50 Astonishing Movie Mockbusters
Cheap, cheesy knock-offs made on bargain-bin budgets
Transmorphers: Fall Of Man (2009)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: If the similar sounding 'Transmorphers' doesn't confuse people, then the mention of 'Fall' will DEFINITELY get people buying this thinking it is the Michael Bay sequel.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: A man driving a car is suddenly given a five-second warning from his GPS telling him to leave the car. He doesn't and is then shot in the head with a laser for his insubordination. The body is dumped and the car drives off by itself.
3 Musketeers (2011)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: We know the title is practically the same, but look at that cover. Surely there CAN'T be any confusion? Extra points for the tag line though.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: Female international spy Aramis breaks into a compound brandishing a sword but dressed only in her bra and panties.
2012: Supernova (2009)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: Which you rather see? Boring, old calendar year 2012 , or exciting, spacey-sounding 2012: SUPERNOVA ?
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: In a bid to save the Earth from a burst of gamma radiation caused by a nearby supernova, a NASA scientist concocts a plan to send a bunch of nuclear weapons into space. Apparently, this will create a shield from the radiation. Seems legit.
Clash Of The Empires (2012)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: Originally called Lord Of The Elves , as well as Age Of The Hobbits , until a copyright lawsuit ensued. Now the only similarity is that there’s a dragon and a mountain on the front cover.
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Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: The clan of hobbits are forced to team up with humans in order to defeat the Java Men – flesh-eating, dragon-riding Neanderthals. Actually, what are we saying? These guys would totally fit in with Tolkien’s world.
AE: Apocalypse Earth (2013)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: The title is similar enough. We’re sure that if the studio had found a father-and-son acting duo named Bill and Jorden Smiff, they would have cast them in a second.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: The group of survivors are aided by friendly android TIM and in one scene, they show their appreciation for his helpful guidance by using him as bait to lure away a giant killer lizard.
Haunting Of Winchester House (2009)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: They’re just hoping no one will read past the word ‘Haunting’.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: Most of the ghosts just seem to be people wearing rubber monster masks.
200 MPH (2011)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: 200mph sounds both fast AND furious.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: Laugh all you like at the Fast And Furious franchise, but they never rely on CGI cars and sped-up footage to make the races more exciting. Well, hardly ever.
The 7 Adventures Of Sinbad (2010)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: Forget the monsters and machine guns on the front cover, the tagline says it’s the “original Prince Of Persia ”, so it must be true.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: Towards the start of the film, Sinbad finds himself washed up on a mysterious island and is soon attacked by a giant crab monster... which proceeds to steal his money and run away.
Nazis At The Center Of The Earth (2012)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: To be honest, you could pick up Iron Sky and still not know whether you were holding the proper film or the cheap(er) knock-off.
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: It turns out that the hidden Nazi army at the center of the earth are being aided by a crazed scientist who is helping to keep original Nazis alive by performing organ, face and limb transplants. And in charge of it all is Robot Hitler – the still-surviving head of Adolf atop a giant robot body. This already sounds better than Iron Sky .
Jack The Giant Killer (2013)
Most Blatant Attempt To Confuse People: Jack The Giant Slayer was originally called Jack The Giant Killer , so maybe they were hoping that no one had heard about the title change?
Probably Wouldn't Happen In The Proper Film: For a start, there aren’t any actual giants in this movie, rendering the title a bit pointless. There are big dinosaur-like monsters though. Because having them live at the top of a beanstalk makes just as much sense.