Did Directors Change The Ending In Sleeping With The Enemy?

Short, opinionated, and honest: yes — the ending of 'Sleeping with the Enemy' went through changes. Filmmakers shot alternate finales and the studio ultimately chose the one that gave audiences clear closure: Laura survives and Martin gets his comeuppance. That choice was driven by test screenings and the desire for a satisfying thriller finish.

I think the theatrical ending fits the movie’s pace and crowd expectations, even if a darker version might've been more provocative. If you enjoy director interviews, you can usually find bits where they talk about these swapping moments — it’s pretty common in mainstream films from that time.

I sat through a midnight movie club once where someone brought up 'Sleeping with the Enemy' and the conversation turned into a mini-lecture on endings — because yes, the film’s ending was changed during the production process. The director, the studio, and test audiences all played parts in deciding which ending felt right for release. Early cuts apparently leaned toward a darker, more ambiguous finish; the version that tested stronger was the one where Laura outsmarts Martin and survives with a sense of justice served.

What sticks with me is how that switch reflects the era’s filmmaking instincts: studios wanted emotional payoff. Listening to an old interview clip with the director, I remember him saying they tested different beats and reactions before settling. It’s a reminder that films aren’t etched in stone; they evolve due to backstage dynamics. If you’re really curious, compare the novel ’Sleeping with the Enemy’ to the film — the source material’s tone is another interesting layer and helps explain some of the choices made for the movie’s ending.

I’m the sort of person who loves hearing production stories, and the tale around 'Sleeping with the Enemy' is one of those classic Hollywood examples. From what I’ve read, the filmmakers shot more than one ending. After test screenings, the studio leaned toward the more decisive, triumphant wrap where Laura escapes and Martin’s downfall is clear. That’s the ending most viewers remember.

It wasn’t unusual: test audiences in the early ’90s often dictated tonal shifts, especially for female-led thrillers where studios wanted clear moral closure. There are also mentions in old reviews and press kits about an earlier, less tidy conclusion, but the exact alternate footage isn’t widely circulated. If you love behind-the-scenes rabbit holes, tracking down contemporaneous interviews with the director and cast gives a neat snapshot of how audience feedback shaped that final choice.

I’ve always been fascinated by how Hollywood tweaks endings, and with 'Sleeping with the Enemy' that curiosity paid off — yes, multiple endings were indeed part of the movie’s history. When I dug into interviews and old press pieces, it became clear that the director and studio tested different wraps for Julia Roberts’ character. The version most of us know — where Laura fakes her death, confronts Martin, and ultimately leaves him dead — was the one that played best to test audiences and got the green light for wide release.

There was discussion at the time of a grimmer or more ambiguous resolution, and some reports mention earlier edits that left things darker or less neatly resolved. Studios in that era often shot alternate finales precisely because they wanted to steer audience emotion: give them closure, justice, catharsis. So the change wasn’t some personal whim of a director alone, but a mix of directorial choices, studio input, and audience reaction.

Personally, I like that the theatrical ending swings hard into thriller territory — it feels satisfying in a crowd-pleasing way. Still, I sometimes wonder what a bleaker take would’ve said about survivorhood and trauma; that version might’ve been harder to watch but also more challenging in a good way.