China has changed the ending of the cult movie Fight Club to one where the authorities win.

The country has some of the most restrictive censorship rules in the world, with foreign films often suffering significant cuts – if allowed to be shown.

One of the latest movies to get this treatment is David Fincher’s hugely successful Fight Club, starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter.

Moviegoers in China noticed over the weekend that a version of the 1999 film available on streaming platform Tencent Video had been revamped and transformed the anarchist and anti-capitalist message that had made the film a global hit.

In the final scenes of the original cut, Norton’s character – The Narrator – kills his imaginary Alter Ego Tyler Durden – played by Pitt – then watches as several buildings explode, suggesting his character’s plan to bring down modern civilization was in jeopardy. Classes.

But the new version in China takes a very different take, with the scene of the building exploding being replaced by a black screen and text that read: “The police quickly figured out the whole plan and arrested all the criminals, successfully preventing the bomb. to explode.”

He then adds that Tyler was sent to an “insane asylum” for psychological treatment and was later released.

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The edited ending in which the government triumphs sparked outrage from many Chinese viewers, many of whom would have likely seen pirated versions of the original film.

One person wrote on Tencent Video, “This is too outrageous.”

Another commented: “This s*** sucks. Companies shouldn’t completely change the intent and purpose of movies just to sell in Chinese markets.

A third added: “The first rule of Fight Club in China? Do not mention the original ending. The second rule of Fight Club in China? Change it for the police to win.

It’s currently unclear if the government was behind the alternate ending or if the film’s producers made the changes.

Studios often release alternative cuts in hopes of removing Beijing’s censorship hurdles and gaining access to millions of Chinese consumers.

In 2019, several scenes from the movie Bohemian Rhapsody referencing Freddie Mercury’s sexuality were removed when it was released in China.