12 Movies That Were Made Out Of Spite And The Hollywood Feuds Behind Them
Hollywood has always been a competitive industry, but sometimes studios go to extreme lengths to undercut their rivals. From rushing productions to steal the spotlight to intentionally releasing films with similar themes or characters, some movies seem to exist for the sole purpose of sabotaging another project. Whether it is dueling biopics, competing blockbusters or last minute cash grabs, these films prove that in the world of cinema, it is not just about making a great movie, it is also about winning the box office battle.
Antz, 1998 vs. A Bug’s Life, 1998
DreamWorks and Pixar waged an animated war when Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Disney executive, launched Antz to rival Pixar’s A Bug’s Life. Katzenberg, who had left Disney on bad terms, fast tracked production to beat A Bug’s Life to theaters. The films had similar plots, both featuring an outsider ant challenging the system, but Antz debuted first, forcing Disney to accelerate their marketing campaign. The rivalry between DreamWorks and Disney lasted for years, but A Bug’s Life ultimately won at the box office.
Deep Impact, 1998 vs. Armageddon, 1998
1998 saw two competing asteroid disaster movies battle for box office supremacy. DreamWorks’ Deep Impact was a serious, emotional drama about a meteor strike, while Michael Bay’s Armageddon was a high octane blockbuster with explosions and a star studded cast. Disney allegedly rushed Armageddon into production after learning about Deep Impact, making sure it had a bigger budget, more action and a grander spectacle. Though Deep Impact came out first, Armageddon crushed it at the box office, becoming one of 1998’s biggest hits.
The Prestige, 2006 vs. The Illusionist, 2006
Both The Prestige and The Illusionist were period dramas about magicians, yet one had Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, while the other starred Edward Norton in a more subdued role. While The Illusionist had been announced first, Warner Bros. rushed The Prestige into production with a bigger budget and more marketing power. Nolan’s film, with its twists and mind bending storytelling, overshadowed The Illusionist, proving that Hollywood loves one upping the competition.
The Jungle Book, 2016 vs. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, 2018
When Disney announced Jon Favreau’s live action Jungle Book remake, Warner Bros. was developing their own version, directed by Andy Serkis. However, after Disney’s film became a massive critical and commercial hit, Warner Bros. delayed and rebranded their version as Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Despite darker tones and a motion captured cast, Mowgli failed to capture the same audience and was dumped on Netflix instead of getting a major theatrical release.
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Tombstone, 1993 vs. Wyatt Earp, 1994
Western films were making a comeback in the early ‘90s, and both Tombstone and Wyatt Earp wanted to be the definitive biopic of the legendary lawman. However, when Warner Bros. announced Wyatt Earp, Buena Vista quickly rushed Tombstone into production to beat it to theaters. Despite Wyatt Earp’s bigger budget and prestige cast, it flopped hard, while Tombstone became a cult classic, proving that sometimes speed beats spectacle.
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No Strings Attached, 2011 vs. Friends with Benefits, 2011
Two romantic comedies about casual relationships hit theaters in the same year, and their similarity was no coincidence. After Paramount announced No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, Sony rushed to produce Friends with Benefits, starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. Both had identical themes and even similar jokes, leading audiences to confuse the two films. While neither was a huge blockbuster, Friends with Benefits was better received critically.
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White House Down, 2013 vs. Olympus Has Fallen, 2013
Both movies featured terrorists attacking the White House, but only one could dominate the box office. Olympus Has Fallen, a gritty R-rated action thriller, came out first, surprising audiences with its intense action and Gerard Butler’s badass performance. Sony’s White House Down followed a few months later with a bigger budget, a PG-13 rating and A-list stars, Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. However, Olympus Has Fallen became a surprise box office hit, while White House Down underperformed.
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The Truman Show, 1998 vs. EDtv, 1999
Carrey’s The Truman Show was a groundbreaking film about a man unknowingly living in a reality show. Seeing its success, Universal quickly greenlit EDtv, a more comedic take on the same concept, starring Matthew McConaughey. Unfortunately for Universal, EDtv was seen as a cheap knockoff and failed to capture audiences the way The Truman Show did. Today, The Truman Show is a classic, while EDtv is mostly forgotten.
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The Fast and the Furious, 2001 vs. Torque, 2004
When The Fast and the Furious revved up the street racing genre, Warner Bros. tried to cash in with Torque, a motorcycle centric rival film. Marketed as an edgier, over the top version of Fast & Furious, Torque failed to connect with audiences. It lacked the emotional depth and strong character dynamics that made Fast & Furious a hit. The franchise continued to dominate, while Torque became nothing more than a forgotten attempt at sabotage.
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The Exorcist, 1973 vs. Beyond the Door, 1974
The success of The Exorcist led to an onslaught of copycats, but Beyond the Door was the most blatant attempt at sabotage and cashing in. The Italian horror film shamelessly copied The Exorcist’s story, complete with demonic possession, head spinning and supernatural horror. Warner Bros. sued the filmmakers for plagiarism, but Beyond the Door still made money by riding the hype of The Exorcist.
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The Avengers, 2012 vs. Justice League, 2017
Marvel Studios revolutionized superhero films with The Avengers, but DC and Warner Bros. rushed to catch up with Justice League. Instead of taking time to build a cinematic universe, Warner Bros. fast tracked their superhero team up film, leading to a rushed production, script issues and last minute reshoots. Justice League flopped critically and commercially, proving that rushing to sabotage Marvel did not pay off.
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Disney’s Pocahontas, 1995 vs. DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt, 1998
The rivalry between Disney and DreamWorks was at its peak when Jeffrey Katzenberg left Disney and launched The Prince of Egypt. Katzenberg took Disney’s top animators and made sure DreamWorks’ animated biblical epic competed with Disney’s own serious animated film, Pocahontas. While Pocahontas had the Disney brand, The Prince of Egypt was a critical and financial success, proving that DreamWorks was ready to challenge Disney’s animation dominance.
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Hollywood’s history is filled with rivalries, studio feuds and high stakes competition, leading to movies being made not just for art, but for sabotage. Some of these films managed to outshine their competitors, proving that timing and execution matter just as much as budget and marketing. Others, however, were rushed, uninspired or completely overshadowed, leaving them as mere footnotes in cinematic history. In the end, audiences benefit the most, because when studios compete to outdo one another, we get some of the most memorable and unexpected movie battles ever filmed.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
The Real Villains Of Famous Movies (And It’s Not Who You Think)
Villains in movies are often obvious, monsters, criminals or masterminds with evil intentions. But sometimes, the true antagonist lurks in the background, shaping events in a way we do not immediately recognize. Whether it is a flawed mentor, a manipulative side character or an unjust system, these hidden villains have a greater impact than the traditional bad guys. By looking past the surface, we can see how these overlooked figures contribute to the downfall, chaos or suffering in their respective films. Here is a closer look at the real villains of famous movies, ones that may change the way you see them forever.
Read it here: The Real Villains Of Famous Movies (And It’s Not Who You Think)
13 Iconic On Screen Rivalries And The Actors Who Delivered Legendary Performances
A great rivalry can elevate a film from good to unforgettable. When two actors go head to head with equal intensity, the tension is electric, the stakes feel real and every scene crackles with raw emotion and masterful performances. These rivalries are not just about conflict, they are about opposing forces clashing in ways that define cinema history.
Read it here:13 Iconic On Screen Rivalries And The Actors Who Delivered Legendary Performances
12 Celebrity Scandals That Actually Boosted Their Careers
In Hollywood, scandals often spell disaster, but sometimes, they do the exact opposite. Some celebrities turned controversy into opportunity, using the attention to propel their careers to new heights. Whether through reinvention, resilience or sheer luck, these stars managed to turn bad press into a winning strategy. Here are 12 celebrities whose scandals only made them more famous.
Read it here: 12 Celebrity Scandals That Actually Boosted Their Careers
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