Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (2024)

Similar Plots. Who Copied Who?

In a field saturated with content, some close calls are inevitable. After all, most ideas are offshoots of pre-existing ones. Coincidences are common, but some of these films are WAY too similar.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (1)

The Wild & Madagascar

Released by Disney and Dreamworks, respectively,The WildandMadagascarhave plots that are so identical that they are basically the same. Both movies feature a group of zoo animals who escape their confinements to venture back into their natural habitats in Africa and Madagascar.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (2)THE WILD Clip - Roar (2006) Disney by JoBlo Animated Videos and DreamWorks Madagascar | Wild Sweet Wild - Madagascar Movie Clip | Madagascar | Kids Movies by DreamWorks Madagascar

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The Wild & Madagascar (Cont.)

Everything from the choice of animals to the underlying themes is shared between the two, with the only exception being the critical reception of the movies.Madagascaris a well-known and loved classic, whileThe Wildis cited as an extraordinarily derivative and poorly produced film.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (3)THE WILD Clip - Roar (2006) Disney by JoBlo Animated Videos and DreamWorks Madagascar | Alex and Marty Best Friends | Madagascar Funny Scenes | Kids Movies by DreamWorks Madagascar

Finding Nemo & Taken

As improbable as it sounds, these two movies have more in common than you think. The essence of each film captures a father who will do anything to get their abducted child back. But that’s not where the similarities end.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (4)Finding Nemo 3D Official Trailer #1 (2012) Pixar Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers and Taken (2008) - Official Trailer by Unifrance

Finding Nemo & Taken (Cont.)

Finding NemoandTakeninvolve the fathers traversing through foreign lands to get to their offspring. They also form allies along the way, one a forgetful Blue Tang and the other a retired CIA operative, who help them accomplish what they set out to do.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (5)FINDING NEMO (2003) | Full Movie Trailer in HD | 1080p by MOVIE PREDICTOR and Taken (2008) - Official Trailer by Unifrance

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The Prestige & The Illusionist

Abracadabra, we present to you two identical premises to two very suspiciously similar movies.The PrestigeandThe Illusionistdapple in the world of magic, with rivalry and love taking the wheel as the audience witnesses the highs and lows of fame.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (6)THE PRESTIGE (2006) | Full Movie Trailer in HD | 1080p by MOVIE PREDICTOR and The Illusionist (2006) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p] by HD Retro Trailers

The Prestige & The Illusionist (Cont.)

Not only are the plots alike, but the films were also released in the same year. Again, the setting of both films is in the late 19th to early 20th century, probably to emphasize the influence that magicians and magic had on people and, therefore, highlight the protagonists’ professions.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (7)THE PRESTIGE (2006) | Full Movie Trailer in HD | 1080p by MOVIE PREDICTOR and The Illusionist (2006) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p] by HD Retro Trailers

Deep Impact & Armageddon

The apocalypse is a legendary event that many works of fiction revolve around. However, they aren’t near each other, unlikeDeep ImpactandArmageddon.Released just two months apart in 1998, the science fiction films involve a meteor that threatens to wipe out all life on Earth.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (8)Deep Impact (1/10) Movie CLIP - An Order From the President (1998) HD by Movieclips and Armageddon (1998) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

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Deep Impact & Armageddon (Cont.)

Teams of astronauts are sent into space to destroy the celestial body before it comes into contact with the planet.Deep Impacthas a more somber, thought-provoking perspective to it. On the other hand,Armageddonis an action-packed thriller. As for the movie posters, they’re very much alike.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (9)Deep Impact (1/10) Movie CLIP - An Order From the President (1998) HD by Movieclips and Armageddon (1998) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

Knocked Up & Juno

In the summer of 2007, two twin comedy movies,Knocked UpandJunodiscussed relationships and pregnancy in parallel ways. One features a teen pregnancy in which, after much consideration, the father decides to stay in the picture. And the other…

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (10)Knocked Up (5/10) Movie CLIP - Where Do Babies Come From? (2007) HD by Movieclips and Juno tells Bleeker - Clip 4 of 19 - JUNO film (2007) by Film Studies Fundamentals

Knocked Up & Juno (Cont.)

Features, you guessed it, an unexpected pregnancy where the father also steps up to take responsibility. As if that was not a resemblance enough, the mothers in both films push their partners away to raise the child on their own. Original much?

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (11)Knocked Up (2007) - She's Pregnant by Binge Society and Juno (2007) - Coming Soon to DVD Trailer by Media Graveyard

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Knocked Up & Juno (Cont.)

Later, all of the involved repaired their relationships and lived blissfully ever after. It’s a good thing that the producers of these comedies know how to be a sport, or these movies would have landed each other in court. Looks like we all love a happy ending.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (12)Knocked Up Official Trailer #1 - Paul Rudd Movie (2007) HD by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers and JUNO Trailer by SearchlightPictures

Dances With Wolves & Avatar

James Cameron has explicitly heraldedDances With Wolvesas the inspiration for his blockbuster franchise,Avatar.He essentially incorporated the plot elements of the 1990s movie and viewed it through the lens of science fiction in what could only be a stroke of genius.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (13)Dances With Wolves - TV Spot 2 by Cinerama and AVATAR (2009) | Movie Trailer | Full HD | 1080p by MOVIE PREDICTOR

Dances With Wolves & Avatar (Cont.)

The blend took off, and the world of Pandora with its complex commentary on cultural assimilation, colonization, and environmental destruction was birthed. These ideals are explored in both works through the eyes of military men who grow disillusioned upon being taken in by indigenous tribes.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (14)What You Never Realized About Dances With Wolves by Golden Rewind and AVATAR (2009) | Movie Trailer | Full HD | 1080p by MOVIE PREDICTOR

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Churchill & The Darkest Hour

Ignoring the obvious fact that both the movies are historical films about the same individual,ChurchillandDarkest Hourseem to have no distinguishing features apart from being two different movies. It’s one thing to hit theaters in the same year as the other…

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (15)Churchill Movie Clip - The Truth (2017) | Movieclips Coming Soon by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon and Darkest Hour | Official Trailer | Universal Pictures Canada by Universal Pictures Canada

Churchill & The Darkest Hour (Cont.)

But it’s another thing to take the same perspective, events, and character study to make different biopics. As to which film is the better of the pair,Darkest Hourtakes the cake with generally favorable critical reviews, whileChurchillhas not received the same praise.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (16)Churchill Movie Clip - The Truth (2017) | Movieclips Coming Soon and Darkest Hour Movie Clip - Your Majesty (2017) | Movieclips Coming Soon by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon

Olympus Has Fallen & White House Down

Out of all the pairs of films on this list, this one has the greatest number of marked differences. The story centers around a disgraced Secret Service agent on a quest for redemption and a police officer hoping to join the agency.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (17)Olympus Has Fallen Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Morgan Freeman Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers and The Best Moments in White House Down (Mashup) | TBS by TBS

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Olympus Has Fallen & White House Down (Cont.)

Besides that,Olympus Has Fallentakes a grittier approach to their narrative, whileWhite House Downis reminiscent of buddy-cop films. Apart from that, the remaining elements of the films resemble each other in terms of conflict and resolution.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (18)Olympus Has Fallen Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Morgan Freeman Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers and White House Down Movie CLIP - Shoot Him (2013) - Jamie Foxx Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon

Spectre & Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

When James Bond and Ethan Hunt go up against each other in theatres, you know its going to be a wild ride. What could have been the Barbenheimer of 2015 was shrewdly averted when the makers ofMission Impossible: Rogue Nationrecognized the need to postpone the film’s release date.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (19)Spectre Official Trailer #2 (2015) - Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz Action Movie HD and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Official Trailer #2 (2015) - Tom Cruise Action Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers

Spectre & Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (Cont.)

The two franchises, though not following entirely identical plots, entail similar protagonists, premises, and fall in the same genre. ThoughRogue Nationhit the theaters only four months afterSpectre,the delay was necessary to ensure that the films did not adversely affect each other’s performance.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (20)007 Spectre Official Trailer #2 (2015) Daniel Craig James Bond Movie HD Zero Media and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Official Trailer #2 (2015) - Tom Cruise Action Movie HD Rotten Tomatoes Trailers

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This Is The End & The World’s End

Two incredibly homogenous titles of two twin comedy apocalypse movies,This Is The EndandThe World’s End,were released hardly a month apart from each other and feature an ensemble cast of renowned actors.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (21)This Is the End Official International Trailer (2013) - James Franco Movie HD, The World's End Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Simon Pegg Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers

This Is The End & The World’s End(Cont.)

The two movies encompass the events around a group of partygoers who are forced to work together to save a dying world. The only difference between the films is their setting: one plays out in America while the other is in England.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (22)IT ENDS WITH US - Official Trailer (HD) by Sony Pictures Entertainment and The World's End Official International Trailer #1 (2013) - Simon Pegg Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers

Friends With Benefits & No Strings Attached

Released just six months apart in 2011,Friends With BenefitsandNo Strings Attachedfollow an eerily similar storyline. Both movies feature two friends who decide to engage in a casual, no-strings-attached relationship, only to find their emotions getting in the way.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (23)Friends With Benefits: Rules of the Agreement (Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake HD Clip) by Scene City and No Strings Attached (2011) - If You Come Any Closer Scene (10/10) | Movieclips by Movieclips

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Friends With Benefits & No Strings Attached (Cont.)

Despite nearly identical premises, the films offer slightly different tones.Friends With Benefitsleans more on the comedic side, whileNo Strings Attachedhas a more heartfelt, romantic edge. Even with these small variations, the core concept remains indistinguishably similar.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (24)Dancing to Jump by Kriss Kross | Friends With Benefits (Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis) by Scene City and No Strings Attached (2011) - If You Come Any Closer Scene (10/10) | Movieclips by Movieclips

Friends With Benefits & No Strings Attached (Cont.)

Both films explore how complicated casual relationships can become when feelings are involved. With star-studded casts and plenty of romantic tension, these movies feel like two versions of the same story, leaving viewers to wonder who copied whom.

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (25)Dancing to Jump by Kriss Kross | Friends With Benefits (Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis) by Scene City and No Strings Attached by Boxoffice Movie Scenes

Movies That Are Actually Twins Upon Closer Inspection - TheShot (2024)

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