MovieChat Forums > Robinson Crusoe (2016) Discussion > Why did they change the title

Why did they change the title


Why did they change the title for the US release?

Seems counterproductive to go with a generic name for a movie by a minor studio, as opposed to a much more familiar name such as Robinson Crusoe.

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I assume because young children certainly, and some adults for that matter, wouldn't be familiar with the Crusoe story and the film's story is quite different to the original. The film was just as much about the wild characters, and it is these that would appeal to the audience the film is aimed at.



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Considering it didn't do that great at the North American box-office, I don't think the name "The Wild Life" had a great appeal.

Has culture really degenerated so far that people no longer know classics like Robinson Crusoe? Even if they're not familiar with the whole story, surely they must know of the castaway aspect.

Disney named the 1960 movie "Swiss Family Robinson" exactly because it was a story inspired by the Robinson Crusoe story, but which changed it heavily. The theme Parks still feature the walk-through attraction of the Robinson tree house, so it can't be completely unknown.

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Well it was called Robison Crusoe in the UK where I live and people didn't exactly flock to see it. SFR was made in 1960, over 50 years ago. I don't know of any theme parks that have an RC exhibit. The name just doesn't register anymore, particularly among young children who were the target audience. Also the film was as much about the wildlife on the island as RC himself, if not more, and which had changed the original story radically.



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