The ending didn't make sense to me. If that was Clyde's final act, then why would he go back to the cell? Who would? Leaving in disguise to never be seen or recognized again is what he would've actually done.
@@ihateoreocookies Anybody who wanted out wouldn't have. But I don't think that was Clyde's priority. He didn't give a shit about his own life at that point, I mean he planned on murdering hundreds of people. I think he wanted to go back so he could look Nick in the eye knowing that he truly won. He didn't care if he got executed or not, if anything I believe he planned on getting executed, like obviously somebody truly innocent had to die from the whole situation at some point along the bombings so he should be guilty even in his own eyes. For him not to be executed would've gone against the message he was trying to send. If he ran, it would've just been an international manhunt too and would've been a lame generic open ended ending imo.
Clyde was definitely the "hero" of the film. His whole point was just how ineffective the revolving door legal system was. The sad thing is, that's exactly the way our legal system works now. No trial, just make a deal and then hand out a slap on the wrist, or no prison time at all.
@@Chris-we7hh Prison reform is needed, Trump got behind the first step act, the US justice system is overloaded and buckling under the pressure of state overreach. The lefties have a point, they're just retarded and tend to fuck up implementation/specifics - and the system is broken on a deeper level. That's why the plea bargains this movie showcases are even an issue to begin with, an overloaded and underfunded public institution is struggling to keep its head above water so its agents make compromised decisions in order to hit quotas, etc.
That's the consequence of having an innocent until proven guilty justice system. No matter what you do, some scumbags are just going to get away with it.
For a moment I thought this was a real alternative ending that I've never seen. Then the V for Vendetta scene played and I just burst out laughing! Well done!
I support Clyde's endeavor every time I watch this movie. It's impossible to ever turn against him after that beginning. This movie wants us to believe that the system was an innocent victim, when -- in real life -- the system victimizes everyone else.
As a family man, I could only ever imagine how broken I would feel if I lost my wife and children... especially in such a horrifying way. I would offer an alternative ending... one where Clyde accepts his death, but only because his task is complete. Not killed by his own bomb but perhaps shot to death by Mike after setting off the bomb that removed the stench of corruption.
Greetings Charlie TheTexan my name is Karl.I just your comment about the character of Clyde.You are so right about the system not being an innocent victim.Clyde was screwed from the start after the two men were caught.First,the evidence was tainted,how that could've happened is vague.Second,Jaime Foxx as the assistant prosecutor tells Clyde he could'nt,or for a better word would'nt prosecutor the two men,because,and this the real reason,he need not want to spoil his perfect conviction record.Despite Clydes pleading with him,,Foxx/Rice makes a deal with one of the home invaders.The one who actually murdered Clydes wife,and daughter,while the other sits on Death Row.Because of Foxx/Rice decision to make a deal with the killer many people innocent,and guilty die.What a unsatisfactory ending.
Clyde killing the men that murdered his family, while he was bound and had to watch, i would have wanted to kill him in just the same way. Now all the other things Clyde did was nothing short of terrorism, cause aside from causing some of the corruption to stand and take note he really did more harm than good. this justice system is currently corrupt because the people in this country let it get that way. i mean why is prison glorified, gangster's made celebrities, justice not served because the guilty have rights? i say make prison a nightmare, the death penalty painful, and the law makers personally responsible for there actions. also there are far too many fat kats on capital hill that need a dose of reality. but thats just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions! ,
I always wondered why Clyde didnt use the line "why is your daughter so much more important than my daughter" when the JF character was telling him to stay away from his family.
You have to appreciate it is an amazing movie, up until the ending. The ideal ending for me is like this he successfully blows up the majors office, then targets the musical performance and is either caught there or finally stops as a chance to the DA
@@stefanlaterra5797 why does he have to? appreciate a dogshit ending for what? the ending is UNIVERSALLY seen as terrible. By both film critics and by fans alike.
@@nom6758 I agree the ending is terrible, it is disgustingly terrible, but what makes the ending even worse for me is the fact that the first 90% of the film is a masterpiece, I can't hate on a movie because of 10 mins of it. As much as I wish the ending was different, I still consider it an amazing film overall
This was the real ending of the movie, if Jamie Foxx didnt complain. There must a cut out there with the ending we all want, but sadly we will never see it.
@@stefanlaterra5797 Politics. It's just like Joker promoting anarchy as a way to bend the society to his will, Law Abiding Citizen promote how anarchy is the way to solve the corrupt system by killing everyone. And media, politicians, even higher ups didn't like that.
I believe I read something about Clyde originally being supposed to come out on top. If you look at it objectively, basically all the conflict outside of the two murderers of his family, was entirely brought on by Nick not doing his job and not giving a shit about anyone but himself and his precious win record. He got so many people killed for his arrogance and never had to pay for it.
I don’t see how everyone on here seems to think Clyde didn’t win?!?!?! Like confused as all get out…. Clyde DID win. This movie wouldn’t be nearly as good if he lived. He had to die in order to win. His final lesson is the one that showed he succeeded in his mission. He didn’t do what he did for revenge, he could have killed them and gotten away with it Scott free if that was what he wanted. His goal was to show the DA u can’t make deals with evil people. But the DA kept making deals with him time and again, until his final lesson PROVED he had won bc the DA refused to make a deal with him and just killed him instead (what he wanted all along.) And by then, he WAS the bad guy. He killed a BUNCH of completely innocent people in his quest. Even he knows he deserves to die for what he did. That’s why he CHOSE to die. He WANTED to be dead so he could be with his family again. So he basically committed suicide by proving his point in blood time and again teaching the DA why he sucks at his job.
No he knew nick was a guy that follows the rules of the system even though it’s broken, by breaking into the unit he actually did what nick would have wished he did but never expect to, he went outside the law because it was what needed to be done to get justice and stop him
Plot hole: * Fox and Colin use a yuge breaker-bar to bash the door of Clyde's warehouse. Clyde returns after his side-hustle as a custodian, but doesn't notice the bashed entry? A bright revenger might have surveillance cameras...
I don't know if I can hit those number plates on the list but I don't know if if you can get a better deal then I can sort it out and get it inspected again and then I will try to get it done done with the
The original ending made no sense anyway. Clyde goes and plants a bomb at the courthouse, then goes back to prison. How is jamie fox going to go from the prison to the courthouse, disarm and or dismantle a highly advances bomb with his no demolition skill, get it past security everywhere that are also looking for a bomb, and then beat clyde back to prison reassemble the bomb and wait there for his little got'cha trap? The ending is just bad writing to a good movie.
Aside from the logistics, the ending wasn't all bad. The purpose of Clyde's "madness" was to be a source of inspiration and serve as a reflection of the flaw in the system, of which he succeeded.
We watched this movie again the other day and I said something similar only "at no point did the lawyer show he was smart enough to outsmart Clyde so this is dumb"
Aside from the shit ending, it was highly unlikely and improbable that Nick would have been able to get to the bomb, find it, and get all the way back to plant it in Clyde’s cell before he got back. Even though he had a head start on Nick. Completely stupid. Clyde was infinitely more intelligent than Nick.
yup. foxx's character would be the only one left alive to know the intimate details of his wrath. there would be so much chaos, he would have months to relax in a new life before they "tried" to hunt him down.
I think he went back because he wanted to show that he had nothing to do with it at all since there would be no evidence of him leaving his cell, further proving the point that his intelligence is something not to belittle
Clyde had nothing to live for. He allowed them to find him. He wanted Nick to make the hard decision. Nick hinted to him if he went through with the call at end it would be on his own head with what happened
@@charlesdoyle3630 , that is a good theory. Making Nick do exactly what he was loathing Clyde for doing. That's a good mind screw to leave someone with.
Do anyone remember that cop years ago who killed the mayor's daughter and son-in-law at a basketball game? He was on the run and two other cops shot up two old women delivering mail inside of a pickup like he was driving. It was one messed up ordeal. If it were my mother or wife that was shot like that up to seven times while delivering the mail I would've invited myself to that cops home and killed him at his doorstep point blank seven shots.
@@benjy117 Dorner? I don't recall him shooting the mayor's daughter, but I do recall the manhunt where they shot up the truck with the women. Iirc that was due to corruption cover-up getting out of hand.
It's somewhat ironic that Nick becomes the murderer he's trying to stop. He found the bomb. He could've had it disarmed or placed somewhere safe. Instead, he concocts a plan to lock a man in his cell, even going so far as to lock a secret entrance he had previously discovered. This is premeditated murder and then he just walks off like he's some kind of hero for killing the monster he created. This ending in beyond messed up.
The original ending didn’t make any kind of sense to me when I saw it I was honestly surprised when I saw the credits Clyde spends the whole movie 3 steps ahead of everybody. Then all of a sudden they’ve just got him..nah I don’t buy it that’s some poor writing
Jamie Foxx waited till they were half way through the filming then threw his weight around to make them change the ending.they stood to lose a lot of money if Jamie walked away.shame....he ruined a good movie.
@@nomadhakunamatata5793 No kidding, Jamie made them change the script? I wonder what the original ending was supposed to have been, we could have had something way more satisfying.
Not exactly. It isn't like they didn't know what was going on from the start. The ending was confusing to me in the sense that a prosecutor gets to carry a gun into prison, gets free reign to act like a cop or forensic examiner and is solving cases and fucking up crime scenes lol
and well there you have it...you have to understand theres some big nosed guy in a hollywood that dictates how the story have to have some morality at the end...this was let down in many movies...bad guy have to end up bad...period...
The problem wan not the morality. The Huge Pink Elephant is HOW they did it. It didn't make sense how they "outsmart" him, when time was not in their favor. Going straight to the bomb and teleporting in front of his cell. Plus, reaching underneath that tunnel and closing his escape route on time(first time entering it).
"Law Abiding Citizen" had probably the worst ending to a movie in the history of cinema. Such a waste of what could have been an amazing movie, had it ended something like "Arlington Road" If any of you haven't seen "Arlington Road". WATCH IT! It's what "Law Abiding Citizen" could have, and should have been. The ending is amazing
Of course Hollywood could never let him win because winning would have justified his actions. And in order to belabor the point his actions are reprehensible they made him lose. A shame.
oddly i just watched Arlington this past week ... (probably 4-6th time in total) AND i agree that would have been a good ending to splice in there .. at least the fed building collapsing -- now let me lock my door before the FBLie knocks it down lol
He should’ve gotten away with it,not necessarily because he was right, but because it would’ve been a bit more realistic, but we got the typical Hollywood ending!
@EL.MAS.BUSCADO why? It's the truth. Typical entitled minority threatened halfway through the process that he'd walk if his character didn't win. Quit getting mad because you're mans is an entitled prick
The original ending was such a let down. I left the film feeling like Jamie Foxx's character learned nothing. Still believed he was right and if had to do it over again, wouldn't do anything differently. Clyde deserved to win.
He did. Clyde himself says if they had tried both guys and only got conviction on one guy he could have lived with that. It was the fact that Nick made plea deal on the guy who actually did the killing that pissed Clyde off. Nick admits later he would be wary about making deals.
Nick did learn. Him letting Clyde blow himself up was him learning. That's what Clyde wanted from him. Now, that doesn't mean Clyde couldn't live, but Nick did learn.
I remember reading that the original ending DID have Clyde win but Jamie Foxx wouldn't shoot it like that so they re-wrote the ending to fit his character.
You know, there are times that RU-vid algorithums recommend you random shit you dont wanna see. But then there are also times that the algorithum shows you something you never knew you needed to see. This is one of those times...
When someone brutally take the life of those you love and you're forced to watch, don't think that you're not going to be filled with rage. They just happened to mess with the wrong man. Clyde was full of emotion...loves his family...but the whole of darkness overtook him and the fight for justice was served. The thing k couldn't understand was who was the "accomplice" ? And why did they end up murdering him in the very same place that he was trying to take down ?
Thanks for this final! Just finished watching the movie and i was hoping for an alternate ending, this what i needed. Clyde should've won his freedom, he was the justice in this corrupt World. Peace Clyde.
A lot of you guys are misunderstanding what Clyde's purpose in all of this was. It was never about revenge or "sticking it to the man" it was about Nick. Clyde lost all hope in the world after his wife and daughter were killed. He put the last bit of hope he had into Nick (not the system as some of you are indicating but Nick himself). When he saw Nick cutting deals rather then even trying that is what truly broke him. This entire movie revolved around him getting Nick to see that the way he treated his job and these criminals was wrong/corrupt. In that regard Clyde won as I do believe Nick realized cutting all those deals like he had done was wrong. Also just to be clear Clyde could have escaped and disappeared anytime he wanted to. The guy wanted to die as he really didn't have anything to live for anymore after teaching Nick his lesson. That is why at the end he sat on the bed and looked at peace with dying.
I mean… he couldn’t LEAVE the room or disarm the bomb. I agree with the idea that he was at peace with death because he wanted to be with wife and daughter. However, I do think he would have tried to escape if he didn’t know that he wasn’t able to. He attempted to in fact. He knew he was trapped with no time to figure it out - that’s a human reaction to a certain degree - acceptance. Because he was tired, he had nothing left, …. And also because, as you said, he won.
It’s not about nick at all it’s about the system and nick is a pond he was using to get his point across. He even proves it with his Von Clausewitz references. Clausewitz believed that if there was a system that needed change then you completely anihalate it with whatever you must do. It wasn’t about nick stop trying to shy away from the message that shows how poor our justice system is
You are full of shit. It's entirely about the system and those who make it the way it is: Nick, his boss, the judge, the police, the mayor. In that last meeting, you hear her talking about trying to circumvent the law to get Clyde away from the city. She outright said that she didn't care how they did it or how they justified it. That is corruption, pure and simple. A prime example of what Clyde told Nick and the detective. "This corrupt, diseased, broken thing" is how he described the system. The system that rewards Nick for his closure rate instead of taking a 360 degree view of the disposition of each of his cases. Literally, the one who committed the worst crimes made a deal and served a few years instead of being executed right alongside his partner. That is a gross miscarriage of justice. Nick had a shot to take them both down, but cared more about his conviction rate than he did about getting justice for the murdered victims or the surviving victim who lost everything.
Lots of good viewpoints here. Hard to believe Foxx beat Clyde back to his cell... Which I was surprised he went back to... And that Foxx has time to plant the bomb and then be calm enough to talk things out with Clyde.
It would had been nice that somehow hiding in the cell he have a fire resistant cover or whatever that thing is called lol and after the fire is done he just open it and got out through his master exit 👏 showing nick that he was always the smarter in the room and he is always prepared for anything.....freaking epic
" I refuse to believe that one man is smarter than Homeland Security, The FBI, Sheriff's Dept, and Philly PD..." I don't; I think that's not only possible, but likely!
One of the few movies I'd chip in if they ever make a GoFundMe for a remake with a proper ending where Clyde kills the cop, goes away and in the post credits they show an early morning raid to a house in the woods only to make the entire ranch blow as Clyde watches from an unknown beach holding a drink with a tiny umbrella in it.
I agree, they should've ended instead of that damn cello scene with him in a court conversation discussing a plea bargain and the camera hovering over Nick until he says slowly "I don't make bargains with criminals" before going to black thus sealing all the lessons clyde had for him
All that was needed would be a scene of them going into the cell after the explosion, and being unable to find a body ... Nick *SurprisedPikachu.jpg* Cut to black. Roll credits. Fixed :)
Or Nick goes home after leaving prison gets phone call saying they founds Clyde’s remains. Nick looks out his window to see a dark figure on the sidewalk staring at him. He goes outside and the man is gone. Nick is left to wonder if Clyde is coming back for him. Ends with a dark figure walking down a street. Fades to credit.
I just finished the movie and man that ending put a sour taste in my mouth. If the whole point was that jamie foxxs character had to go outside the law to win, even though thats what he was preaching the whole time, its not like they make it that obvious or he even comes to any sort of realization about that, that would make it satisfying. Also, him getting back to his cell in time and reassembling the bomb and everything and getting to his cell seems reaaaaallly realistic bwo. If in the end they both blew up, that would at least be some what satisfying because hes the one who started it all as his attorney.
I never liked the ending of that movie. You go through all that trouble to show how much of a genius he was and then out do him with something so stupid. Worst movie ending of all time.
@@GamerNxUSN Clyde called so they can say he set the bomb under his own head. Nick even hinted that they had moved the bomb and Clyde did not catch the hint
@@VJETRA that’s the thing the only option was for Nick to kill them because he knew they’d never see the inside of a jail cell. It’s a damned if you do and damned if you don’t situation.
The V for Vendetta ending make me laugh way to hard. But that is the way the movie should of ended. Clyde worked so hard, so smartly, so deceptively, and for a good cause; even though it was executed through questionable means. 8.5/10 for the entire movie except for the ending.
I was expecting the same thing, they talk about a precise killing machine and he really just left one, just one bomb? It was a bad ending, surely not the one the director would have wanted.
He couldn't win because of Jamie Foxx, in the original script he was suppose to win but of course Jamie Foxx didn't want that. He didn't want "the white man to win" and threaten to leave the film if they didn't change it.
Much better ending. Fitting of such a great movie to have an ending that was equally as good. I think I will just pretend that this is how it ended rather than how it really did. So clever and everybody got what they deserved in the end. Don't nake movies like this anymore unfortunately.
"everyone got what they deserved'. You can make an argument that Clyde can be forgiven for killings the original two bad guys. It holds a certain vigilante justice fantasy appeal. But he killed far too many innocent people afterwards. Anyone that wanted Clyde to get away as no respect for the rule of law and no respect for the principles that America was founded on. Those that supported Clyde see human life as being worthless. I found this movie entertaining to watch, but I genuinely disturbed when I realized the vocalization of the fans. It appears this movie holds appeal to some very sick people.
@@hamsterfromabove8905 cry about it. at the end of the day, this ending is better than the shitty one they presented in cinema. The majority of critics, consumers, and youtubers agree. No matter how much mental gymnastics you want to go through will change the fact that a movie is made to entertain and when something isnt entertaining within a movie, it is OBJECTIVELY bad because it defeated its entire purpose.
You know it's really funny having watched these ending clips after so long I finally understand how the rest of the world feels about the last season of game of thrones
The thing that gets me is, he had all these cameras, explosives, etc yet no notification of the garage being entered. What an oversight of such a wise government killer turning on the system.
Clyde did win tho. Clyde told them all he really wanted was for them to try both guys and if did not get conviction for both he could live with that. And Nick said himself he would be wary bout making deals.
I read in an article that Jamie Foxx had worked with the writers to change the ending, he was wining about it and some other bs so the director went with Jamie Foxx and ultimately changed the ending, Nick was supposed to actually get away with everything, such a let down of an ending.
@@MrSugardove actors do a lot of dumb shit. if your a big name actor you can act like a huge jerk and still make all the money. bruce willis is a huge fucking asshole to everyone and still gets work, a lto of actors are like that, super egotistical and demanding
@@minotaurmikeftwmike7712 and you keep saying he did... with no proof. It is literally a rumor and you have been sharing it in the comment section like a fact and somehow make it political for no reason. People like you are whats wrong with the world.
It was a bomb that was designed to be strong enough to destroy a large courtroom and collapse a similarly sized room above it. And it was set off in a basement cell room, part of that prison should have collapsed.
This movie wouldn't have gone down like this in reality, if he was such a threat they would have him under surveillance the whole time. His greatest advantage was that nobody was watching him even though he was still killing so many people. How does that make sense lol
true, but they placed him in a very old facility which kind of makes sense, except they would of had him transferred to a supermax prison with cameras inside his cell and around the clock guards. it does make some sense, everyone thought he had people on the outside doing this for him and never expected he was the only one the whole time.
@@ninvusoogoar6098 Even that's silly, given that they're aware nobody has eyes on him how could lawyers, politicians, police, rule out that he's doing this or communicating with whoever is? Idk it just seems far fetched that everyone believed he was behind all the killings yet at the times of incidents nobody goes to see what he's up to in his cell right quick? Like really this dude was out and about for hours prepping and setting up people to die. After the first time when he blew up everyones car MAYBE I could find them being so irresponsible reasonable, I haven't decided yet, but after he shot up that cemetery with that drone there's no way resources wouldn't be dedicated to watching him
@@kyin45 this would have been a high priority case, hell the FBI was involved, they would be able to have a guard with him 24/7. Obviously this is a movie but everything done in the movie is possible, minus him sneaking out of prison constantly.
‘You even think about touching my family’… really? Jamie Fox couldn’t portray ‘tough’ if you dressed him up as Mike Tyson and gave him James Earl Jones’ voice.😂
Clyde still won in the end. They had broke the law in order to get him, so in similar fashion to the Joker from Dark Night, they proved his point by breaking the system they swore to uphold and abide by. His death was a mercy since he had nothing to live for anymore.
Original ending was a turn off, I would've enjoy this one so much more, sometimes you gotta tear shit down when the system doesn't work for WE the people!! This country was founded on the principle WE are in charge of the Gov't!
You can make an argument that Clyde can be forgiven for killings the original two bad guys. It holds a certain vigilante justice fantasy appeal. But he killed far too many innocent people afterwards. Anyone that wanted Clyde to get away as no respect for the rule of law and no respect for the principles that America was founded on. Those that supported Clyde see human life as being worthless. I found this movie entertaining to watch, but I genuinely disturbed when I realized the vocalization of the fans. It appears this movie holds appeal to some very sick people. Its not right to punish the people around you when things don't go well for you. Bad things happen sometimes. And its not fair. We don't all get good treatment. But when shit happens, how does it help to cause others to suffer? I can forgive those that are incapable of feeling emotions. They don't realize how wrong their actions are. I can never forgive people who understand their pain and intentionally inflict it on others. Those people are truly evil.
@@hamsterfromabove8905 I can see your point, but when the most precious treasures of your world are taken from you and the system that was created to protect you from the evils that men do fail miserably , then I can have compassion for a man who goes after the very system that was supposed to protect him and his family bcuz they are all complicite after the fact, can't blame the man when judges, prosecutors and police all have qualified immunity from mistakes they make that change ppl's lives forever, while they get to walk away scott free w/out repercussion 🇺🇸
@@A.B.-zs8ir So I have a question. So president Kennedy was assassinated right. It was well understood that the secret service was supposed to protect him. After Kennedy was assassinated, should we have executed every single member of his security detail? Everyone can agree they failed their jobs. But should people be punished for failing their jobs? For every murder in America, should we execute one police officer as compensation? Or should we forgive those that made their best effort, but failed in their duty? The system doesn't work every time. Nobody says it does. However, the system does work some of the time. If you destroy the system the bad guys win every time. If you leave the system, sometimes the good guys get to win too. Clyde was right, when he said the system failed him. But he failed to propose an alternative system. All he did was destroy. If all you are doing is tearing things down you are evil. You need to focus your energy on rebuilding in a way that helps the future.
@@hamsterfromabove8905 1st i'd like to thank you for the feedback, as far the kennedy assassination is concerned, those agents prior to doing their jobs were drinking all night long which btw is against SS policy, murder them? No, but hold them accountable ? absolutely, some agents were allowed to finish there careers like nothing ever happened, is that the proper response ? absolutely not, but then again when you've studied the assassination, you can see that it was an inside job from the beginning till the end, from the shooters to JFK's body which was the Best evidence that a coup d'etat had occurred, I can only tell you from personal experience when the system fails you, it's not only the ppl who play a role in it, but the entire system, It's hard to change a system for the better, when the system crushed his entire world, he was only consumed w/rage at that moment in time, it's extremely hard to live in another man's shoes when ur not wearing the same size, I can't help but to feel for anyone who takes matters into their own hands when something of this magnitude occurs to them personally, is it the right thing to do? No, but sometimes the only way to bring about change to a system that is not perfect, is at times to take matters in ur own hands. just imagine if Dr.king had not taken matters into his own hands? ppls actions bring about change 👍
www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/c3okuy/jamie_foxx_didnt_change_the_ending_to_law_abiding/? Their roles did change, but it appears it happened prior to shooting because everyone believed it to be a better play. In the age of information, really no need for arguing. Just look it up, gentlemen.
i remember half way watching this in cinema and thinking how good it was and i will watch this movie repeatedly after.....then the ending came and NO THANKS!
I always thought a much better ending would have been that he gets caught, represents himself as his own laywer..and he's studied every possible manipulation and loopholes of the justice system and uses it to get himself off..kind of full circle like how the murderer of his wife and daughter got off on some technical bs
I always thought that Clyde knew about the bomb being brought into his cell. Like he didn't expect to live through all that he had done, but I also expected Jamie Fox's character to get locked in with him as well somehow. Taking them both out together. So when Fox got away scott free I was pissed.
