14 Movies You Did Not Realize Were Complete Rip Offs 14 Movies You Did Not Realize Were Complete Rip-Offs

In the world of cinema, imitation is often seen as the sincerest form of flattery though sometimes, it can feel more like a full on copycat job. Whether inspired by other movies, books or TV shows, there are several films that closely resemble others, even to the point of being considered rip-offs. Some of these movies were incredibly successful, while others flew under the radar, but they all share a common trait: they are eerily similar to something that came before them. Here are 14 movies you might not have realized were complete rip-offs.

The Matrix, 1999 – Dark City, 1998

Released just one year before The Matrix, Dark City tells the story of a man who wakes up in a city where time is manipulated by mysterious beings. Both films explore themes of reality, control and memory manipulation, with strikingly similar visual styles and plot points. Though The Matrix became a global sensation, Dark City was often cited as the precursor to many of its concepts.

Avatar, 2009 – Pocahontas, 1995

Avatar and Pocahontas share strikingly similar plots about a protagonist from a technologically advanced society falling in love with and joining an indigenous group to fight against their oppressors. James Cameron’s Avatar may have been revolutionary for its visuals, but its story of colonization, environmentalism and cultural assimilation echoes Disney’s animated classic.

The Lion King, 1994 – Kimba the White Lion, 1965

The controversy surrounding The Lion King and Kimba the White Lion centers around the striking similarities between the two. Kimba, a Japanese animated series from the ’60s, features a young lion prince in a story about leadership, loss and redemption that mirrors much of what The Lion King presents. The similarities are so pronounced that some fans argue Disney blatantly copied elements from the show.

Finding Nemo, 2003 – A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, 2010

Though Finding Nemo was released earlier, the plot of A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures seems eerily similar, with both films focusing on a sea turtle as a central character, navigating the ocean and experiencing different life stages. The parallel themes of family, adventure and the ocean environment are too close to be mere coincidence.

The Terminator, 1984 – The Outer Limits, 1964

The Terminator has often been compared to episodes from the ’60s TV series The Outer Limits, particularly an episode called “Soldier.” Both stories feature a time-traveling soldier sent to kill a key figure in the future, and both are driven by high-tech, futuristic warfare. James Cameron’s film borrowed heavily from the series, even if it redefined the sci-fi genre.

The Hunger Games, 2012 – Battle Royale, 2000

The Hunger Games shares striking similarities with Battle Royale, a Japanese film in which high school students are forced to participate in a deadly battle to the death. Both films revolve around a dystopian society where children are pitted against each other in brutal survival games, leading many to label The Hunger Games a modern day version of Battle Royale.

Twister, 1996 – The Storm, 1999

Twister was one of the most successful disaster films of the ’90s, but its plot is very similar to the lesser known The Storm, a 1999 made for TV movie. Both films feature a team of storm chasers battling severe weather conditions, with a heavy focus on the adrenaline fueled race against time to save people. The similarities are particularly noticeable in the premise, the team dynamic and the storm chasing technology.

Deep Impact, 1998 – Armageddon, 1998

Both Deep Impact and Armageddon were released in the same year and both featured storylines revolving around a massive asteroid threatening to destroy Earth. While Armageddon leaned more into action packed heroism, Deep Impact took a more dramatic approach. Despite the different tones, both films were accused of being derivative of each other, capitalizing on the same disaster movie craze.

The Matrix Reloaded, 2003 – The Thirteenth Floor, 1999

The plot of The Matrix Reloaded heavily draws from concepts first explored in The Thirteenth Floor, a 1999 sci-fi thriller about simulated realities. Both films question the nature of existence and reality, with characters discovering that their world may be a simulation. Though The Matrix Reloaded expanded on the concept, The Thirteenth Floor laid the groundwork.

Jaws, 1975 – The Meg, 2018

While Jaws is considered the quintessential shark movie, The Meg from 2018 clearly draws from its predecessor, offering a similar concept of a massive, predatory sea creature threatening a coastal community. While the plot in The Meg is more outlandish, involving a prehistoric shark, its premise of a giant aquatic monster wreaking havoc on a seaside location is undeniably similar to Spielberg’s classic.

The Matrix, 1999 – The Invisibles, 1994

The comic series The Invisibles by Grant Morrison has often been cited as a major influence on The Matrix. Both explore themes of control, rebellion and alternate realities, featuring characters who are aware of a hidden, manipulative force and fight to escape or overthrow it. Many of the visual motifs in The Matrix, such as the agents and the “red pill,” resemble elements from The Invisibles.

Men in Black, 1997 – The X-Files, 1993

While Men in Black is a fun, comedic take on the idea of government agents dealing with extraterrestrial beings, it bears more than a passing resemblance to The X-Files. Both feature secret government organizations that handle paranormal activities, including aliens and the relationship between the two main characters in Men in Black is uncannily similar to that of Mulder and Scully from The X-Files.

The Hunger Games, 2012 – The Running Man, 1987

Based on Stephen King’s novel, The Running Man revolves around a man who participates in a deadly, televised game show where he must survive and escape from a group of highly trained assassins. This is strikingly similar to The Hunger Games, where contestants fight for survival in a televised contest, with the added commentary on media exploitation and government control.

Shark Tale, 2004 – Finding Nemo, 2003

Released just one year after Finding Nemo, Shark Tale from DreamWorks bears more than a few similarities. Both films feature underwater creatures navigating their world in a comedic, colorful environment. The plot of a fish befriending unlikely companions and struggling to survive echoes the themes and characters of Finding Nemo, leading to criticism that DreamWorks simply copied Pixar’s blueprint.

While these films may have been successful in their own right, many were heavily inspired by earlier works, either intentionally or unintentionally. Some creators build upon successful concepts, while others create films that feel strikingly similar to their predecessors. Despite these influences, these films carved out their own space in cinematic history, proving that sometimes a good idea can be repeated, though not always without consequences.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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