Clue (1985), directed by Jonathan Lynn, reached US theaters in three different versions: each theatrical print contained just one of three endings, labeled A, B, or C for distribution. The concept borrowed from the board game, in which the solution changes from one playthrough to another, and was intended to encourage repeat visits. Shout! Studios' 4K Ultra HD edition, released on December 12, 2023, preserves all three outcomes and lets viewers either watch one chosen at random or play the endings consecutively. This comparison does not reveal the killers.
Why did moviegoers see different endings in 1985?
Distributor Paramount sent theaters versions that solved the mystery in different ways. Two people attending different screenings could therefore leave with contradictory answers about the culprit, while both accurately described what they had seen. According to Frank Miller's history for Turner Classic Movies, some theater advertisements even specified ending A, B, or C.
The approach drew on the logic of Clue, called Cluedo in other markets. John Landis, involved in the movie's early development, proposed giving audiences a reason to visit another theater to discover an alternative solution. That release plan was put into practice, but its commercial success should not be assumed: Turner Classic Movies reports box-office revenue below the estimated $15 million budget and notes that the marketing strategy's effect on the result remains a matter of interpretation.
What changed on VHS, television, DVD, and Blu-ray?
Rather than providing a single solution in each screening, home-video releases and television broadcasts began presenting the three endings in succession. That changes the viewing experience: instead of accepting one solution as the answer shown at a particular theater, viewers see several possibilities during one presentation. In the sequential edit, the third ending is framed as what really happened. That is a device within this version, not evidence that the other two endings were never shown in 1985.
The DVD reviewed by DVD Review in June 2000 already offered a randomly chosen single ending or all three in sequence. TheaterByte's review of the earlier Blu-ray likewise documents both playback modes as well as access to individual endings. The 4K edition did not invent these viewing choices; it retained them while bringing the film to a more recent restoration.
Comparing the different releases
| Release or format | How the endings are presented |
|---|---|
| US theatrical run, 1985 | One of three endings, A, B, or C, depending on the print screened. |
| VHS and television broadcasts | All three endings presented one after another. |
| Earlier DVD and Blu-ray editions | Surprise ending or complete sequence; exact additional features depend on the disc. |
| Shout! Studios, 4K UHD + Blu-ray, 2023 | Random ending or three-ending sequence; new 4K scan of the original camera negative. |
What exactly does the 2023 4K edition preserve?
Shout! Studios' North American Collector's Edition, released on December 12, 2023, contains two discs, one 4K UHD and one Blu-ray. According to the distributor's announcement reproduced by Inside Pulse, both use a new 2023 4K scan of the original camera negative and retain the three endings. When playing the movie, viewers can choose the disc's randomly selected surprise ending or the 'trilogy' presentation combining all three.
In practice, the random option aims to recreate the uncertainty of a 1985 screening, but it does not reproduce the physical distribution of A, B, and C prints among movie theaters. The consecutive version preserves the presentation familiar to many home-video viewers. These are different arrangements of existing material, not a newly added fourth ending.
The UHD disc offers a 1.85:1 image with HDR10 and Dolby Vision options, while the English soundtrack is preserved in DTS-HD Master Audio mono, according to No(R)eruns' technical review. The accompanying Blu-ray carries new interviews with Jonathan Lynn, associate producer Jeffrey Chernov, and film music historian Daniel Schweiger, plus the original trailer. Those Blu-ray extras should not be assumed to appear on the UHD disc itself.
Was a fourth ending ever filmed?
The consulted sources do not conclusively establish that a completed fourth version exists or was available for exhibition. Turner Classic Movies describes a fourth ending devised during development and ultimately considered too grim, while noting conflicting accounts from people involved: some say it was fully filmed, others that production stopped partway through, and others that it was never shot. A September 2026 JustWatch México article states that footage was filmed, but that assertion does not settle the documentary disagreement reported by TCM.
It is therefore important to distinguish a proposed fourth ending, the possible existence of filmed material, and a finished fourth cut ready for distribution. The releases documented here offer three accessible endings, not four. The 4K edition should not be described as containing previously unseen footage of the disputed fourth ending.
Which version should you watch?
To approach the surprise of a 1985 theatrical screening without knowing which solution you will get, the random-ending mode is the closest option. To see all the historical alternatives in one sitting, choose the sequential version. These specifications apply to Shout! Studios' 2023 set; they do not establish whether a Brazilian edition or any particular streaming service offers the same menus, languages, or features.
Sources and references
- Turner Classic Movies: history of Clue's theatrical release
- Inside Pulse: Shout! Studios' 4K edition announcement
- Inside Pulse: Joe Corey's 4K edition review
- DVD Review: review of the DVD published in 2000
- TheaterByte: review of the earlier Blu-ray
- No(R)eruns: review of the 2023 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs
- JustWatch México: the endings and the disputed fourth-ending claim
