the Jerkass baddie. Thurber acquiesced to reshoots, but let his feelings known by having the villain moan over the closing credits that he only lost the game because “audiences can’t cope with anything challenging”.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: The underdogs wouldn’t have come out on top, and we’d have left the cinema feeling just a little cheated. Sometimes you just need a happy ending.
25. Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
The Studio Interference: Director Robert Wiene had his cut of the film questioned by producers, who wanted a less miserable ending to the film. Their suggestion? Lead character Francis wakes up, and we realise the entire film’s been a dream. How’s that for a twist?
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We would’ve been treated to a far more macabre – but far less inventive – ending. Personally, we like the studio's innovative resolution. It was the first appearance that often-repeated trope was used, and officially the last time we enjoyed it.
26. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
The Studio Interference: Halfway through production on the CGI book adaptation, Lilo & Stitch co-directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois took the reins. Why? DreamWorks decided that the film needed to be less loyal to the book and appeal to an older audience.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We would’ve had a much “sweeter” and “whimsical” film, according to voice actor Jay Baruchel, which wouldn’t necessarily have been a good thing. Dragon Toothless would also have been a lot smaller, not big enough to be ridden. Frankly, what’s the point in that?
27. Monty Pythons Life Of Brian (1979)
The Studio Interference: A case of studio abandonment worked out great for the Pythons, despite the fact that they were on the cusp of shooting Life Of Brian. When EMI Films bailed on the film (apparently the script scared them), George Harrison founded his own production company in order to pay for the film. His reason for financing Brian? “Well, I wanted to see the movie.”
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We’d never have gotten the film. That, or EMI would have released a butchered version of the film, which is too horrible to even think about.
28. Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
The Studio Interference: When Peter Jackson was originally pitching his Lord of the Rings adaptation in search of financing, he first approached Miramax. He wanted to make two films. They would only commit to one. When Jackson went to New Line, they said he should make three. The rest is history…
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: Jackson may have ended up making just two films (or even one), which is unthinkable in light of how accomplished (not to mention LONG) his trilogy is.
29. Predator (1987)
The Studio Interference: Remember that awesome scene where the group in Predator go mental and shoot their guns off into the jungle for no particular reason? That was chucked in when the studio told director John McTiernan that there should be more “gun shooting scenes” in the film. Awesome.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We’d have had less gun shooting in the film. Which just doesn’t seem right to us.
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
The Studio Interference: If it had been up to director Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now would have been released in cinemas an hour longer, and contained a lot of extra footage - including the bum-testing dinner scene at the French plantation.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We’d have had the same film as Apocalypse Now Redux, which isn’t a disaster, but undoes a lot of the careful work of the masterful ’79 version by including tension-killing scenes. Like Martin Sheen messing around on a surfboard.
31. Clerks (1994)
The Studio Interference: Director Kevin Smith has finding it impossible to get a distributor interested in his first feature film. When it was screened at the Independent Feature Market, his backers Bob Hawk and John Pierson suggested he replace the depressing ending (Dante is killed by a thief) with something a little less morose.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: We may never have seen Clerks. Thank you Mr Hawk and Mr Pierson.
32. Final Destination (2000)
The Studio Interference: How do you want to end you breakneck horror movie – with a whimper or a bang? New Line preferred the latter, which is why they insisted a new ending be shot for this franchise-starting paranoia-machine.
If They Hadn’t Stepped In: Final Destination would have ended with a talky scene in a graveyard, with Alex (Devon Sawa) having died. Instead, we got the swinging neon sign – far more effective, and far funnier.
