Similar movie, similar time, why? Twin films are recognised as movies with a similar plot by different production studios that are released within a close timeframe. One potential reason for this is that certain events occur, and movies are created around them. For example, the biopics ‘Jobs’ and ‘Steve Jobs’, were released after Steve Jobs’s death. Also, the change of staff from one company to the next means information and ideas are dispersed between competition, creating a race to finish a product within a set time. Different film productions will receive similar scripts or plot ideas, but usually, only one sees it through to completion.
Let’s look at some of the popular similar movies that have been released.
1. Olympus Has Fallen vs White House Down
2013 saw the release of both Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down with only a few months between them. Both films had a star-studded cast with the likes of Gerald Butler, Morgan Freeman, and Angela Bassett, in Olympus Has Fallen and Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in White House Down.
The plot of these action-packed movies is that the President of the United States’ life (and the country) is under threat, and it’s down to one man to protect him. Both movies were a success, however, White House Down came out on top with a domestic box office of $205 million compared to the $170 million made by Olympus Has Fallen.
Despite this, Olympus Has Fallen went on to become a trilogy with London Has Fallen (2016), and Angel Has Fallen (2019). Olympus Has Fallen had a significantly cheaper budget, making their overall profit greater.
Regardless both movies are very enjoyable. If you like a bit more gruesome, hand-to-hand combat, Olympus Has Fallen is for you. If you want a bit more family-friendly (despite the death), White House Down would be a better choice.
2. A Bugs Life vs Antz
Antz is a DreamWorks production, and A Bug’s life is a Walt Disney (Pixar) Movie. The basic premise is that an ordinary worker ant saves the colony and falls in love with the princess. There was a lot of competition throughout the production and release of these movies. So much so, that Antz was purposefully released five months before A Bugs life. Producer Katzenberg used cash to incentivise the animators to get the movie finished by the deadline. This ended up costing DreamWorks an extra 15 million in production, which can be seen reflected in the box office outcome.
Both tackle big life questions and themes in some way, but Antz is more adult while A Bug’s life is more child friendly.
3. Friends With Benefits vs No Strings Attached
With titles like these, the plot is pretty self-explanatory. A man and woman decide to have a sexual relationship, understanding that it’ll never be more than this. Obviously, feelings grow, and we see how they inevitably fall for each other. The movies were released in 2011 with big leading men and ladies. No Strings Attached gave us Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, and Friends With Benefits gave us Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. Great to think that one-half of each movie is married now to each other (i.e.Kutcher and Kunis).
These movies were neck and neck in the box office, with No Strings Attached, achieving $149.2, just shy of Friends With Benefits’ $149.5 million. Interestingly, the DreamWorks production of No Strings Attached is a movie adaptation of a screenplay titled ‘Friends With Benefits’. This caused a protest by Friends With Benefits’ production company, Screen Gems, forcing them to change the name. It all worked out, with both movies being a success overall.
The budget for No Strings Attached was slightly cheaper, which means they technically recouped more. If you want to see the girl be the one to catch feelings, watch Friends With Benefits; if you want to see the guy catch feelings first, watch No Strings Attached.
4. Chasing Liberty vs First Daughter
Released in 2004, we have Chasing Liberty starring Mandy Moore and First Daughter starring Kate Holmes. Despite the popular leading actresses, the storyline where the daughter of the President of the United States tries to gain independence and experience a ‘normal’ life apparently didn’t connect with audiences. Both movies failed to break even at the box office, with Chasing Liberty only doing $12 million (with a budget of $23 million) and First Daughter only producing $10.5 million (with a budget of $30 million). Critics were also not favourable towards either film, scoring 18% and 8% respectively on rotten tomatoes.
They aren’t the best watches, but they are both viable options if you need something to watch without paying too much attention. Chasing Liberty is the better film out of the two, but they’re both cute and probably still enjoyable for young teens.
5. Snow White and The Huntsman vs Mirror Mirror
Now let’s step into a world of fairy tales. Following the classic storyline, the queen tries to have Snow White killed as her beauty and power threaten her. Both movies were released in 2012 with a stellar cast. Snow White and The Huntsman starred Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, while Mirror Mirror featured Lily Collins and Julia Roberts.
Although both movies did well at the box office, Snow White and The Huntsman surpassed the competition and went on to have a sequel/prequel entitled The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016). If you’re looking for a more realistic adaptation that is gritty and has depth, this is the version to watch.
6. The Bounty Hunter vs One For The Money
Both plots involve a bounty hunter who gets a job to bring in their ex-partner, who happens to be working a case. Unlike other films on this list, these movies were released in different years. The Bounty Hunter with leading actors Gerald Butler and Jennifer Aniston came out in 2010, and One For The Money followed two years later in 2012 with Katherine Heigl and Jason O’Mara.
The Bounty Hunter did decently at the box office, while One for the money failed to break even and received a mere 2% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite this, both these movies are decently entertaining to watch so long as you have low expectations. What’s fun is that the man is the bounty hunter in The Bounty Hunter, and it’s the woman in One For The Money, so it creates an exciting dynamic.
7. The Parent Trap vs It Takes Two
These twin films are both remakes of the 1961 film The Parent Trap. In It Takes Two (1995), the girls are identical strangers from opposite sides of the wealth spectrum, while in The Parent Trap (1998), they are idential twins separated at birth. In both movies, the girls swap places and try to get their parents to fall in love, getting rid of their soon-to-be evil stepmother.
The Parent Trap is clearly the iconic standout with Lindsay Lohan expertly playing the twins. The movie received an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while It Takes Two, starring the Olsen twins, only scored 8%.
It Takes Two is easily forgotten and doesn’t compete with the fun, romance and comedy from The Parent Trap.
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There are often many differences between similar movies; even though the plot is alike, the storyline, actors and producers mean it’s never completely the same. While the box office is not a definitive way of assessing which movie is best, it is a useful indicator, but the movie that stands the test of time is the true victor.
Comment below and let us know some of your favourites from this list. What other similar movies did we miss out? Share your thoughts below, and if you liked this article, please follow the Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter pages. Also, check out:
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