October 23, 2024 | Jesse Singer

Same Title. Very Different Movies


Same But Different

Did you know that Steven Spielberg's 2002 film Catch Me If You Can wasn't the first movie made with that title? There was also a very different The Fast and the Furious movie made 13 years before Vin Diesel was even born. These films may share a title, but that's pretty much the only thing they have in common.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Steven Spielberg directed Leo DiCaprio as famed con man Frank Abagnale Jr.

A screenshot of the movie Catch Me If You CanDreamWorks Pictures, Catch Me If You Can (2002)

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Catch Me If You Can (1989)

Gambling and illegal car racing in an attempt to save the local high school are at the center of this little-seen 1989 action comedy. It was the directorial debut of Stephen Sommers—who you might know from his work directing The Mummy movies, among others.

A screenshot of the movie Catch Me If You CanMCEG, Catch Me If You Can (1989)

The Fast And The Furious (2001)

Of course there's the first film in what would become one of the most successful film franchises of all time.

A screenshot of the movie The Fast and the FuriousUniversal Pictures, The Fast and the Furious (2001)

The Fast And The Furious (1954)

Not only does this Roger Corman produced B-movie share the same name with the 2001 film—it's how the 2001 film got its name. The producer of the 2001 film, Neal H Moritz, was trying to come up with a title and saw a documentary that mentioned the 1954 film. He even ended up trading stock footage to Corman in exchange for a license to use the title.

A screenshot of the movie The Fast and the FuriousPalo Alto Productions, The Fast and the Furious (1954)

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Venom (2018)

While it was dismantled by critics, this superhero film made over $850 million at the box office and led to two sequels.

Venom main actorColumbia Pictures, Venom (2018)

Venom (2005)

Rather than a symbiote, the man in this Venom movie is a zombie possessed by evil spirits.

A screenshot of the movie VenomDimension Films, Venom (2005)

Venom (1981)

This Venom film from 1981 is a horror-thriller about killer snakes.

A screenshot of the movie VenomMorison Film Group, Venom (1981)

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Bad Boys (1995)

classic of the buddy cop action genre—and Michael Bay's directorial debut.

A screenshot of the movie Bad BoysColumbia Pictures, Bad Boys (1995)

Bad Boys (1983)

A young Sean Penn is sent to a juvenile detention center in this tense coming-of-age drama that has a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A screenshot of the movie Bad BoysEMI Films, Bad Boys (1983)

Bad Boys (1961)

This one's a Japanese movie filmed as a faux-documentary about a reform school for juvenile delinquents. A film critics poll in Kinema Junpo magazine named it the best film of 1961.

A screenshot of the movie Bad Boys (1961)Kinema Junposha, Wikimedia Commons

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Frozen (2013)

This Disney animated musical fantasy is very different from the other Frozen movie that came out three years prior.

Screenshot from the film Frozen (2013)Walt Disney, Frozen (2013)

Frozen (2010)

The three friends stranded high up on a chair lift in the freezing cold in this psychological horror thriller really could've used Elsa's help.

A screenshot of the movie FrozenArieScope Pictures, Frozen (2010)

Twilight (2008)

The first film in The Twilight Saga was also the film that made over $400 million, and made Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson household names.

A screenshot of the movie TwilightSummit Entertainment, Twilight (2008)

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Twilight (1998)

Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, and Gene Hackman were already household names when they starred in 1998's Twilight—a thriller that failed to even recoup its $20 million budget at the box office.

A screenshot of the movie TwilightParamount Pictures, Twilight (1998)

Child's Play (1988)

The movie that made the Chucky doll a thing.

A screenshot of the movie Child's PlayUnited Artists, Child's Play (1988)

Child's Play (1972)

Sidney Lumet directed his Child's Play in 1972—a mystery/thriller about a feud at an all-boys prep school.

A screenshot of the movie Child's PlayParamount Pictures, Child's Play (1972)

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Black Sheep (1996)

This was the last time David Spade and Chris Farley teamed up before Farley's passing. This buddy comedy tried to recapture what made Tommy Boy so good. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

A screenshot of the movie Black SheepParamount Pictures, Black Sheep (1996)

Black Sheep (2006)

If you want to watch a movie called Black Sheep and laugh, the 2006 film is probably your better option. Although, this horror-comedy about killer sheep is going for very different laughs.

A screenshot of the movie Black SheepNew Zealand Film Commission, Black Sheep (2006)

Gladiator (2000)

The awesome Ridley Scott film that made Russell Crowe a star.

A screenshot of the movie GladiatorUniversal Pictures, Gladiator (2000)

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Gladiator (1992)

Just eight years prior to Scott's sword and sandal epic, Cuba Gooding Jr starred as a different kind of gladiator in this film about illegal, underground boxing.

A screenshot of the movie GladiatorColumbia Pictures, Gladiator (1992)

Drive (2011)

The great film starring Ryan Gosling as the stuntman with a side hustle as a getaway driver.

A screenshot of the movie DriveBold Films, Drive (2011)

Drive (1997)

The not-so-great sci-fi action film starring  Mark Dacascos and Kadeem Hardison (yeah, the guy from A Different World) about a bio-advanced man on the run.

A screenshot of the movie DriverOverseas FilmGroup, Drive (1997)

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The Kid (1921)

One of Charlie Chaplin's most iconic films.

Publicity photo from Charlie Chaplin's 1921 movie Unknown Photographer, Wikimedia Commons

The Kid (2000)

One of Bruce Willis' most forgettable roles as a man who meets an eight-year-old version of himself.

A screenshot of the movie The KidWalt Disney Pictures, The Kid (2000)

The Kid (2019)

A western, starring Ethan Hawke—directed by Vincent D'Onofrio.

A screenshot of the movie The KidMimran Schur Pictures, The Kid (2019)

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Crash (2004)

This Crash—directed by Canadian Paul Haggisis as well-known for winning the Oscar for Best Picture as for having won said award over—what many considered the much more deserving—Brokeback Mountain.

A screenshot of the movie CrashYari Film Group, Crash (2004)

Crash (1996)

This Crash—directed by Canadian David Cronenberg—is best remembered as the weird thriller about people who become aroused by car crashes.

A screenshot of the movie CrashAlliance Atlantis, Crash (1996)

Jack Frost (1998)

In this Jack Frost, Michael Keaton is in a car accident and is brought back to life as a snowman.

A screenshot of the movie Jack FrostWarner Bros., Jack Frost (1998)

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Jack Frost (1997)

In this Jack Frost, an evil criminal is dissolved in chemicals and fused into the snow—becoming an evil snowman.

A screenshot of the movie Jack FrostMoonstone Entertainment, Jack Frost (1997)

Project X (1987)

This one features Matthew Broderick, Helen Hunt, and a secret air force project involving chimpanzees.

A screenshot of the movie Project XTwentieth Century Fox, Project X (1987)

Project X (2012)

This one's a found-footage R-rated teen comedy party movie.

A screenshot of the movie Project XGreen Hat Films, Project X (2012)

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Life (1999)

This period prison dramedy starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence has become a cult classic after disappointing at the box office upon its release.

A screenshot of the movie LifeUniversal Pictures, Life (1999)

Life (2015)

Robert Pattinson is James Dean in this biographical drama about the friendship between Dean and Life magazine photographer Dennis Stock.

A screenshot of the movie LifeSee-Saw Films, Life (2015)

Life (2017)

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and others discover evidence of life on mars in this sci-fi horror film.

A screenshot of the movie LifeColumbia Pictures, Life (2017)

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Inside Out (2015)

There have been at least five movies made in the last 50 years with this title. But the most well-known is the last one to use it—Disney Pixar's Inside Out is also the only animated one of the bunch.

A screenshot of the movie Inside OutPixar, Inside Out (2015)

Inside Out (2011)

Working our way backwards chronologically, we have 2011's forgettable crime movie starring WWE great, Paul "Triple H" Levesque.

A screenshot of the movie Inside OutWWE Studios, Inside Out (2011)

Inside Out (2005)

To quote from this one’s IMDB description: "Families in an idyllic suburban neighborhood are taunted by a mysterious doctor who moves into town and spins a web of psychological chaos that changes their lives forever".

A screenshot of the movie Inside OutHumble Journey Films, Inside Out (2005)

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Inside Out (1986)

Elliott Gould plays an agoraphobic man in this 1986 drama.

A screenshot of the movie Inside OutHemdale, Inside Out (1986)

Inside Out (1975)

James Mason, Robert Culp, and Telly Savalas starred in this 1975 British action thriller that aired on television on NBC in the United States.

A screenshot of the movie Inside OutKettledrum Films, Inside Out (1975)


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