The 25 Most Shameless Rip-Off Movies That Still Made Billions

Hollywood has a long history of recycling successful ideas and presenting them as fresh narratives to eager audiences. Many of the highest-grossing films of all time share undeniable similarities with obscure predecessors or rival projects that released just years prior. While some instances are labeled as homage or coincidence, others face accusations of being blatant copies that managed to eclipse the original works in popularity and revenue. The following films achieved massive box office success despite facing criticism regarding their originality.

‘Avatar’ (2009)

James Cameron delivered a visual masterpiece that shattered box office records to become the highest-grossing film of all time. Critics and audiences immediately noticed the narrative closely mirrored the plot of ‘Dances with Wolves’ set in a sci-fi environment. The story features a soldier who infiltrates a native tribe before falling in love and switching sides to fight against his own military. This familiar structure allowed the film to focus on groundbreaking visual effects while relying on a safe and tested story beat.

‘The Lion King’ (1994)

Disney achieved massive success with this animated classic that spawned a multi-billion dollar franchise. Controversy arose regarding the striking similarities between this film and the Japanese anime series ‘Kimba the White Lion’ by Osamu Tezuka. Characters and specific shots often appear nearly identical to the earlier Japanese work. The studio maintained that any resemblance was purely coincidental despite the specific parallels in visual composition and character archetypes.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015)

J.J. Abrams successfully revitalized the franchise by looking backward to the structure of the original 1977 film. Fans pointed out that the plot is almost a beat-for-beat remake of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ involving a droid carrying secret plans and a superweapon that destroys planets. The film introduces a desert scavenger who discovers her powers much like Luke Skywalker did decades earlier. This strategy of mirroring the original proved incredibly lucrative as the film earned over two billion dollars globally.

‘Joker’ (2019)

Todd Phillips directed this gritty character study that became the first R-rated movie to gross over one billion dollars. The film draws heavy inspiration from Martin Scorsese classics like ‘The King of Comedy’ and ‘Taxi Driver’ rather than traditional comic book lore. Scenes involving a failed stand-up comedian and his descent into madness pay direct tribute to the earlier works of Robert De Niro. The derivative nature of the film did not stop it from winning major awards and dominating the global box office.

‘The Hunger Games’ (2012)

This dystopian blockbuster launched a massive franchise by depicting teenagers forced to fight to the death on live television. Many horror fans noted the premise is nearly identical to the Japanese film ‘Battle Royale’ which was released over a decade prior. The author of the source novel claimed she was unaware of the Japanese property until after she had written her book. The film toned down the violence for a teen audience and secured a place in pop culture history.

‘The Secret Life of Pets’ (2016)

Illumination Entertainment scored a massive hit with this animated comedy about what animals do when their owners leave home. The narrative structure and character dynamics bear a strong resemblance to the plot of Pixar’s ‘Toy Story’. Characters include a comfortable favorite who feels threatened by the arrival of a new and larger roommate. The film successfully translated the secret lives of toys into the secret lives of animals to the tune of nearly nine hundred million dollars.

‘Cars’ (2006)

Pixar is known for original storytelling but this racing film shares its entire plot with the 1991 comedy ‘Doc Hollywood’. The story involves a hotshot who gets stuck in a small town and is forced to perform community service before learning the value of a slower life. Lightning McQueen follows the exact character arc as the surgeon played by Michael J. Fox in the earlier live-action film. Merchandise sales alone for this franchise have generated billions of dollars in revenue.

‘Inception’ (2010)

Christopher Nolan captivated audiences with this complex heist movie set within the architecture of dreams. Anime fans quickly pointed out the similarities to the 2006 film ‘Paprika’ which features a device that allows therapists to enter dreams. Several visual sequences in the live-action blockbuster mirror scenes from the animated classic almost exactly. The film went on to earn over eight hundred million dollars and widespread critical acclaim.

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

The Wachowskis redefined action cinema with this sci-fi phenomenon that questioned the nature of reality. The premise shares significant elements with the 1998 film ‘Dark City’ which also involves a hero discovering his world is a fabrication run by pale strangers. Other critics noted the influence of ‘Ghost in the Shell’ on the visual style and philosophical themes of the movie. The franchise remains a financial juggernaut that continues to generate revenue through sequels and merchandise.

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

Pixar dominated the box office with this story about a clownfish searching for his lost son. A French author sued the studio claiming the film plagiarized his children’s book ‘Pierrot the Clownfish’ which also featured a fish with a handicap. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed but the similarities in the premise were noted by several observers. The film remains one of the most successful animated features ever released.

‘Aladdin’ (1992)

This Disney Renaissance classic tells the story of a street urchin who finds a magic lamp and defeats an evil vizier. The project faced accusations of lifting designs and plot points from the unfinished masterpiece ‘The Thief and the Cobbler’. Richard Williams had spent decades working on his animated epic only to see a similar film release first and achieve global stardom. The genie character and the visual style of the antagonist show clear parallels between the two productions.

‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ (1977)

George Lucas created a space opera that changed the entertainment industry forever by blending various influences. The plot borrows heavily from Akira Kurosawa’s ‘The Hidden Fortress’ which features two bickering peasants escorting a princess through enemy territory. Lucas openly acknowledged the influence of the Japanese director on his work. This synthesis of existing samurai tropes and Flash Gordon serials resulted in a multi-billion dollar empire.

‘The Fast and the Furious’ (2001)

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker launched a massive franchise with this film about illegal street racing. The plot is essentially a remake of ‘Point Break’ but swaps surfing for drag racing. An undercover officer infiltrates a tight-knit group of adrenaline junkies suspected of highway robbery and eventually bonds with their leader. This formula proved so successful that the series has now spanned over ten installments and earned billions.

‘A Bug’s Life’ (1998)

Pixar released this insect adventure shortly after their first major success with ‘Toy Story’. The plot concerns a village of ants hiring warrior bugs to defend them from oppressive grasshoppers. This story structure is a direct adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’ or its western remake ‘The Magnificent Seven’. The film was a commercial success even as it competed with the similarly themed ‘Antz’ during the same year.

‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

Steven Spielberg captured the hearts of the world with this story of a boy befriending a stranded alien. Indian director Satyajit Ray claimed the movie bore a striking resemblance to a script he had written called ‘The Alien’ which circulated in Hollywood years prior. Ray asserted that the concept of an alien befriending a human child was his original idea. Spielberg denied the claims and the film went on to become a box office legend.

‘Coco’ (2017)

Pixar explored the Mexican holiday regarding the Day of the Dead to great critical and commercial success. The film drew comparisons to the 2014 animated movie ‘The Book of Life’ which featured a similar aesthetic and thematic setting. Both films follow a protagonist who travels to the Land of the Dead to seek the blessing of ancestors for their musical passion. The resulting film grossed over eight hundred million dollars globally.

‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001)

This beloved animated film envisions a world where monsters generate power by scaring human children. A playwright asserted that the studio stole the concept from his treatment called ‘Monsters, Ltd.’ which he had pitched years earlier. The premise of monsters fearing that children are toxic was a central point of contention. The film succeeded massively and spawned a prequel that added to the total gross of the franchise.

‘Independence Day’ (1996)

Roland Emmerich directed this disaster movie that defined the summer blockbuster for the nineties. The invasion plot shares many beats with H.G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ updated with modern technology. Aliens arrive in massive ships to destroy major cities until humanity finds a way to bypass their shields with a computer virus. The film earned over eight hundred million dollars and cemented Will Smith as a major star.

‘National Treasure’ (2004)

Nicolas Cage stars in this adventure film that combines American history with treasure hunting. The plot involves following hidden clues in famous artworks and monuments which mirrored the craze surrounding ‘The Da Vinci Code’ book. While the movie adaptation of the book came later, this film capitalized on the public interest in historical conspiracies. The franchise was a financial success that led to a profitable sequel.

‘Pacific Rim’ (2013)

Guillermo del Toro brought giant robots fighting giant monsters to the big screen with spectacular visuals. Anime fans noted the heavy influence of ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ which features teenagers piloting bio-machines against angelic monsters. The concept of neural linking and the design of the threats pay homage to the mecha genre of Japan. The film performed well enough internationally to justify a sequel and an anime spinoff.

‘Lady and the Tramp’ (1955)

This Disney classic tells the romantic tale of a refined cocker spaniel and a streetwise mutt. A writer named Ward Greene wrote a story called ‘Happy Dan, The Whistling Dog’ which served as a basis for the film. Controversy existed regarding how much of the story was original to the studio writers versus adapted from other sources. The film remains a cornerstone of the studio’s history and has generated immense revenue through re-releases.

‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)

This slasher film introduced Jason Voorhees to the world and launched a horror franchise that earned hundreds of millions. The creators admitted they were trying to replicate the success of John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ which had released two years earlier. The structure of teenagers being picked off one by one by a silent killer was lifted directly from the 1978 classic. Despite the derivative nature, the series became iconic in the horror genre.

‘Aquaman’ (2018)

DC Comics scored a massive hit with this underwater adventure that grossed over one billion dollars. Critics pointed out that the plot beats regarding a reluctant king and a hidden world mirrored Marvel’s ‘Thor’ and ‘Black Panther’. The visual spectacle also drew comparisons to ‘Avatar’ regarding the bioluminescent underwater environments. The film overcame the generic story elements to become the highest-grossing film based on a DC character at the time.

‘Disturbia’ (2007)

Shia LaBeouf starred in this thriller about a teenager under house arrest who suspects his neighbor is a serial killer. The premise is a modern retelling of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece ‘Rear Window’ tailored for a teen audience. The copyright holders of the original short story sued the production for plagiarism although the case was eventually dismissed. The film was a surprise hit that earned substantial profits relative to its budget.

‘Rocky’ (1976)

Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in this boxing drama that won Best Picture and launched a billion-dollar franchise. The plot bears a resemblance to the 1956 film ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’ starring Paul Newman. Both films feature a struggling fighter who finds redemption and love while training for a big match. Stallone created an enduring icon that has dominated the sports drama genre for nearly fifty years.

Tell us which of these blockbusters you think improved upon the original concept in the comments.