China gives Fight Club its original ending back after tough fight from fans

Tencent has declined to comment but a 'person familiar with the matter' told CNN Business on February 7, that the China version of the film was provided to Tencent by the distributor. Tencent itself did not censor the movie but an employee of the distributor refuted this claim and told CNN Business on the same day itself that they did not have control over the film's content and were not aware of the 'China cut'.

The distributor is a Guangzhou-based firm called Pacific Audio & Video and is affiliated with the state-owned Guangdong Radio and Television.

 

The restored version now includes the original ending of the movie. Viewers will now be able to see Edward Norton’s character, The Narrator, killing off his imaginary alter ego Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, and then watching multiple buildings explode with Helena Bonham Carter. The movie still does not have any of the original nude scenes. (READ MORE HERE: The first rule of Fight Club in China: You don't see the real ending)

 

The China version of the movie featured The Narrator still killing off Tyler, but the exploding building scene was replaced with a black screen and a message. The message read, "The police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding."

FIGHT CLUB’s ending for the Chinese release (on Tencent Video) was changed to this and now I’m waiting for someone to fanfic a sequel based on this censored ending. pic.twitter.com/zYB0bY3Dlp

— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) January 24, 2022

The message then said that Tyler, who was a figment of The Narrator’s imagination, was sent to a “lunatic asylum” for psychological treatment and was later discharged. After the revealation of the Chinese version of the film, writer of the original Fight Club novel in 1996, Chuck Palahniuk tweeted, "Have You Seen This Sh*t? This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China!" 

Have You Seen This Sh*t?This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China! https://t.co/saVA2yro9B pic.twitter.com/20UzTi1nyI

— Chuck Palahniuk (@chuckpalahniuk) January 25, 2022

Fans were rightly enraged when the China version of Fight Club made international headlines with most criticising China's very strict censorship laws and expressing their annoyance. The move was considered to be outrageous and dystopian by Fight Club fans across China. 

But today looks like a good day to be Fight Club fan in China.