"Twin Films” are way more common than we may think. You know, the kind of films that have identical plots and are released right after one another. With so many scripts being shopped around Hollywood on a constant basis, it makes sense that eerily similar films may get made at the same time.
There are only so many amazing premises to go around! It’s clear, though, that when it comes to “twin films”, one of them comes out on top. Whether fans respond better to it, the cast chemistry is more believable or it just hit cinema screens first, there’s undoubtedly a victor in the twin film war!
Here is a list of Hollywood films which not only had the same storylines but released in the same year too.
1. ‘Antz’ and ‘A Bug’s Life’ (1998)
Who doesn’t love a film about talking bugs? Clearly, everyone was into these ant-centred epics in the late 90s. Both films follow the journey of an ant who tries its best to save his colony from destruction from some villainous presence. Oh, and they capture the eye of a female ant along the way! There are some fundamental differences, though, between the two films.
Antz is a Woody Allen film (he even voices the main character) and gets a little intense for a kids film. A Bug’s Life, on the other hand, is a Disney-Pixar film with a bit of a lighter feel and bunch of different types of fun bugs. The clear winner here was A Bug’s Life, which netted way more bucks and an Oscar nomination.
2. ‘The Prestige’ and ‘The Illusionist’ (2006)
Apparently 2006 was a big year for films about magicians! Both projects follow the lives of late 19th century performers but only one is remembered today: The Prestige. The Christian Bale-fronted film not only made more money but is undoubtedly the one people look back upon fondly whereas no one really remembers that The Illusionist even exists. While the plots differed a bit aside from the “magician struggling with demons” idea, it turns out audiences could only deal with one magical film that year!
3. ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ and ‘White House Down’ (2013)
When you watch the trailers for these two films it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. Disgraced white men save the president amid explosions and high-octane action scenes. The only difference is the actors they put in each film — Channing Tatum in White House Down and Gerard Butler in Olympus Has Fallen. It stands to question how political climate could have influenced two films in one year to have a “save the President for mortal danger” plot. Both films performed fairly well but Olympus Has Fallen clearly got the edge — and a sequel!
4. ‘The Equalizer’ and ‘John Wick’ (2014)
The films have completely different types of leading men, different cinematography styles and a bit of a different tone. But at their heart, these films have literally identical plots. Both films focus on men trying to leave their dark and espionage pasts behind but tragic events draw them back into the life. The Equalizer made more money but John Wick gained a huge following too and both films have spawned franchises.
5. ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
Two factions of superhero behemoths fight each other and try to determine what is best for the earth in a world where people with superpowers exist. While the plots diverge from that a bit in each movie, that’s basically the gist of what both of these comic book films are delivering. The main theme of both of these films is actually a valid one — how do we regulate superheroes?
And how do we account for the damage they cause while “saving the world”? But, one film did it so much better. Despite making quite a bit at the box office, Batman v Superman just didn’t have the nuance or grasp of what it was trying to say the way Civil War did. Plus, those DC films just don’t compare to the MCU! Sorry, not sorry.
6. ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Iron Eagle’ (1986)
Top Gun is the movie that put Tom Cruise on the map after he played fighter pilot Maverick. But this wasn’t the only fighter pilot epic of the 80s and during the same year Iron Eagle was released. The film was more of a straight drama than Top Gun which injected romance and action heroism to the mix. That may be why the adventures of Maverick and Goose are still remembered to this day — and are getting the remake treatment in 2019!
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