Sometimes, many movies are inspired by stories from old movies or those of another culture. So, here’s a list of 10 such movies that are inspired by other movies and heavily borrow from them. From old American movies to old Japanese movies, the source of inspiration is wide and diverse.
However, all the movies are definitely a must-watch, even the inspirations. Some of these movies on the list are pure masterpieces and multiple award-winning films. Some of the rip-offs did surpass the inspiration and did far better.
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1. Saltburn (2023)
The 2023 black comedy psychological thriller film spiraled Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi into stardom. The movie is unhinged and some aspects of it are pure psychotic. The story focuses on a student at Oxford who becomes fixated with a popular, aristocratic fellow student. And later spends the summer at his eccentric family’s estate.
‘Saltburn’ bears a striking resemblance to a 1999 American psychological thriller ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’. In both films, the protagonists are outsiders of the high society world and are drawn into the said world through an odd but enigmatic friend. Both of them lie about their pasts and become obsessed with their new shiny lives.
Related: Is ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ Based On A True Story?
2. Joker (2019)
An iconic villain in the DCU, Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of him in 2019’s ‘Joker’ was to die for. Directed by Todd Phillips, the movie follows the journey of Arthur Flick as he descends into madness. Phillips has been very upfront about getting his inspiration from this 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller.
‘Taxi Driver’ is one of Martin Scorsese’s masterpieces. Starring Robert De Niro, the movie has inspired many aspects of Phillips’ ‘Joker’. The movie follows Travis Bickle, a veteran and taxi driver, and his deteriorating mental state as he works nights in the city.
3. Rush Hour (1998)
The 1998 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Brett Ratner is hilarious. The buddy cop film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker grossed over $244 million worldwide. However, did you know that this film is a spin-off of another American buddy cop movie?
‘48 Hours’ is a 1982 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Walter Hill. Both the films share a similarity in their storylines. But in the 1982 film, a cop and a criminal join hands to catch two criminals whereas in the 1998 film, two cops join hands to save a girl.
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4. The Hunger Games (2012)
The movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s novels has spawned a million-dollar franchise. It is the precursor to the young adult boom of the 2010s. The surprisingly brutal tale of oppression and rebellion is actually a rip-off of a 2000 movie.
‘Battle Royale’ is a 2000 Japanese action film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. This underappreciated classic earned critical acclaim for its storytelling. The depiction of children going to war with the exploitative and gory premise gave the movie an edge. However, ‘The Hunger Games’ surely stole its thunder.
5. House Of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The 2003 American black comedy horror film is a story about a group of teenagers being kidnapped and tortured by a psychotic family during Halloween. Directed by Rob Zombie, the film borrows heavily from another American horror movie.
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ is a 1974 American independent horror film. This movie would become a franchise with other horror movies. However, ‘House of 1000 Corpses’ is heavily inspired by this movie. Both share a similarity in the plot line and in the characters.
6. Coco (2017)
This Pixar film is colorful, fun, and heartwarming. ‘Coco’ has made a special place in viewer’s hearts and is an ideal light-hearted watch. However, the movie borrows heavily from another animated movie titled ‘The Book Of Life’.
It is a 2014 American animated fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez. These are both feel-good stories about family and following your passions. Both movies tap into the rich Mexican culture and heritage as well.
7. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece remains one of the finest works of cinema. The 2003 American martial arts film spiraled Uma Thurman into stardom. However, ‘Kill Bill’ has strongly similar storylines to other Japanese movie. A 1973 Japanese movie titled ‘Lady Snowblood’ is very similar to this.
Both the movies have strong female protagonists and the storyline revolves around a revenge narrative. In both movies, the story is told out of chronological order across multiple movies. And they also share a central story of rape and murder. However, like any of his works, Tarantino’s magic sets ‘Kill Bill’ at a higher level.
8. The Lion King (1994)
Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ is undoubtedly one of the most successful animation works from the studio. It remains an evergreen film loved by everyone. However, it seems that this Japanese animated series has played a big role in inspiring Disney.
‘Kimba The White Lion’ is a Japanese animated series that has too many similarities to ‘The Lion King’ to turn a blind eye. For starters, the names of the protagonists are very similar. The storyline also follows closely. The only thing that Disney improved on is the animation.
Related: ‘Bambi’ Effect Explained: How Did The Disney Movie Change The World?
9. The Fast And The Furious (2001)
There is no doubt that the 2001 movie is an epic one forever etched in our hearts. The ‘Fast And Furious’ franchise is one of the biggest when it comes to action movies. However, it owes a great deal to another iconic movie ‘Point Break’. The 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Keanu Reeves has many similarities with the movie franchise.
Both the movie’s plot line and the dynamic between the two leads have a lot of similarities. The Vin Diesel movie borrowed heavily from ‘Point Break’s premise of thrill-seekers-turned-criminal. However, ‘Fast And Furious’ has a far bigger impact.
10. Black Swan (2010)
The 2010 American psychological horror film directed by Darren Aronofsky has a big fan base. The movie starring Natalie Portman dives deep into the world of ballet. Portman’s Nina Sayers spirals into madness as the pressure of performing builds on her.
A similar storyline is also followed by a lesser-known Japanese anime movie. ‘Perfect Blue’ is a 1997 Japanese anime psychological thriller directed by Satoshi Kon. The anime has a similar plot but instead of ballet, it focuses on a pop star turned actress. She loses her sanity as she gets stalked by a fan.
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