Why is it that movies can seemingly never have "sad" endings? I mean, a lot of the time when movies that end on a down note are tested with audiences, the ending has to be changed.

Heck, when "O" (a modern adaptation of Othello) was made, the studio wanted to change the ending of the play/movie. The director said that he would not be the man who changed Shakespeare, and the issue was more or less dropped.

But what is the publics aversion to "sad" endings?

Sad endings don't bother me so much, but still, I prefer happy endings.

About Shakespeare's play, the director did the right thing. You just don't change the ending of a classical play like that just because people will like it better.


I don't like endings when they're too sad, but I don't like them when they're too happy, either. I prefer when there's still room for imagination. For example, the bad guy escapes and vows vengeance... Or the main characters still have many more adventures ahead...

First of all, movies are made to draw in the viewer. A good movie gives you an emotional attachment to the characters and leaves a greater emotional impact. A good movie ending on a sad note is a huge downer and can mess up a persons entire day, despite how much they loved the movie. The reason this doesn't happen as much is that movies are made to be entertainment, not sobfests. this would probobly sscare off a director since you have to have an extremely compelling story to get people to put themselves through that experience again.