"50 First Dates" Almost Had a Tragic Ending: A Look Behind the Scenes
The 20th anniversary of Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler's beloved rom-com, "50 First Dates", has brought to light an intriguing detail: the film was originally envisioned with a much darker, bittersweet conclusion.
Speaking on her eponymous daytime talk show, Barrymore revealed that the initial script, then titled "50 First Kisses", had a decidedly more melancholic ending. The original narrative, set in Seattle, saw Lucy (Barrymore), suffering from anterograde amnesia, ultimately telling Henry (Sandler) to move on, as their situation was unsustainable. The film would have closed with Henry returning to a restaurant, taking a seat, and simply saying "Hi, I'm Henry."
"Something that always sticks in my mind is the original ending of â50 First Kissesâ," said Barrymore. "It was a drama set in Seattle. The original ending was her saying, âYou should go and live your life, because this is no life here. And he goes away, as he does, and he comes back and he walks into the restaurant and he just sits down and says, âHi, Iâm Henry.â And the film ends."
Co-host Ross Matthews, visibly surprised, expressed his gratitude for the change in direction, exclaiming, "Honestly, can I just tell you: thank you. Thank you for changing it."
While the film's theatrical release ultimately adopted a happier ending, depicting the couple happily reunited with their daughter in Alaska, another alternate ending was initially considered. In this version, Henry would make a poignant gesture to help Lucy recall their shared memories by creating a mural depicting their relationship.
Director Peter Segal, who has collaborated with Sandler on numerous projects including "Anger Management" and "The Longest Yard", spoke to Entertainment Weekly in 2019 about this alternate conclusion. "Lucy waking up in bed and immediately looking at a mural on the ceiling that tells the story of her accident and life" was the intended ending.
"It was a mural that she painted that, unlike the mural in her fatherâs garage, which they painted over each day so she had a blank canvas to work on, this one Henry left up so that when she woke up in the morning she could see a pictorial timeline of her last day to reintroduce her," Segal explained.
Despite the compelling nature of the mural concept, the film ultimately moved towards a more heartwarming ending, showcasing Henry pursuing his dream of studying walruses in Alaska, alongside Lucy, her father, and their daughter.
"The hardest thing in movies is come up with a strong beginning and a strong end," said Segal. "And if you have that, youâve got a shot. And I think to this day, itâs the best ending to any movie that Iâve done."
While the original, bittersweet conclusion might have been a compelling departure, the heartwarming ending that graced the screen has undoubtedly resonated with audiences and secured "50 First Dates" a place in rom-com history.
