Types of fiction with multiple endings explained

A narrative typically ends in one set way, but certain kinds of narrative allow for multiple endings.

Comics

• The Death-Ray by Daniel Clowes
• Cliff Hanger^[1]

Literature

See also: Gamebook.

• The Choose Your Own Adventure series
• Fighting Fantasy
• Life's Lottery
• The French Lieutenant's Woman

Theater

• Ayn Rand's 1934 play Night of January 16th allowed the audience to affect the ending by acting as the "jury" and voting the defendant "innocent" or "guilty".^[2]
• The 1985 musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood
• Dario Fo's 1970 play, Accidental Death of an Anarchist
• The long-running play Shear Madness has multiple, audience-selected endings.

Films

DVDs and Blu-ray discs may include an alternate ending as a special feature. These are usually not considered canon.

Films which include multiple endings within the main cut of the film:

• Clue
• Wayne's World and its sequel, Wayne's World 2
• Scarface
• Sliding Doors
• Run Lola Run
• Harikrishnans
• The Messiah, which includes one account of Jesus' crucifixion according to Christian teaching and one according to Muslim teaching.
• 28 Days Later
• 1408

Television

• Crown Court
• Do the Right Thing (BBC TV series, 1994-1995)

Animation

• Dragon's Lair and Space Ace
• The fifth season finale of the Rooster Teeth web-series, Red vs. Blue

See also

• Alternate ending
• Interactive fiction
• Visual novel

References

1. by Jack Edward Oliver. Book: Oliver, Jack Edward. Buster. 25 June 1983. Fleetway.
2. Book: Branden, Barbara . . Barbara Branden . Garden City, New York . Doubleday & Company . 1986 . 0-385-19171-5 . 12614728 . 122–124.