Buzz
When a highly anticipated blockbuster is about to hit theaters, smaller studios often seize the opportunity to create their own low-budget versions, riding on the coattails of the original's success. Over the past decade, the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu has fueled the growth of these so-called 'mockbusters.' Here are 20 imitation films that might trick you into thinking they're the real thing (if you look closely enough).
1. Frozen Land
Capitalizing on the success of Disney’s Frozen, Phase Four Films introduced the animated movie Frozen Land. Originally known as The Legend of Sarila, the film’s marketing materials and logo were redesigned to closely resemble Disney’s hit family movie for its home video launch in late November, coinciding with Disney’s release of Frozen. Interestingly, The Legend of Sarila had already premiered in Canadian theaters under its original title in February 2013. Disney later took legal action against Phase Four Films for deceptive marketing practices.
2. Atlantic Rim
Just days before Pacific Rim premiered in theaters, The Asylum (a frequent name on this list) launched Atlantic Rim on DVD. This low-budget film mirrored the premise of its big-budget counterpart but was set in New York City rather than Hong Kong. With a production cost of $500,000, it paled in comparison to Pacific Rim’s $190 million budget. The mockbuster starred former Baywatch actor David Chokachi and Naughty by Nature’s Anthony “Treach” Criss.
3. Apocalypse Z
Originally titled Zombie Massacre, this Italian zombie film was rebranded as Apocalypse Z for its U.K. DVD release to leverage the buzz around Brad Pitt’s World War Z. The movie was based on a Nintendo Wii video game of the same name. Notorious German director Uwe Boll, known for his cult films, produced Apocalypse Z and even appeared in a cameo role as the U.S. President.
4. Street Racer
Though the title of Street Racer closely echoes Warner Bros’ Speed Racer, the plot of this low-budget film aligns more with the The Fast & The Furious series. The movie also shares similarities with two other racing films from The Asylum: Speed Demons (2003) and Death Racers (2008).
5. Android Cop
A week before Sony’s RoboCop remake hit theaters, The Asylum unveiled Android Cop, featuring Michael Jai White. While the DVD cover art seemed designed to confuse viewers into thinking it was the remake, the plot of Android Cop more closely mirrors RoboCop 2
6. What’s Up?: Balloon to the Rescue
Brazilian studio Vídeo Brinquedo (Toyland Video) is infamous for producing low-budget, direct-to-DVD animated films that mimic Pixar and DreamWorks hits. What's Up?: Balloon to the Rescue is a clear imitation of Pixar’s Up, with both films releasing in the U.S. in summer 2009. In this version, the elderly protagonist uses a single giant hot-air balloon instead of thousands of small ones to lift his house—truly groundbreaking.
7. The Apocalypse
In 2007, The Asylum launched the direct-to-DVD disaster movie The Apocalypse. It drew heavy inspiration from asteroid-themed blockbusters like Armageddon and Deep Impact, released a decade earlier. Initially planned as a pure action film, the buyers requested religious themes to attract Christian audiences. This led to the creation of Faith Films, a faith-based distribution division under The Asylum.
8. Transmorphers: Fall of Man
While Transmorphers was a mockbuster of Michael Bay’s Transformers in 2007, its prequel Transmorphers: Fall of Man surprisingly garnered some positive reviews, especially when compared to its inspiration, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
9. Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls
Released concurrently with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls was actually based on H. Rider Haggard’s 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines. Allan Quatermain, the adventurer, served as the inspiration for George Lucas’s Indiana Jones character. Despite this, it’s clear which film was attempting to capitalize on the other’s success.
10. Bikini Spring Break
Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers was initially set for a 2012 release but was postponed to 2013. Seizing the opportunity, The Asylum launched Bikini Spring Break, which follows a nearly identical storyline: four college students from a conservative school letting loose during spring break in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
11. Pirates of Treasure Island
Debuting a week before Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in summer 2006, Pirates of Treasure Island drew heavily from Disney’s hit franchise. Despite being criticized as a poor imitation, the film was officially adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island.
12. AE: Apocalypse Earth
Though AE: Apocalypse Earth was marketed to resemble After Earth, its storyline blended elements of Predator and Avatar. Filmed in Costa Rica, this low-budget sci-fi film premiered just weeks before M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth, starring Will Smith.
13. Paranormal Entity
Following the unexpected success of Paranormal Activity in 2007, Shane Van Dyke—grandson of Dick Van Dyke—wrote, directed, and produced Paranormal Entity for The Asylum. Despite similar budgets, Paranormal Activity became a cultural sensation and a horror classic, while Paranormal Entity faded into obscurity.
14. Alien Origin
Shortly after Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a prequel to his 1979 film Alien, debuted in June 2012, The Asylum released Alien Origin. Known for its low-quality mockbusters, The Asylum’s Alien Origin is often regarded as one of its poorest efforts.
15. Chop Kick Panda
Originally titled Tae Kwon Do Panda, Gaiam released the 41-minute animated film Chop Kick Panda directly to video in 2011 to ride the wave of excitement surrounding Kung Fu Panda 2. Netflix faced significant backlash from viewers who mistakenly streamed Chop Kick Panda, believing it to be the global blockbuster.
16. Almighty Thor
Shortly after Marvel Studios’ Thor hit theaters, The Asylum’s Almighty Thor premiered on the SyFy Channel. While Marvel’s film was adapted from the iconic comic book, The Asylum’s version loosely drew from Norse mythology. The film featured Richard Grieco as Loki and professional wrestler Kevin Nash as Odin, adding a unique twist to the story.
17. Sunday School Musical
Capitalizing on the success of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, The Asylum created Sunday School Musical. The idea for this knock-off emerged when producer Paul Bales attended a seminar on targeting Christian audiences. Similar to The Apocalypse, Sunday School Musical was distributed through Faith Films.
18. Snakes on a Train
One of The Asylum’s earliest films, Snakes on a Train, established the studio’s reputation for producing low-budget imitations. While seeking funding, a Japanese investor group expressed interest solely based on the poster, imagining a giant snake devouring a runaway train. Although the film initially lacked such a scene, producer David Rimawi added it to secure the investment.
19. Aliens vs. Avatars
Unlike most mockbusters that mimic a single film, Aliens vs. Avatars borrows from two: Alien vs. Predator and Avatar. The plot revolves around an intergalactic conflict between warring alien species and shape-shifting beings, with six college students caught in the crossfire.
20. Kiara the Brave
Originally known as Super K, Phase 4 Films rebranded and repackaged the Indian animated film as Kiara the Brave to align with Pixar’s Brave. Set in a unique galactic region called Dreamzone, Kiara the Brave failed to achieve the Oscar success of its Pixar counterpart.
