Rob Reiner Nearly Gave When Harry Met Sally a La La Land Ending

Rob Reiner’s vision for the beloved romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally was once far from the uplifting finale audiences know today. Before the film became a genre-defining classic, Reiner considered closing the story on a somber note, much like the ending of La La Land, where the main characters go their separate ways. Drawing from his own challenging experiences with relationships, Reiner originally pictured Harry and Sally reconnecting after years apart, sharing a conversation, and then parting for good.

How Real-Life Love Changed the Script

Everything shifted for Reiner during the making of the film. He met Michelle Singer on set, and their budding romance inspired him to rethink the story’s conclusion. Instead of leaving viewers with heartbreak, Reiner decided to unite Harry and Sally, giving the film its now-iconic, feel-good ending. This change not only altered the movie ’s legacy but also reflected Reiner’s own renewed hope in love.

Reiner once explained,

It was going to be the two of them seeing each other after years, talking and then walking away from each other

But his relationship with Singer led him to rewrite the final moments, allowing the characters to find happiness together. The film’s IMDb rating of 7.7 and its high scores on Rotten Tomatoes are a testament to how well this decision resonated with audiences.

Personal Struggles Behind the Scenes

The inspiration for When Harry Met Sally came from Reiner’s doubts about romance after his divorce from Penny Marshall. Ironically, while working on a film about the complexities of love, he found a lasting relationship with Singer. Reiner reflected,

I had been married for 10 years. I’d been single for 10 years, and I couldn’t figure out how I was ever going to be with anybody, and that gave birth to When Harry Met Sally. I met my wife Michele, who I’ve been married to now 35 years. I met her while we were making the film, and I changed the ending,

Their story, though ultimately marked by tragedy, added a deeply personal layer to the film’s narrative.

Why a Bittersweet Ending Wouldn’t Have Worked

While La La Land’s ending fits its themes of ambition and missed connections, a similar approach would have felt out of place in Reiner’s film. When Harry Met Sally is about the power of connection and the compromises that make relationships last. Keeping the original ending would have meant losing one of the most memorable declarations of love in movie history. Harry’s final speech, understated and sincere, owes much to Reiner’s own journey with Singer, giving the film its authentic emotional core.

The movie set a new standard for romantic comedies and remains a comfort watch decades later. A downbeat conclusion would have stripped it of the warmth and hope that made it a classic. When Harry Met Sally is available to rent on Apple TV in the U.S.