Sicario, the 2015 crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Taylor Sheridan, is a gripping and grim exploration of the war on drugs and the moral ambiguity of its protagonists. The film follows FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt), who joins a covert task force led by CIA operative Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and mysterious hitman Alejandro Gillick (Benicio Del Toro) to take down a Mexican drug cartel.

The film culminates in a tense confrontation between Kate and Alejandro, after the latter kills the cartel boss and his family in cold blood, and forces Kate to sign a document that legitimizes their illegal operation. Kate, who has been disillusioned and traumatized by the violence and corruption she witnessed, points her gun at Alejandro, but ultimately lets him walk away. Alejandro tells her that she is not cut out for this world, and that she should move to a small town where the rule of law still exists.

‘Sicario’s Ending Was Originally Completely Different

This ending, however, was not the original one that Sheridan had written in his script. According to Blunt, she, Villeneuve, and Del Toro were unhappy with the way the scene was written, and decided to improvise and change it on the spot. “It wasn’t as it was in the script, you know, and we just felt that we wanted to do something different,” Blunt said in an interview. “I remember when we were talking about the scene, and what this would mean for her, and what it would cost her. And effectively, she’s signing her life away. Her whole identity, you know, is being signed away.”

Blunt did not reveal what the original ending was, but she hinted that it was weaker and less impactful than the one they came up with. “It was a very different scene, and I think it was a scene that was very satisfying for the audience, and not as satisfying for us,” she said. “We wanted to leave it on a more ambiguous note.”

The ending that Blunt and Villeneuve created is indeed more ambiguous and haunting, leaving the audience to wonder what will happen to Kate and Alejandro, and whether there is any hope or justice in their world. The ending also reinforces the themes of the film, such as the loss of innocence, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the futility of the war on drugs. Sicario is a film that does not offer easy answers or solutions, but rather challenges the viewer to question their own morality and perspective.

Sicario was a critical and commercial success, earning rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and grossing over $84 million worldwide. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Editing. It also spawned a sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which was released in 2018, and a third film, Sicario: Alejandrino, which is in development.

Sicario is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and its ending is one of the most memorable and powerful ones in recent cinema history. It is a testament to the talent and vision of Blunt, Villeneuve, and Del Toro, who managed to elevate the film to a new level of excellence. Sicario is a film that deserves to be seen and discussed, and its ending is one that deserves to be celebrated and analyzed.