director's cut

Meaning

A version of a film that reflects the director's original artistic vision, usually before the film studio made edits for the cinema release. It often contains extra scenes, a different ending, or alternative music. Film fans prefer this version to see the story exactly as the creator intended.

Examples

• I highly recommend watching the director's cut of Blade Runner; it has a completely different ending.

  I highly recommend watching the director's cut of Blade Runner; it has a completely different ending.

• The studio forced him to trim the movie, but he hopes to release a director's cut on Blu-ray.

  The studio forced him to trim the movie, but he hopes to release a director's cut on Blu-ray.

• Is the director's cut actually better, or is it just twenty minutes of extra scenery?

  Is the director's cut actually better, or is it just twenty minutes of extra scenery?

• She bought the special edition just to get access to the three-hour director's cut.

  She bought the special edition just to get access to the three-hour director's cut.

• Sometimes the director's cut ruins the pacing of the original theatrical release.

  Sometimes the director's cut ruins the pacing of the original theatrical release.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I prefer the director cut of the movie.

  ✓ I prefer the director's cut of the movie.

  Don't forget the possessive 's. It is the cut belonging to the director.

• ✗ The cinema is showing the directors' cut tonight.

  ✓ The cinema is showing the director's cut tonight.

  Use the singular possessive 'director's' because typically one main director oversees the film's vision.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The studio made him cut the ending, but the ___ has the original dark finale.

  💡 The version showing the creator's original vision

  Show answer

  director's cut

• I'm going to buy the collector's edition because it includes the ___.

  💡 The edited version preferred by the director

  Show answer

  director's cut