When it comes to our favorite on-screen rom-com couples, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the romantic duo doesn’t get their happily ever after.
Yet in some rare cases, when it comes to the “will they/won’t they dynamic”, writers will land on the “won’t they” outcome.
Ever wonder which of your favorite on-screen couples almost didn’t get their fairytale ending? Keep reading to uncover the alternate storylines, where there was no “happily ever after” to be found between them.
On-Screen Couples That Nearly Ended in Heartbreak
When Harry Met Sally – Harry and Sally
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It’s hard to imagine a world where Harry and Sally didn’t have their New Year’s Eve love profession scene at the end of the Nora Ephron film that cinephiles and hopeless romantics alike have been actively quoting for over three decades later. But alas, according to director Rob Reiner, he originally planned for Harry and Sally to part ways in the end, thus proving Harry’s theory at the beginning of the film that men and women can’t be friends. Of course, his theory still holds weight in the final cut, since the duo technically don’t end up as “friends” by the end of the film. Yet according to Reiner, the original ending would have it so Harry and Sally broke off their longtime friendship.
“In the first draft of the script, or the draft we were going to shoot, Harry and Sally don’t get together,” Reiner revealed on CNN. “They meet each other years later and walk their separate ways.”
Pretty Woman – Edward and Vivian
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Pretty Woman tells the unique tale of a sex worker (Julia Roberts), who falls in love with a wealthy businessman (Richard Gear), who hires her for a week. It’s a gritty Cinderella story, proving love can bloom in the most unexpected places. But initially, the story was supposed to have a much (much) darker ending.
According to the writers (via Vanity Fair,) the initial plan was to have Edward and Vivian end on awful terms. Their final shot would involve Richard Gear’s character flinging money at Roberts, before kicking her out into the streets. (Yikes!)
As we all know, those behind the film decided to change this bleak final moment to a more classic Hollywood ending. But the impact of the alternative version was so impactful, that its influence might have trickled into the Oscar-winning film, Anora.
Friends – Chandler and Monica
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On Friends, the live audience goes wild when we discover Chandler Bing and Monica Gellar in bed together. The two share a platonic dynamic throughout the series, so when we see them hooking up for the first time, it’s a pleasant surprise that shakes up the whole friend group.
But according to the sitcom showrunners, the original plan was for Chandler and Monica’s hookup to just be a one time thing for comedic purposes. Yet since the live audience reaction was so enthusiastic to this discovery of Chandler and Monica’s clandestine affair, the writers decided to give the fans what they wanted by making them an official couple.
Friends – Ross and Rachel
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Similarly, there was an alternate ending floating in the writer’s room on Friends, in which Rachel didn’t get off the plane for Ross. This changed when the writers realized how long fans have been waiting for these two to become endgame. They are each other’s lobsters, after all.
How I Met Your Mother – Ted and Robin
Perhaps the majority of fans would have preferred this alternate ending, since the finale of How I Met Your Mother is now notoriously labeled as one of the worst show endings of all time.
But in an alternative version of the HIMYM finale, Ted and Robin don’t pair up romantically. Instead, Robin stays with Barney, while Ted and Tracy live happily ever after.
Sex and The City – Carrie and Big
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Carrie and Big were toxic throughout Sex and The City’s run, which is why creator Darren Starr admits he was rooting for the two not to end up together in the series finale.
Instead, the pair share a happily(ish?) ever after, but not without Big leaving Carrie at the altar, first. Because, of course he does.
Pretty in Pink – Andie and Blane
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In the 1980s classic film, Molly Ringwald’s alt-girl character, Andie, is pining after the popular boy, Blane (played by Andrew McArthy.) But according to writers on the John Hughes film, the initial plan was to have Andie end up with her quirky bff Duckie (Jon Cryer.)
This ending had to be altered when test audiences loudly booed the version where Duckie finally gets his dream girl, Andie. So instead, the writers gave audiences their version happily ever after, where Andie gets the popular boy in the end. (Personally, we’re team Duckie over here.)
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