We all know Pretty Woman as a charming romantic comedy that launched Julia Roberts and Richard Gere into superstardom, but the original screenplay was far darker.
The story was gritty and realistic, a sharp contrast to the feel-good movie audiences eventually saw.
When Disney got involved, they wanted a more commercially appealing, family-friendly approach.
The darker social commentary was downplayed, and the focus shifted to romance, humor, and glamour.
With a bigger budget, Disney transformed the film into a story that would appeal to a wide audience, while still hinting at the original tension between class and wealth in the background.
This decision turned Pretty Woman into one of the most iconic romantic comedies of the 1990s.
