The old adage “imitation is the highest form of flattery” can be applied to all aspects of life. While in the film industry, replication is certainly more of a contentious issue, with copyright being a very real, and equally expensive thing, filmmakers have always spoken of their inspirations, and the films, actors, and directors that have given them ideas.
In an age where originality is increasingly hard to come by, and everything has already been copied as far as narratives go, we’ve seen a growing number of movies copy classic titles in both the plot and the way in which they are filmed. WithSaltburnbeing the latest film falling victim to a little more than just inspiration, let’s take a look at the 10 biggest movie rip-offs ever.
10Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Rips Off The Hidden Fortress (1958)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
IfStar Warsis really just a victim of unoriginality, then has cinema been living a lie for the last six decades? Fortunately not, but it must be said that George Lucas’ creation does tap into real elements of another movie, with that film being iconic director, Akira Kurosawa’s movie,The Hidden Fortress. The celebrated Japanese auteur’s 1958 monochromatic masterpiece is actually set in 16th-century Japan and not in a galaxy far, far away.
However, the film does involve two peasants tasked with safely escorting a princess on a perilous journey. Of course, while 1977’s installment of theStar Warsfranchise draws on aspects of Kurosawa’s movie, there are many other facets that have made Star Wars, and in particular,Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hopesuch a seminal movie.
9Saltburn (2023) Rips Off The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
After delivering an emphatic feature debut with 2020’sPromising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell returned to our screens with 2023’s tale of excess, debauchery, and exuberance inSaltburn. After premiering at the Telluride Film Festival, the film was in receipt of predominantly positive reviews.
Detailing the summer escapades of student, Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), who is invited to his classmate, Felix Catton’s (Jacob Elordi) family estate for a summer of partying and overindulgence, which is quite a departure from his own, slightly mundane existence. The movie has a number of similarities with Anthony Minghella’sThe Talented Mr. Ripley, from the anti-hero desiring the life of his friend, to how the film pans out when it comes to major narrative events.
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Related:The Biggest Ripoffs of Animated Disney Movies, Ranked
8The Departed (2006) Rips Off Infernal Affairs (2002)
The Departed
A film from easily the most decorated director on this list, Martin Scorsese’s 2006 crime thriller,The Departedearned itself a place among some of the greatest thrillers of all time. The film follows the story of a mafia mole in the police force and an undercover cop infiltrating the mafia, as they face a race against time to sniff the other out.
Despite its brilliance, those who had previously watched the Hong Kong classic,Infernal Affairs, were quick to point out Scorsese’s apparent theft of the plot line. While it was later confirmed that Scorsese was given permission to remake the film in an English-language format, only three years after its release, this carbon copy seemed a little premature.
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7Nosferatu (1922) Rips Off Dracula
In this highly influential silent horror film, the mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck) summons Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile Orlok’s servant, Knock (Alexander Granach), prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.
While the entire concept of the infamous vampire can be traced back centuries, Bram Stoker’sDracula, has been, and perhaps always will be, the most renowned tale of these fanged, bloodthirsty creatures. Although there hadn’t been an official Dracula film at the timeNosferatuwas made in 1922, meaning the film’s creators hadn’t actually directly taken from any film, the esteemed British author’s 1897 novel earned its status as a seminal piece of literature and inspired countless novels and movies thereafter. 1922’sNosferatuwas one such film that took inspiration to a new level.
The fantasy horror, directed by F.W. Murnau essentially replicates the entire tale ofDracula, only going as far as to change the names in what was a well-rated, albeit obvious, rip-off of Stoker’s literary epic. This German-language film was, by all intents and purposes, an illegitimate adaptation ofDracula, with Pana Films, the movie’s creators, having failed to consult those that owned the story’s rights. As such, those in charge of Stoker’s estate consequently sued, with a high court judge declaring that all copies of the film must be abolished. Despite this ruling, several copies of Nosferatu survived, and it has subsequently become a cult and cinematic classic. So much so, that Robert Eggers has taken on aremake of the film that is due to come out in 2024.
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6Lockout (2012) Rips Off Escape from New York (1981)
2012’sLockout, featuring Guy Pearce as the protagonist, Snow, a man falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, sees the film’s lead offered a way out of this predicament by being tasked with saving the President’s daughter. For those audience members that were familiar with the story of John Carpenter’sEscape From New York, they would have been served up quite the bout of deja vu, with 1981’s thriller being the spitting image of Luc Besson’sLookout, or rather,Lookoutwas the mirror image ofEscape From New York, except for a few minor amendments to the narrative.
Due to this almost exact replication, Besson and co. were found by a French court to have copiedEscape From New York, and were subsequently found guilty of plagiarism, and ordered to pay €450,000.
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5Kill Bill (2003) Rips Off Lady Snowblood (1973)
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Irrefutably one of the most influential auteurs of his generation, Quentin Tarantino’s films have become somewhat of an industry event over the years. Despite his films’ frequent brilliance, thePulp Fictionmastermind has fallen foul on several occasions when it comes to being inspired by classic films. InKill Bill’s instance,this samurai-sword-wielding flickis almost identical to the 1973 Japanese samurai film,Lady Snowblood.
The premise is formed on the same foundations, with both titular characters seeking revenge as they go after men who have committed truly heinous crimes against them. While naturally there are disparities, the films share an uncanny resemblance. To Tarantino’s credit, he has made no secret of the fact he was deeply inspired by the film.
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4Reservoir Dogs (1992) Rips Off City on Fire (1987)
Reservoir Dogs
Mr. Quentin Tarantino features again, but this time for his directorial debut,Reservoir Dogs. The low-budget cult-classic foreshadowed the director’s career to come, with the crime thriller traversing the endeavors of six crooks who attempt a daring diamond heist, only to be foiled by the police. Tarantino draws upon a number of influences, including the likes ofA Clockwork OrangeandKansas City Confidential, yet, it is Ringo Lam’s 1987 hit,City on Fire, that Tarantino takes most from.
The Hong Kong feature acted as the motivator for Tarantino’sReservoir Dogs, which concerns both a robbery and a shootout. WhileReservoir Dogsis an uncredited remake ofCity on Fire, Tarantino has paid homage toReservoir Dogs’roots over the years.
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Related:10 Pastiche and Homage Scenes in Quentin Tarantino Movies
3Miller’s Crossing (1990) Rips Off The Glass Key (1935)
The Coen Brothers will be the source of great inspiration to many a future filmmaker to come, yet, as budding auteurs themselves in the 1980s and ‘90s, they too, relied heavily on external influence to fashion some of their early work, none more so than 1990’sMiller’s Crossing.
The thriller-noir was released to critical acclaim, with the movie telling the story of Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), whose advisory position to a prohibition mob boss quickly sees him caught up in a gang war. In spite of itsgreatness and underrated nature,Miller’s Crossinghas serious parallels with 1935 and 1942’sThe Glass Key, a screen adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel of the same name, with both movies offering slightly alternative interpretations of this literature.
2The Meg (2018) Rips Off Jaws (1975)
Jason Statham has frequently signed up for movies that seem to be doomed from the start.The Megis one of them. The 2018 action flick grossed a very respectable $530 million at the box office, and it concernsthe tale of a lethal Megalodon, wreaking havoc off the coast of China, sounds familiar?
Aside from the location, naturally, the film shares an overabundance of similarities with Steven Spielberg’s legendary 1975 classic,Jaws, with not just a killer shark on the loose, but from everything down to the film’s poster. While there are a number of differences, the genetic makeup of the movies is almost interchangeable.
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1Triassic World (2018) Rips of Jurassic World (2015)
Perhaps the biggest, most fragrant rip-off on this list isTriassic World, no points for guessing which film this has been accused of mimicking. This 2018 flick has a whopping score of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an even more impressive 3.1/10 on IMDb. The film details the attempts of a group of daring scientists who utilize genetically modified dinosaurs in order to harvest their organs for human transplants.
Predictably, the dinosaurs escape and maul everything in their path. If you hadn’t guessed already, it is theJurassic Worldthis yarn emulates. WhileJurassic Worldfocuses on genetically modifying these pre-historical creatures as tourist traps, the films invariably follow the same format when the dinosaurs find a way out.
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