Ever picked up a toy that looked like a superhero but was a cheap imitation? We’ve all been there. But what about movies and games? Some are so close to the originals that they’re hilarious. Let’s jump into the world of mockbusters and rip-offs, where imitation isn’t always the sincerest form of flattery.
The Turkish Superman
In 1979, Turkey gave us ‘Süpermen Dönüyor,’ a film that reimagines the Man of Steel in a Turkish setting. It’s not just a simple copy; it’s a cultural adaptation. Imagine Superman in 1970s Turkey, navigating a world between Soviet Russia and the West. The director, Kunt Tulgar, created a movie that’s as much a product of its time as it is a superhero flick.[1]
Batman, Spiderman and Godzilla… in a Video Game About a Ninja
‘Revenge of Shinobi’ on Sega Megadrive was a wild ride. Besides being a great game with innovative level design and a killer soundtrack, it featured Batman, Godzilla, Spider-Man, a Terminator, and a Rambo rip-off as antagonists! The game director admitted it was due to a “lack of creativity,” but who can forget facing off against ‘Rocky,’ a clear Rambo imitation?[2]
James Batman
A Filipino James Bond, named James Hika, teams up with Batman and Robin? Yes, please! In this bizarre crossover, they battle an evil communist organization. What makes it weirder? The same actor plays both James Hika and Batman. It’s like a long, slightly off-kilter episode of Adam West’s Batman. And yes, there’s a giant centipede bite involved.[3]
A lot of Games made by Gameloft
What happens when a rip-off is actually good? Gameloft, founded by a former Ubisoft executive, creates high-quality games that heavily resemble existing properties. From Halo to Zelda, they’ve got a version. They have a decent following, with supporters and detractors. It’s a case of flying close to the sun but not getting burned.[4]
Jaws 5: Cruel Jaws—The ‘Jaws’ film that’s not a ‘Jaws’ film
Can a shark be cruel? ‘Cruel Jaws’ thinks so. The plot mimics the original Jaws: a shark threatens a small town, and local heroes try to stop it. The film even uses footage from the original and other Italian Jaws clones. It was pulled from a Blu-ray release due to copyright issues. How meta is that?[5]
Snakes on a…
Train? Yes, ‘Snakes on a Train’ exists. It’s a low-budget creature feature that tries to capitalize on the success of ‘Snakes on a Plane.’ But where the original is funny and self-aware, this one falls flat. It’s just… bad. Samuel L. Jackson probably shudders at the thought.[6]
Smelling a CG Rat
‘Ratatoing’ is Brazil’s answer to Pixar’s ‘Ratatouille.’ It features a French rat in Rio de Janeiro who’s an amazing chef. The animation is… uncanny. The studio behind it seems to only create Pixar rip-offs, like ‘Cars,’ ‘Up,’ and ‘Wall-E.’ Prepare for nightmares.[7]
The Italian Spiderman
This is an intentional parody of 60s and 70s Italian action films. It’s an Australian-made homage that’s genuinely funny. Unlike other entries, it knows it’s a rip-off and embraces it. Check it out on YouTube, along with the comedy series ‘Danger 5’ by the same creators.[8]
The Amazing Bulk
A synonym and a rhyming cognate in the title? That’s dedication to rip-off artistry! ‘The Amazing Bulk’ uses stock footage and cheap video files. It feels like a Roger Corman film but not actually directed by him. Depending on your mood, you’ll either laugh or throw something at the TV.[9]
A Whole Ton of Books that Ripped-off ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Of course, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ spawned countless parodies and fanfics. But the Christian versions are something else. From ‘Fifty Shades of Grace’ to ‘Fifty Shades of Christ,’ these books take the erotic franchise and turn it into born-again stories. Whether you mock or create, just make it entertaining.[10]
From Turkish superheroes to Christian erotica, the world of mockbusters and rip-offs is a wild and often hilarious place. These examples show that sometimes, imitation can be entertaining, even if it’s not always flattering.
What’s the most outrageous movie rip-off you’ve ever seen? Leave your comment below!
