It’s been 15 years since Scott Pilgrim vs. the World hit theaters, but one story choice still divides fans. Edgar Wright’s acclaimed adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series has earned a reputation as a cult classic, yet its altered ending shifts the story’s meaning significantly compared to the original.

As the filmmaker behind comedy classics like Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and H๏τ Fuzz, Wright was the perfect choice to bring O’Malley’s video game-influenced world to life, and Michael Cera captured the awkward charm of this flawed protagonist. But for many viewers, no amount of cinematic style can overcome the fact that the movie version got the ending totally wrong.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Should Have Ended With Scott & Knives Chau

The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie and graphic novel series differ in one major way, as the film saw Scott end up with Ramona Flowers, while in the original, he stayed with Knives Chau. Although the age gap between 23-year-old Scott and the 17-year-old Knives can feel awkward, many see the original ending as the more authentic and thoughtful conclusion.

Scott staying with Knives showcases personal growth as he comes to appreciate the one person who loved him for who he was throughout the story, while Ramona represented an idealized fantasy. While Knives may have been young and mishandled her jealousy, she ultimately showed more genuine care and understanding for Scott than Ramona ever did.

The movie ends with Scott abandoning Knives to try again with Ramona, yet this sidelines Knives’ character and positions her as a plot device instead of a partner. Without ever truly growing, Scott wins the girl of his dreams and is never forced to confront that he already had someone who loved him unconditionally staring him in the face.

Scott Pilgrim’s Ending Makes Him Look Like The Villain (Is That Secretly The Point?)

Although Michael Cera’s character is the protagonist of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the truth is that Scott is far from a traditional hero. As a coming-of-age tale about a young man in a state of arrested development, Scott consistently avoids responsibility, shifts blame, and downplays the hurt he’s caused to Knives, Ramona, and the people in his life.

With Knives having offered Scott a chance at carving out a genuine and emotionally fulfilling relationship together, his ‘winning’ of Ramona without doing any real self-reflection makes him look more like a villain than anything else. Scott discarding someone who truly cared for him to gain a romantic trophy with whom he will probably not go the distance was disappointing.

The movie’s conclusion makes it look like Scott did Knives a favor, as he’s far from the kind of partner she rightfully deserves. As a man significantly older than her and still lacking the maturity needed to be honest in a relationship, Knives ultimately dodged a bullet in the movie’s universe, as she can find true happiness with someone else.

Although Scott battling Ramona’s seven evil exes in order to date is framed as a heroic quest, it reeks of problematic, outdated ideas of masculinity, where women are presented as objects to be won. This idea of gaining dominance over rivals to highlight one’s right to romance reinforces outdated notions that persistence automatically enтιтles someone to a relationship.

However, there’s a chance we’re not giving Wright and his co-writer, Michael Bacall, enough credit, as perhaps Scott being the villain is secretly the entire point. While Scott ending up with Ramona is presented as a typical happily-ever-after, it can also be interpreted as a subtle satire about his lack of growth, immaturity, and repeтιтive relationship troubles.

In essence, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is about the complexities of young people and relationships, and Scott’s unresolved issues make sense, given that he’s an immature 23-year-old who still has a lot of growing up to do. Whether he ended up with Knives or Ramona, Scott’s journey reflects the difficulties of taking responsibility and maturing when entering adulthood.

Scott Pilgrim’s Legacy Is More Than Just Its Questionable Ending

The ending of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World remains a contentious point for fans of the movie and the graphic novel series, yet this film’s legacy extends far beyond its divisive conclusion. As a genuine cult classic, the way that Scott Pilgrim blended comic book aesthetic with video game stylings gave it an idenтιтy that was all its own.

While Scott Pilgrim bombed at the box office, Wright’s inventive directing and quick-fire editing style set a new standard for how to adapt graphic novels on the big screen. Although Michael Cera already had iconic roles in movies like Juno and Superbad, his portrayal of Scott Pilgrim stood out as one of his most interesting performances.

It’s easy to pick apart fans’ issues with the ending of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but these discussions only happen because the audience remains so incredibly pᴀssionate about the movie all these years later. The legacy of Scott Pilgrim has continued through its video game and even anime series adaptation, proving its enduring popularity to this very day.