Buzz
Deleted scenes usually get axed for a good reason, but that doesn’t mean we can't appreciate them. Even if they were deemed too wild, ridiculous, sluggish, or just plain strange for the final cut, it's always a pleasant surprise to discover the hidden gems we missed the first time around.
10. Kill Bill: Bill Takes on Black Dynamite
One thing that always felt a bit off about the Kill Bill films was the lack of seeing Bill in action. We were constantly told he was the best of the best—an unbeatable swordsman and ruthless killer, only rivaled by Beatrix Kiddo, of course. With this kind of setup, viewers were anticipating a grand showdown, or at least a chance to witness his incredible abilities. Yet, in the end, Bill mostly just delivered some signature Tarantino dialogue before meeting his fate via what seemed like a mystical kung fu tickle.
However, this deleted scene offers us the showdown we were hoping for. It shows Bill in action, facing off against Michael Jai White, known for playing the iconic Black Dynamite in Black Dynamite. While White's accent might feel a bit jarring, likely a tribute to the poorly dubbed martial arts films of the '70s, the choreography here is top-notch, a vast improvement over Carradine’s stiff movements in Kung Fu. This could be due to the fact that Jai White is an actual black belt and worked with Carradine to perfect their fight. But despite its excellence, Tarantino ultimately couldn't find a place for the scene in the final film, and it was left behind in the editing room.
9. Superman Returns: A Glimpse of Krypton We Never Got to See
Superman Returns had everything in its favor. The superhero genre was experiencing a resurgence, and Superman is arguably the most iconic superhero of all time. With Bryan Singer—who famously passed on directing the third X-Men movie to helm this one—leading the project, it seemed like a guaranteed success. However, the film ultimately flopped. A major criticism was that it simply didn’t engage the audience, which makes it puzzling that this particular scene didn’t make the cut.
This alternative opening has it all: mystery, spectacle, and sheer epicness. Yet, the most plausible reason for its omission from the final movie lies in pacing. The scene also didn’t quite align tonally with the rest of the film. Despite its grandeur, this sequence serves as an unfortunate example of Hollywood excess—it cost $10 million to produce, only to end up as a bonus feature on the DVD.
8. In Bruges: The Young Harry
In In Bruges, Ralph Fiennes gives a memorable performance as Harry, the foul-mouthed English gangster. In this deleted scene, we see just how ruthless and fearless Harry can be when his moral boundaries are crossed. Remarkably, Harry’s younger self is portrayed by none other than former Doctor, Matt Smith. The big question is: why was this scene left out of the movie?
According to Martin McDonagh, the scene just didn’t feel right. He believed that too many flashbacks would have been jarring and ultimately would have detracted from the main storyline. He also points out that we find out the backstory between Harry and Ken through dialogue, anyway.
Still, it would have been nice if the scene had gone through postproduction. Clearly, the scene was abandoned before final editing and smoothing over, as the CGI beheading just doesn’t look right. However, you can’t help but look at this scene and think, “I want more!” Ultimately, In Bruges still works quite well without the scene, and this is the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Matt Smith as Harry.
7. Watchmen The Lonely Death Of Hollis Mason
This scene was cut from the original theatrical version of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen and didn’t see the light of day until it was later included on the DVD and Blu-ray director’s cut. And it truly is a shame. In the scene, Hollis Mason (the original Night Owl) is targeted by a group of Knot Tops, who mistake him for the current Night Owl who’s just busted Rorschach out of jail. They barge into his place, and a fight ensues. It’s not a particularly well-choreographed fight, nor is it a particularly special effects–laden one.
Nevertheless, it’s still strangely beautiful, evoking shades of Scorsese’s Raging Bull. Plus, we get to see some more villain costumes from the Golden Age of Comics that were teased in the intro. True Alan Moore fans were probably mystified why this wasn’t in the theatrical cut of the film, as, thematically, it fit with the original source material. According to Zack Snyder, it was just down to the fact that the film was too long.
6. The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers - Saruman’s Demise
At the end of The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, Saruman is seen atop the tower of Isengard, watching the Ents demolish his Uruk-Hai and inundate his machines and breeding pits. Then... nothing. Saruman doesn't reappear in The Return of the King. His fate is only briefly referenced, noting that he is now powerless. For fans of the book (and Christopher Lee’s portrayal), it felt like an unsatisfying conclusion.
In the extended edition, however, the Fellowship, along with the King of Rohan, confront Saruman. This sequence is more faithful to the book’s events. Wormtongue betrays Saruman, stabbing him in the back. Saruman falls from the tower, impaled on a spike that drags him into the water. Peter Jackson later apologized for omitting this scene from the theatrical release, but it’s now available to watch.
5. Little Shop of Horrors - Audrey II’s Global Chaos
There’s an interesting backstory here. The original ending of Little Shop of Horrors closely followed the plot of the Broadway play. The twist, however, is that it’s terrifying. Audrey II wins, its plants spread across America, and soon a 15-meter (50 ft) Audrey II rampages through New York City, destroying skyscrapers and likely causing mass casualties, much like HP Lovecraft’s Old Ones.
The movie concludes with the army seemingly powerless, while Audrey II menacingly laughs from the top of the Statue of Liberty. The implied conclusion suggests Audrey II’s reign will mark the end of humanity. It’s a bleak ending. Incredibly dark. But is it brilliant? Absolutely. As you might imagine, test audiences were appalled. This led Frank Oz to re-shoot a far more optimistic conclusion: Audrey II is defeated, and Seymour and Audrey I go on to live a blissful life together. You can view the original ending above.
4. The Raid II: Gang War
Before you proceed to the video, please be aware that it’s absolutely not safe for work.
Although it doesn’t make it into the final cut of the movie, there’s a deleted scene depicting intense and bloody gang warfare that’s arguably the most action-packed and gory sequence in the entire film. Director Gareth Evans shared on his production company’s Vimeo account that the scene was removed entirely for pacing purposes. In his own words, the sequence “[takes] us away from the central theme for a bit too long, with characters that only serve this particular scene.”
It’s hard to argue with his reasoning, considering that none of the characters in that scene have any relevance to the movie’s overarching plot. Nonetheless, it’s a spectacular scene in its own right, and if you’re a fan of The Raid series, it’s definitely worth watching.
3. Die Hard: With A Vengeance - Rocket Launcher Roulette
The finale of Die Hard: With a Vengeance sees John McClane delivering a memorable line while taking down Simon by severing power lines, sending his helicopter plummeting. It's a solid conclusion for an action movie (though not quite as iconic as Alan Rickman’s slow-motion descent from Nakatomi Tower in the original). However, Die Hard: With a Vengeance initially featured a far more thrilling, yet significantly darker, conclusion.
Originally, Simon has fled New York and is living a comfortable life in Europe. Meanwhile, McClane, who’s been fired and falsely accused of aiding Simon, tracks him down and forces him to solve riddles of his own. Oh, and a Chinese rocket launcher is part of the equation. If Simon can’t crack the riddles... well, you can guess what happens. Apparently, the scene was reshot because the studio thought it portrayed McClane as being “too cruel.”
2. The Fly - The Monkey-Cat Scene
In a deleted scene from the 1986 film The Fly, Seth Brundle’s experiments take a darker turn. This time, he places a baboon in one pod and a cat in the other, activates the machine, and waits to see the outcome. According to Chris Walas, the film's makeup artist, this scene was cut because it was simply too grotesque (even by The Fly standards) and would have alienated the audience from Seth Brundle's character.
It makes sense, because although the final film is filled with plenty of gore and violence, seeing a man we are supposed to sympathize with create a tragic cat-monkey hybrid only to brutally kill it is a bit much. Especially when this is followed by Seth Brundle growing an extra arm and then eating it. Still, for fans of the film, 1980s body horror, and David Cronenberg, this is essential viewing. Just make sure you’re not eating while you watch.
1. King Kong (1933) - The Spider Pit
The spider pit scene from the original 1933 King Kong was once thought to be lost forever. This scene was removed from the film five years after its first release, leaving behind only a few still images to suggest its existence. Why was it deleted? Movie folklore suggests it was too terrifying for audiences, but in reality, it was simply a pacing issue.
No matter the reason, Peter Jackson has brought the scene back to life. While working on his widely criticized remake, Jackson painstakingly recreated the sequence using surviving pre-production sketches and stills. His visual effects team then used stop-motion animation to bring the creatures to life. This long-lost scene was included in the restored King Kong DVD in 2008, 70 years after it was last seen.
