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Twin movie phenomena: Near identical movies that were produced independently around the same time

posted 7 years ago by gajus (7)
26 replies | jump to latest

Hi all!

The Prestige (2006) and The Illusionist (2006) are two movies that always left me confused. It always felt like one is the extension of the other or vice-versa. I had this thought of researching twin movies long time ago, and while researching the subject came across number of triplet movie examples. I've listed the most interesting examples and summarised the how/ why twin movies happen in an article (https://go2cinema.com/stories/twin-movie-phenomena-5)

Hope you find this as interesting as I did.

and I have created this awesome illustration for it (https://go2cinema.com/images/stories/20.jpg?width=640). I am really proud of it, what do you think?

What movies did you find to be too similar?

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Capote (2005) and Infamous (2006)

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

Yes, that was super weird. They were both very good too.

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

Despicable Me and Megamind were like this, but MM was so much better. Pity it had no sequel.

Would you count Civil War and BvS?

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Despicable Me is better.

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

Don't make me come over there!

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Ok, Megamind is better at story and dialogues, but felt too much like a spoof movie. Despicable Me is better at character designs and originality. The sequels are terrible tho'.

Fair enough? Please don't come.

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

Okay, I'm calmer now... I did like Minions quite a bit, just to toss that in.

[–] Bubbathegut (17234) 7 years ago

Dazed and Confused and The Stoned Age were very similar.

The twin movie phenomenon has always bugged me for years. I am glad I am not the only one who noticed it.

[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

Armageddon and Deep Impact- I definitely noticed that at the time. Usually whichever one comes out first does better because when the second one comes, people think "I already saw that movie".

Near Dark (1987) and The Lost Boys (1987) are twins to me- released the same year and both had gangs of teenage vampires.
Fright Night and Vamp aren't really twins (imo) because they were a year or two earlier. In Fright Night the teens were battling the vamps but there were not gangs of teen vamps.

Apparently this phenomenon is as old as film itself- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_films

Dangerous Liaisons and Valmont- (both 1988) were movie versions of a very popular play ( In London in 1985 and on broadway in 1987), so it makes sense that they came out in the same year. Often when there are popular stage plays or musicals, there will be a movie version soon after. Dangerous Liasons came out first and got the most press but Valmont was closer to the play.

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

I find it very odd that another live action Jungle Book is coming

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

I remember when Dangerous Liasons and Valmont both came out. They were both very good. I think Valmont wasn't as widely seen and that's too bad because it was directed by the legendary Milos Forman.

[–] Apis (1624) 7 years ago

Deep Impact and Armageddon (you mention them in your article)

Olympus has Fallen and White House Down are the more recent example.

I was also wondering why this happens. Studios must sense when a particular movie will be a money maker for their competition, and decide to produce something similar to get a piece of the money pie.

[–] TandyMan (10395) 7 years ago

Yes, it's done on purpose. Movies aren't made in a secret laboratory in Hollywood. Everybody in the industry knows what's going on and buzz on a new thing is capitalized on very quickly. Strike while the iron is hot.

The first time I noticed was back when they made a slew of underwater horror films with subs and undersea bases. Abyss/DeepStarSix/Leviathan in '89.

[–] db20db (16228) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Antz and A Bug's Life

Bolt and Underdog

Jobs and Steve Jobs

Dante's Peak and Volcano

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

Good article gajus. I haven't seen a lot of the movies you mentioned in it, but I like that you noticed the tendency of this to happen.