While it has been almost 23 years since the release of Fight Club, it is back in the news. The news is that a version of Fight Club in China now has a severely altered ending. Chuck Palahniuk, the writer of the novel on which the film is based, has voiced his opinion on this new ending.
China has strict guidelines for films and it has led to many edits or just complete bans on movies including Brokeback Mountain, Ben-Hur, and Joker. The Chinese government even recently banned South Park after the animated series released an episode that heavily criticized the countries administration.
In the original version of Fight Club, the Narrator (Edward Norton) shoots himself, killing his chaotic alter-ego, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). He then watches out the window alongside Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) as the two watch buildings explode and collapse as Durden’s plan comes to fruition. In China’s altered ending, the explosion is completely removed from the film and a block of text appears that says this:
“Through the clue provided by Tyler, the police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding. After the trial, Tyler was sent to lunatic asylum receiving psychological treatment. He was discharged from the hospital in 2012.”
So, the Narrator ends up being caught and the revolution set up by Durden is defeated. It certainly is quite the change and Palahniuk recently voiced his opinion on social media.
Have You Seen This Sh*t?This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China!
https://t.co/saVA2yro9B pic.twitter.com/20UzTi1nyI
— Chuck Palahniuk (@chuckpalahniuk) January 25, 2022
“Have You Seen This Sh*t? This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China!,” Palahniuk said in a tweet.
Palahniuk also wrote a short blog post on his site where he gave a longer reaction to this change in China.
Tyler and the gang were all arrested,” the author wrote. “He was tried and sentenced to a mental asylum. How amazing. I’d no idea! Justice always wins. Nothing ever exploded. Fini.”
This new ending for Fight Club can be seen on China’s streaming site, Tencent Video. For those who want to see the original ending or just watch Fight Club for the 80th time, it is available to rent or buy on VOD. Just remember, don’t talk about it.
