View Full Version : Movie Similar Plots In Different Movies
There would be millions, obviously, but what are some of the more obvious ones?
I haven't seen it (despite being an Arnold devotee), but I recently looked up the plot for The Running Man.
Did Gamer, the recent film starring Gerard Butler, completely re-work the same concept, only the latter being a videogame, as opposed to a TV series?
THRILLHO
18 Dec 2010, 13:15
Pocahontas and Avatar.
Obvious plagiarism is obvious.
AndyLesPaul
18 Dec 2010, 13:23
I've got a good one
http://www.spitefulcritic.com/2009/06/hold-on-ive-seen-this-before-how-star-wars-star-trek-the-matrix-and-harry-potter-are-actually-the-same-movie
ManWithNoName
18 Dec 2010, 15:07
Avatar and Dances With Wolves
TimeIsRunningOut
18 Dec 2010, 18:02
Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button.
Rear Window and Disturbia.
ManWithNoName
18 Dec 2010, 18:20
Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button.
Rear Window and Disturbia.
Disagree. FG is the life story of a guy of sub-normal intelligence. BB is the story of a man who ages backwards. Similar in that they're both life stories, but different plots.
And Disturbia is a remake.
Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button.
Rear Window and Disturbia.
I think Disturbia was a remake of Rear Window.
On the subject of Forrest Gump, did anyone notice that Adam Sandler movie The Waterboy had many similarities:
1. Both movies are set in the American Deep South.
2. Forrest Gump and Bobby (the Waterboy) are considered to be "stupid", and subjected to ridicule by their peers.
3. Each boy is raised by a single mother with no father and no siblings.
4. Both Forrest and Bobby repeat words of wisdom spoken by their mothers; "Mama Says Life is Like a Box of Chocolates" - Forrest Gump and "Mama Says Happiness is from Magic Rays of Sunshine, that Come Down When You're Feeling Blue" - Bobby
5. Both Forrest and Bobby have been throughout their lives besotted by a special girl from "the wrong side of the tracks", respectively Jenny and Vicki.
6. Forrest and Bobby are both allowed to go to college because they are talented at football.
7. Both Forrest and Bobby need special encouragement due to their lack of understanding of football, Forrest needing signs that say "Run Forrest Run" or "Stop Forrest Stop" and Bobby to be remined of people who made him angry to play effectively.
8. Forrest and Bobby each have a supportive best friend who is African-American.
TimeIsRunningOut
18 Dec 2010, 18:52
Disturbia is so close to Rear Window that you'd think it's a remake, but it wasn't officially made as a remake. Pretty sure whoever has the rights to the book Rear Window was based on has tried to sue those behind Disturbia a couple of times.
And Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button are ridiculously similar. Other than their respective conditions, not much else is different. Same person even wrote the screenplay for both movies.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/faq#.2.1.9
Macca19
18 Dec 2010, 20:10
The Illusionist & The Prestige
Shanghai Noon and Rush Hour are practically the same movie (even have the same lead actor).
Rod Stroker
18 Dec 2010, 21:20
The Lion King and Madagascar 2
bungalow_bill
18 Dec 2010, 21:28
Mona Lisa Smile and The Emperor's Club both pale imitations of Dead Poets Society.
Rod Stroker
18 Dec 2010, 21:31
Disagree. FG is the life story of a guy of sub-normal intelligence. BB is the story of a man who ages backwards. Similar in that they're both life stories, but different plots.
Not really
http://www.bofunk.com/video/8097/curious_case_of_forrest_gump_vs_benjamin_button.html
HoldenMagroin
18 Dec 2010, 22:38
Extreme Prejudice and The Wild Bunch (more like a complex plot update as homage to The Wild Bunch)
Monsters Ball and Levity (both starring Billy Bob Thornton)
Herne Hill Hammer
18 Dec 2010, 23:04
Shane and Pale Rider
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Two Hands
TheGreatBambino
19 Dec 2010, 07:54
Antz - A Bug’s Life
blues4flag
19 Dec 2010, 08:20
Not same plots but Shutter Island and Inception both had very similar themes regarding Dicaprio and his relationship with his wife.
ThePezDispenser
19 Dec 2010, 08:37
Pocahontas and Avatar.
Obvious plagiarism is obvious.
I asked a mate how this movie was, he replied
"A blue version of Pochahontas in 3D"
Damon_3388
19 Dec 2010, 08:42
FernGully:The Last Rainforest (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104254/) and Avatar (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/).
thesting
19 Dec 2010, 09:30
The Lord of the Rings - Willow
Both involve a race of "small people" who are withdrawn from the troubles and wars of the big people coming into possession of something that will lead to a dark powers triumph or destruction. A quest to deal with this object takes place, with the assistance of an outcast warrior and a wizard or witch...
Knife Wrench
19 Dec 2010, 12:47
Armageddon and Deep Impact.
Damon_3388
19 Dec 2010, 13:18
Armageddon and Deep Impact.
Came out within two months of each other in the same year (1998) too! Also had other big-budget disaster fare like Twister (1995), Daylight (1996), Dante's Peak (1997) and Volcano (1997) in the years prior.
Little Jerry
19 Dec 2010, 13:33
Observe and Report
Mall Cop
Both terrible movies with the same plot.
TheBigT
19 Dec 2010, 16:50
Strange Bedfellows
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
Rod Stroker
19 Dec 2010, 19:30
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Two Hands
Good get
Copulator
19 Dec 2010, 19:41
charlie and the chocolate factory - starring gene wilder
charlie and the chocolate factory - starring johnny depp
Back in my uni days I remember reading a book that said there were only 7 basic possible storylines.
Great book, i'll scrounge around for it soon. I remember one example being something along the lines of;
Character 1 is in world A, Character 1 meets character 2, 1 & 2 go to world B, Character 1 goes through a trial, Character 1 returns to world A with new knowledge.
Obviously that's dumbed down a fair bit but that was the basic concept. 'The journey' I think it was called.
P.A.F.C
19 Dec 2010, 23:03
Not same plots but Shutter Island and Inception both had very similar themes regarding Dicaprio and his relationship with his wife.
Momento was similar to Inception also. Both stories built around the dead wife. Momento differs as it was a fantastic film.
FernGully:The Last Rainforest (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104254/) and Avatar (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/).
Yeah, this is what I immediately thought of whilst watching Avatar. Is a much better fit than the other comparisons.
Kid Presentable
20 Dec 2010, 07:54
Antz - A Bug’s Life
Bugs Life = Seven Samurai (intentional of course).
Falchoon
20 Dec 2010, 08:56
Mel Gibson
Braveheart - The Patriot.
RustyHawk
20 Dec 2010, 09:34
Bruce Almighty & Click
Both written by Steve Koren.
Both have same basic plot.
40 minutes of fun as the star of the show (Jim Carrey / Adam Sandler) are tortured souls who find mystical power and have fun with that power righting the wrongs in their lives..then
5 minutes of change
then 40 minutes of film as they plunge into the horror that everything they wanted they get and more with interest only to learn that money, fame, fortune do not buy happiness
to the final 5 minutes of the film where the good ship has righted itself and all is good with world once again.
I'm Bruce Almighty...Click.
WheatsWorshipper
20 Dec 2010, 12:13
Inception/The Matrix- Shit there is even an "Architect" in both and did anybody else find the scene where Fisher opens the vault familiar?
Red Dawn/Tomorrow When the War Began(book first yes)/Toy Soldiers- Not sure which came first
Happy Mastenator
20 Dec 2010, 12:29
It's said that at the end of the day all stories can be refined back to one of 7 basic stories
1. 'Tragedy'. Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end. Macbeth (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780451526779,00.html) or
Madame Bovary (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140449129,00.html).
2. 'Comedy'. Not necessary laugh-out-loud, but always with a happy ending, typically of romantic fulfilment, as in Jane Austen (http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/features/austenmania/austenmania-classics.html).
3. 'Overcoming the Monster'. As in Frankenstein (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439471,00.html) or 'Jaws (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/)'. Its psychological appeal is obvious and eternal.
4. 'Voyage and Return'. Booker argues that stories as diverse as Alice
in Wonderland (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439761,00.html) and H G Wells' The Time Machine (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439976,00.html) and Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140423532,00.html) follow the same archetypal structure of personal development through leaving, then returning home.
5. 'Quest'. Whether the quest is for a holy grail, a whale, or a kidnapped child it is the plot that links a lot of the most popular fiction. The quest plot links Lords of the Rings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings) with Moby Dick (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780142437247,00.html) and a thousand others in between.
6. 'Rags to Riches'. The riches in question can be literal or metaphoric. See Cinderella, David Copperfield (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140439441,00.html), Pygmalion (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439501,00.html).
7. 'Rebirth'. The 'rebirth' plot - where a central character suddenly finds a new reason for living - can be seen in A Christmas Carol (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140439052,00.html), It's a Wonderful Life, Crime and Punishment (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140449136,00.html) and Peer Gynt (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140441673,00.html).
Would be interesting if someone has a movie that they think doesn't fit into one of these categories.
stuart27
20 Dec 2010, 12:41
Braveheart - The Patriot.
I'm not the only one :thumbsu:
Noddy Holder
20 Dec 2010, 13:11
Friday the 13th
Halloween
Same stories, just different villians.
HoldenMagroin
20 Dec 2010, 19:41
Cannibal Holocaust
Blair Witch Project
Same style & concept
WCErevival
20 Dec 2010, 22:28
Cannibal Holocaust
Bought that the other day to see what the fuss was about. Animal killings were a bit disgusting
Back to topic.
The Fast and the Furious - Point Break
HarryTiger
24 Dec 2010, 00:46
The Island and Logan's Run.
Herne Hill Hammer
24 Dec 2010, 16:30
The Island and Logan's Run.
you could tack the original Time Machine with Robert Taylor onto the end of that pairing. (I've never seen the remake with Guy Pierce, so unsure if it's similar or not)
ThePezDispenser
26 Dec 2010, 12:59
Not the same plot, however Jonhson and Friends and Toy Story seem fairly similar.
Lenny29
26 Dec 2010, 13:46
Chasing Liberty & First Daughter came out about a month apart and have pretty much the same plot.
NeRFaHoLIc
26 Dec 2010, 13:47
Friday the 13th
Halloween
Same stories, just different villians.
Friday the 13th 2 onwards yes, but #1 was completely different to Halloween.
Hodgepodge
28 Dec 2010, 13:15
I've got a good one
http://www.spitefulcritic.com/2009/06/hold-on-ive-seen-this-before-how-star-wars-star-trek-the-matrix-and-harry-potter-are-actually-the-same-movie
That appears in books as well, with the Sword of Truth series, LOTR, wheel of time, etc.
However it doesn't really apply to Star Trek. Kirk was a typical cadet.
Hodgepodge
28 Dec 2010, 13:21
It's said that at the end of the day all stories can be refined back to one of 7 basic stories
1. 'Tragedy'. Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end. Macbeth (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780451526779,00.html) or
Madame Bovary (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140449129,00.html).
2. 'Comedy'. Not necessary laugh-out-loud, but always with a happy ending, typically of romantic fulfilment, as in Jane Austen (http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/features/austenmania/austenmania-classics.html).
3. 'Overcoming the Monster'. As in Frankenstein (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439471,00.html) or 'Jaws (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/)'. Its psychological appeal is obvious and eternal.
4. 'Voyage and Return'. Booker argues that stories as diverse as Alice
in Wonderland (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439761,00.html) and H G Wells' The Time Machine (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439976,00.html) and Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140423532,00.html) follow the same archetypal structure of personal development through leaving, then returning home.
5. 'Quest'. Whether the quest is for a holy grail, a whale, or a kidnapped child it is the plot that links a lot of the most popular fiction. The quest plot links Lords of the Rings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings) with Moby Dick (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780142437247,00.html) and a thousand others in between.
6. 'Rags to Riches'. The riches in question can be literal or metaphoric. See Cinderella, David Copperfield (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140439441,00.html), Pygmalion (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141439501,00.html).
7. 'Rebirth'. The 'rebirth' plot - where a central character suddenly finds a new reason for living - can be seen in A Christmas Carol (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140439052,00.html), It's a Wonderful Life, Crime and Punishment (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140449136,00.html) and Peer Gynt (http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140441673,00.html).
Would be interesting if someone has a movie that they think doesn't fit into one of these categories.
Interesting.
Comedy is more a genre than a plot though, isn't it?
Okay, where does "mystic river" fit in?
GoTheSwannies
28 Dec 2010, 16:40
It's said that at the end of the day all stories can be refined back to one of 7 basic stories
1. 'Tragedy'. Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end. Macbeth or
Madame Bovary.
2. 'Comedy'. Not necessary laugh-out-loud, but always with a happy ending, typically of romantic fulfilment, as in Jane Austen.
3. 'Overcoming the Monster'. As in Frankenstein or 'Jaws'. Its psychological appeal is obvious and eternal.
4. 'Voyage and Return'. Booker argues that stories as diverse as Alice
in Wonderland and H G Wells' The Time Machine and Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner follow the same archetypal structure of personal development through leaving, then returning home.
5. 'Quest'. Whether the quest is for a holy grail, a whale, or a kidnapped child it is the plot that links a lot of the most popular fiction. The quest plot links Lords of the Rings with Moby Dick and a thousand others in between.
6. 'Rags to Riches'. The riches in question can be literal or metaphoric. See Cinderella, David Copperfield, Pygmalion.
7. 'Rebirth'. The 'rebirth' plot - where a central character suddenly finds a new reason for living - can be seen in A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, Crime and Punishment and Peer Gynt.
Would be interesting if someone has a movie that they think doesn't fit into one of these categories.
I don't think Pulp Fiction fits into any of those categories
I don't think Pulp Fiction fits into any of those categories
i'd think Pulp Fiction is a number of stories rolled into one movie and all the stories fit into one of those categories...Vincent Vega - Tragedy etc...It's been too long since I've watched this movie, I might have to get it out of the collection for a watch :thumbsu: