Buzz
Have you ever noticed two films with strikingly similar themes releasing almost simultaneously? This isn’t a coincidence. Studios are constantly in fierce competition for compelling stories. When one studio secures a promising script, they attempt to keep it under wraps, but leaks are inevitable. This sparks a frantic race among rival studios to produce similar films, all vying for box office supremacy.
10. The Road vs. The Book of Eli 2009-10
Both films offer stunning visual depictions of a post-apocalyptic world. The haunting sense of despair and the transformation of familiar environments are key elements that captivate audiences. While The Road excels in its gritty realism, The Book of Eli takes a more fantastical approach, centering on a blind protagonist with extraordinary hearing and combat skills, allegedly bestowed by divine intervention.
In contrast, The Road portrays a father safeguarding his young son, opting to evade confrontations whenever possible. Lacking martial arts expertise and armed with only a single bullet in his revolver, the father is more inclined to end his son’s life than risk him falling victim to cannibals or torturers.
On the surface, The Book of Eli appears to be a typical action film featuring a nearly invincible hero. It includes a cannibalism scene and the protagonist’s sacrificial death while defending a companion. This film offers a unique twist on the post-apocalyptic genre, penned by Gary Whitta following the success of McCarthy’s Pulitzer-winning novel. Recognizing its cinematic potential, Joel Silver swiftly adapted it into an action-packed thriller, collaborating with Alcon Entertainment’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson, and securing funding primarily from Warner Brothers. Despite receiving largely negative reviews, the film nearly doubled its $80 million budget, whereas The Road, despite critical acclaim, barely recouped its modest $25 million budget.
9. Top Gun vs. Iron Eagle 1986
One film is a star-studded blockbuster that introduced countless pop-culture catchphrases, while the other is a lackluster attempt at storytelling that inexplicably spawned multiple sequels. Top Gun catapulted Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer to fame as the most arrogant fighter pilots in the Air Force. The plot follows a familiar formula: recruits arrive for training, face a tough instructor, overcome challenges, and ultimately triumph over the enemy.
Iron Eagle mirrors this formula but replaces the damsel in distress with the hero’s father. The rushed narrative is evident, as Sidney Furie pitched the idea to TriStar, who eagerly produced it to rival Top Gun. While the film recouped its costs, it failed to achieve significant profits. Lou Gossett Jr. and David Suchet bring a touch of class to the production, but in Air Force action films, the aerial stunts and fighter planes inevitably steal the spotlight.
8. Return of the Jedi vs. The Last Starfighter 1983-84
Return of the Jedi clearly takes the crown in this matchup. Warner Brothers’ The Last Starfighter feels like a transparent effort to ride the wave of the space opera trend ignited by George Lucas. The film’s premise, where a video game propels the protagonist into a galactic journey, leaves little to the imagination about its intended audience. While Craig Safan’s orchestral score, performed by a 150-piece orchestra, strives to rival John Williams, it’s the memorable melodies, not the grandeur of the orchestration, that truly leave a lasting impact.
Return of the Jedi stands on its own as a cinematic triumph. It didn’t rely on prequels to solidify its legacy, though it now has them. The essence of Star Wars lies in its timeless character archetypes: the wise heroes of the Rebel Alliance pitted against the bumbling stormtroopers, the classic damsel in distress, the mystical weapon, and the clear dichotomy of good versus evil. In contrast, The Last Starfighter feels derivative, lacking depth and originality, making it just another attempt to mimic a groundbreaking formula.
7. Lincoln vs. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 2012
It’s no secret that Spielberg spent 12 years preparing to make a film about Abraham Lincoln. After finally discovering a book he loved, he gave the project the go-ahead. The anticipation was immense, prompting Seth Grahame-Smith to quickly pen the Vampire Hunter novel within a year, aiming to capitalize on the Twilight frenzy and the renewed buzz around Lincoln’s name in Hollywood. Initially, Liam Neeson, standing at 6 feet 4 inches, was cast as the lead, but he withdrew after multiple delays, feeling he had aged out of the role.
The project seemed doomed until Daniel Day-Lewis showed interest, reigniting Spielberg’s enthusiasm. Vampire Hunter hit theaters first on June 22, but only because Spielberg opted for a Christmas release for Lincoln. Is this a true showdown? In a way, yes. Vampire Hunter exploited Spielberg’s long-awaited project for profit, yet the two films are so distinct in their narratives that they barely intersect. While Vampire Hunter won’t dominate the Oscars, Lincoln isn’t likely to sweep the MTV Movie Awards either.
6. Ben-Hur vs. Spartacus 1959-60
Spartacus was born out of Kirk Douglas’s determination to play Judah Ben-Hur. The role of Ben-Hur was notoriously hard to fill, with Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, and Paul Newman all declining. Even Leslie Nielsen auditioned but didn’t make the cut. Douglas campaigned fiercely for the part, but director William Wyler deemed him too short.
Charlton Heston, standing at 6 feet 3 inches, ultimately landed the role, much to Douglas’s frustration. Determined to prove MGM wrong, Douglas quickly sought another epic project, settling on Spartacus. Though he couldn’t compete in the same Oscar race, it worked in his favor, as Ben-Hur set a record for Academy Awards. Spartacus remains a cinematic masterpiece, boasting an exceptional cast, but Ben-Hur’s religious themes and uplifting conclusion resonated more with critics. Spartacus, devoid of religious undertones aside from the crucifixion imagery, carved its own legacy.
5. Dante’s Peak vs. Volcano 1997
Upon catching wind of a volcano-themed action film featuring the current James Bond, 20th Century Fox scrambled to secure disaster scripts. They acquired a story from Billy Ray and Jerome Armstrong and swiftly moved into production. To ensure star appeal, Tommy Lee Jones was brought on board with a hefty paycheck. While Jones delivered a strong performance, Pierce Brosnan matched him as a volcanologist racing to save a town from impending doom.
Experts widely regard Dante’s Peak as the more scientifically accurate film, showcasing the perils of ashfall, pyroclastic clouds, and a subductive blast, all brought to life with stunning special effects. In contrast, Volcano simplifies the science, focusing heavily on lava spectacle. Unlike Dante’s Peak, which draws inspiration from Mount St. Helens, Volcano lacks a specific real-life eruption as its foundation. Despite both films performing well, Dante’s Peak edged out at the box office, partly due to its earlier release by two months.
4. Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp 1993-94
Kevin Costner was deeply invested in Wyatt Earp’s story and initially signed on to star in Kevin Jarre’s film. However, he demanded a rewrite to make Earp the sole focus, which Jarre rejected. This led to Costner’s departure and a vow to create his own competing project. Jarre’s vision caught Kurt Russell’s attention, who brought in George Cosmatos to direct. Russell essentially took the reins, guiding Cosmatos through each scene. Tombstone stands out for its meticulous attention to historical accuracy, with costumes and details like Ike Clanton’s ace of spades boots carefully replicated from old photographs.
Tombstone zeroes in on the events surrounding the Gunfight at OK Corral and the Vendetta Ride, rather than Earp’s entire life. Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Doc Holliday outshines Dennis Quaid’s in Wyatt Earp, though the latter film’s main flaw lies in Costner’s flat, one-dimensional take on Earp. His performance leans into a manic-depressive tone, influenced by Earp’s personal tragedies. In contrast, Russell’s Earp is nuanced and occasionally lighthearted. Despite Costner’s efforts to overshadow Tombstone, Wyatt Earp’s release left audiences fatigued by the subject. Tombstone more than recouped its budget, while Wyatt Earp struggled to make half of its costs back.
3. Saving Private Ryan vs. The Thin Red Line 1998
Spielberg’s projects always generate buzz in Hollywood, with industry insiders eagerly tracking every detail of his casting, locations, and storylines. This trend began in 1993 when he released both a blockbuster and a hard-hitting drama in quick succession. When he announced a WWII film aiming to depict the brutal realities of war, speculation about its authenticity spread rapidly.
In response, 20th Century Fox partnered with Robert Geisler, John Roberdeau, and Phoenix Pictures to produce a WWII film set in the Pacific, countering Spielberg’s European theater focus. Terrence Malick stepped in to direct, having long wanted to adapt James Jones’s novel. He wisely avoided heavy action scenes, knowing they might face censorship. Spielberg, with his clout, barely managed to push his vision through, highlighting the challenges of portraying war realistically.
Ryan’s central theme revolves around discovering humanity amidst the chaos of war, aiming to present the most authentic portrayal of combat ever seen on screen. Malick, however, took a divergent path, focusing on soldiers’ psychological battles to retain their sanity. His approach is almost poetic, offering a unique cinematic experience. Both films achieved significant success, with The Thin Red Line nearly doubling its $50 million budget. Saving Private Ryan, however, dominated with five Oscars compared to Red Line’s zero, despite competing in similar categories, and grossed $481 million against a $70 million budget, $12 million of which was spent solely on the Omaha Beach sequence.
2. Braveheart vs. Rob Roy 1995
This rivalry appears to stem from a contest over which film could take greater liberties with historical accuracy. Braveheart has a slight justification, as it draws from a poetic source, which isn’t known for factual precision. Rob Roy, on the other hand, had access to documented history but still altered key details, such as inventing the character Archibald Cunningham.
Mel Gibson’s inexperience as a director led to inefficiencies, causing Braveheart to exceed its budget. He famously used over a million feet of film for the Battle of Stirling alone. In contrast, Michael Caton-Jones brought more directorial expertise to Rob Roy, and its less grandiose scale made production smoother. Randall Wallace’s Braveheart script had circulated Hollywood for years, so its eventual approval by Paramount and 20th Century Fox was no surprise.
United Artists, still recovering from the financial blow of Heaven’s Gate 15 years prior, saw potential in Scotland’s rich history. Recognizing Braveheart as a potential blockbuster, especially with Mel Gibson’s signature intensity, they fast-tracked Alan Sharp’s script about Robert Roy MacGregor. Michael Caton-Jones chose to focus on a single, masterfully choreographed swordfight rather than multiple chaotic battles, allowing Rob Roy to hit theaters a month earlier. Deciding which film is more engaging remains a matter of personal preference.
1. Deep Impact vs. Armageddon 1998
Both films center on massive meteors threatening Earth’s survival. Deep Impact debuted on May 8, 1998, strategically timed to avoid competing with Armageddon’s July 4 release. Despite harsh criticism from respected reviewers, the backlash only fueled public curiosity, driving more viewers to theaters.
Both films performed exceptionally well, with Armageddon becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Deep Impact, the second-highest earner, has since gained favor among science critics for its realistic portrayal of a nuclear solution failing until the astronauts’ ultimate sacrifice. However, their efforts couldn’t save the eastern U.S. or the western coasts of Europe and Africa from devastation.
Armageddon’s production team, led by Jerry Bruckheimer, invested an additional $3 million in CGI enhancements to improve the film. However, the storyline falls short, earning a resounding thumbs-down. The plot hinges on a single nuclear device splitting a massive Texas-sized asteroid (not an icy comet) in half at the last possible moment. The film might have fared better had Ben Affleck replaced Bruce Willis in the lead role.
