Rather amusingly, sometimes even 'template' isn't original.
Quality is unimportant, hence why anything by our mockbuster friends The Asylum will be ignored.
Nosferatu (1922) is an unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, but as the first film based on bloodsucker wasn't until 1931, the ill-informed may think it was the other way around.
Right, now that's out of the way.
Die Hard¹ (1988)
Under Siege (1992), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), Passenger 57 (1992), Final Score (2018), Air Force One (1997), Sudden Death (1995), Executive Decision (1996) and Skyscraper (2018).
In 1993, Renny Harlin gave us the entertaining Cliffhanger.
Ironic really, as he earlier directed Die Hard 2: Die Harder.
¹Karl's last stand copied the climax of Lethal Weapon (1987).
Jaws (1975)
The working title for 1974 novel was Stillness in the Water, along with Leviathan Rising and The Jaws of Death.
However, Peter Benchley and editor Thomas Congdon settled on...
Squirm (1976), Orca: The Killer Whale (1977), Piranha (1978), Tentacles (1977), Barracuda (1978), Crocodile (1979), Nightwing (1979), Alligator (1980), Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976), Devil Fish (1984), Slugs (1988), Blood Beach² (1981), Killer Fish (1979), Blood in the Abyss (1989), Night of the Sharks (1988), Blood Kill (1976), Tintorera: Killer Shark (1977), The Black Pearl (1977), Deep Blood (1989) and Cruel Jaws (1995).
²Remade as The Sand in 2014.
After being sued by Universal, the makers of Paws (1976) was forced to change its name to Grizzly.
Grizzly II: The Concert (one of several names) was filmed in 1983, but never released.
However, completed version (cobbled together by various means), was finally shown in February 2020.
Despite bearing no connection to Grizzly, Claws (1977) was re-released as Grizzly 2 in Canada and Mexico.
Of course, The Last Shark (1981) is undoubtedly the ultimate Jaws rip-off.
Star Wars³ (1977)
Laserblast (1978), Starcrash (1978), The Humanoid (1979), Star Odyssey (1979), Krull (1983), Hawk the Slayer (1980) and Masters of the Universe (1987).
³Shares striking similarities with Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress (1958).
To briefly explain.
The evil Galactic Empire and the Rebellion vs the Yamana Clan and the Azikuzi Clan.
Oh yeah, the stylistic soft-wipe transitions were stolen too.
To be fair, George Lucas has acknowledged influence.
But does that make it right? Not really.
And finally, title crawl eerily mirrors the opening of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot is basically Star Wars and The Force Awakens 'remade' A New Hope.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) was also criticised for being too derivative of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Halloween (1978)
Frayed (2017), The Prowler (1981), Happy Hell Night (1992), Lover's Lane (1999), The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982), Mischief Night⁴ (2013), Edge of the Axe (1988), Final Exam (1981), He Knows You're Alone (1980), Nightmare (1981), Offerings (1989) and Friday the 13th (sequels only).
⁴ntbcw 2014 film of same name.
Carrie (1976)
The Spell (1977), Jennifer (1978) and Evilspeak (1982).
Razorback (1984)
Boar (2017) and Chaw (2009).
Pig Hunt also concerns a rampaging beast, but mixes shit up with rednecks and cult of hot babes.
Almost Grindhouse like, yes?
Alien (1979)
Where to start?
How about a reworking of It! The Terror from Beyond (1958), infamously stealing from Planet of the Vampires (1965) and A. E. van Vogt successfully suing Fox for them raping chapter meat of The Voyage of the Space Beagle, specifically Black Destroyer and Discord on Scarlet, as alien creature boards spaceship and lays eggs inside the crew.
Nevertheless, moving on up.
Contamination (1980), Creature (1985), DeepStar Six (1989), Creepozoids (1987), Lily C.A.T. (1987), Galaxy of Terror (1981), Inseminoid (1981) and Roots Search (1986).
Aliens (1986)
Carnosaur 2 (1995) and The Eden Formula (2006).
Seven (1995)
Copycat (1995), Resurrection (1999), W△Z (1997), Taking Lives (2004), The Bone Collector (1999), Bone Daddy (1998), Hellraiser: Inferno (2000), Horsemen (2009), Hangman (2017) and Hellraiser: Judgment (2018).
Solace (2015) was intended to be the supernatural sequel to Seven, but when David Fincher balked at the idea, it became a stand-alone film.
There is a God.
Fatal Attraction⁵ (1987)
Based on James Dearden's 1980 short Diversion, the term 'bunny boiler' was born.
Fatal Affair (2020), Crush (2013), Fear (1996), Swimfan (2002), Obsessed (2009), Bad Match (2017) and Unlawful Entry (1992).
Ma (2019) bizarrely re-enacted 'Alex Comes Over'.
⁵Nothing like Clint Eastwood's directorial debut Play Misty for Me (1971).
Battle Royale (2000)
The Hunger Games (2012), Arena (2011), Gamer (2009) and The Condemned (2007).
Ring⁶ (1998)
Untraceable (2008), FeardotCom (2002) and Strangeland (1998).
⁶Remake of Ring: Kanzenban (1995)
Porky's⁷ (1981)
Screwballs (1983) and Joysticks (1983).
⁷Remade as Pimpin' Pee Wee in 2009.
"The Most Dangerous Game" (1932)
The Hunt (2020), Paintball (2009), Manhunt (2008) and Hard Target⁸ (1993).
⁸Chuck Pfarrer's screenplay was based on TMDG.
Mean Guns (1997)
Make no mistake guys, this is a fight to the death.
Raze (2013), Kill 'Em All (2012) and The Tournament (2009).
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Violent Kind (2010), The Wretched (2008) and Demon Wind (1990).
White Zombie (1932)
The Ghost Breakers (1940), King of the Zombies (1941), I Walked with a Zombie (1943) and The Plague of the Zombies (1966).
Harsh?
Miscellany
The Chosen (1977) vs The Omen (1976)
Black Swan (2010) vs Perfect Blue (1997)
Inception (2010) vs Paprika (2006)
Body Heat (1981) vs Double Indemnity (1944)
Blow Out (1981) vs Blow-Up (1966)
Shocking Dark aka Terminator 2 (1989) vs Aliens (1986)
Lockout (2012) vs Escape from New York (1981)
Cars (2006) vs Doc Hollywood (1991)
The Wizard (1989) vs Rain Man (1988)
Disturbia (2007) vs Rear Window (1954)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) vs Yojimbo⁹ (1961)
House of 1000 Corpses (2003) vs The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Wrong Turn (2003) vs The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Turner & Hooch (1989) vs K-9 (1989)
Battleship (2012) vs Independence Day (1996)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) vs 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Matrix (1999) vs Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Home Alone (1990) vs Game Over (1989)
Blood Red Moon (2010) vs Twilight (2008)
The Kid (2000) vs Big Daddy (1999)
Birdemic (2010) vs The Birds (1963)
Mute (2018) vs Blade Runner (1982)
The Bees (1978) vs The Swarm (1978)
The Town (2010) vs Heat (1995)
Friends With Benefits (2011) vs No Strings Attached (2011)
Robowar (1988) vs Predator (1987)
The Pacifier (2005) vs Mr. Nanny (1993)
Playmobil the Movie (2019) vs The Lego Movie (2014)
Immortals (2011) vs 300 (2007)
EDtv (1999) vs The Truman Show (1998)
Zoom (2006) vs Sky High (2005)
Underwater (2020) vs Alien (1979)
The Others (2001) vs The Innocents (1961)
⁹Last Man Standing (1996) and The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984) are credited as remakes.
Quarantine (2008) is practically a shot-for-shot remake of brilliant Spanish horror [REC] (2007).
But co-producer Sergio Aguero openly denies it.
The man is either in denial, or fucking deranged.
Combinations
Shit is gonna get messy.
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) reskins The Magnificent Seven (1960).
But we all know that TMS (remade in 2016), raped Seven Samurai (1954).
The Bronx Warriors (1990) steals from Escape from New York (1981) and The Warriors (1979).
2019, After the Fall of New York (1983) is a straightforward EFNY clone.
The Running Man (1987) is soooo Death Race 2000 (1975), it's unbelievable.
Rollerball (1975) came out a few months after Death Race and Deathsport (1978) combines both.
The Fast and the Furious¹⁰ (2001) and Point Break (1991) jack cars.
No Man's Land (1987) flashes mid digit at both.
¹⁰ntbcw 1954 film of same name.
Guess what influenced Lady Terminator (1989)?
HA HA HA!
R.O.T.O.R. (1987) was a really rubbish mash up of Robocop (1987) and The Terminator (1984).
To save you looking it up, acronym stands for Robotic Officer Tactical Operation Research.
And even though it has jack shit to with Mad Max (1979), poster suggests otherwise.
(Sigh).
Ignoring the obvious comparisons to Superman, Brightburn (2019) takes its premise from Chronicle (2012).
Awkward teenager bullied at school using powers to gain revenge?
Hmmm.
Oh, the former blatantly copies Carrie (1976) near the end.
The pompous Rambo: First Blood Part II shares the same 'rescuing American POW' plot as Missing in Action (1984) and Uncommon Valor (1983).
Strike Commando (1987) cashed in on Rambo's popularity.
Hands of Steel (1986) combines Blade Runner (1982) and The Terminator (1984).
Ludicrous yes, but it seems Over the Top (1987) lifted arm-wrestling concept from HOS.
Super (2010) is often accused of ripping off Kick-Ass (2010), but the first of this ilk was Hero at Large (1980).
Looper (2012), Lucy (2014), The Matrix (1999), Chronicle (2012), Inception (2010), Midnight Special (2016) and Dark City (1998) feasted on Akira (1988).
Friend Request (2016) is the German version of Unfriended (2014).
Ignoring laptop POV, Unfriended clones Forget Me Not (2009), released not long after British horror Tormented (2009).
All concern ghosts of bullied teenagers who exact revenge on their tormentors.
Forest of the Living Dead (2011) sees a covergirl transform into a demonic spirit when she tops herself in the Aokigahara Forest.
The power of Christ compelled Abby (1974) to copy The Exorcist (1973).
To bring theme in line with Willaim Friedkin's scarefest, extra scenes were added to Lisa and the Devil (1974), and subsequently re-released in America as The House of Exorcism.
Free Fire (2016) took obvious inspiration from Reservoir Dogs (1992).
Tarantino's directorial debut lifted key scenes and plot devices from City of Fire (1987) and colour-coded names were nabbed from The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974).
Just for a laugh, title of 2009 remake swapped words for numbers.
Cool World (1992) was a darker Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). The Happytime Murders (2018) shares similarities with the latter.
Mac and Me (1988) is the most famous E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) impostor, but more obscure is Nukie (1987).
Earth to Echo (2014) is a cross between E.T. and Batteries Not Included (1987).
Avatar (2009) is The Emerald Forest (1985), Dances With Wolves (1990), FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Pocahontas (1995) and The Last Samurai (2003).
James Cameron has also cited Princess Mononoke (1997) as a huge 'influence'.
The Devil Within Her (1975) aka I Don't Want To Be Born vs:
It's Alive (1974), The Exorcist (1973) and Rosemary's Baby (1968).
One Missed Call (2008) vs:
Phone Booth (2002), Scream (1996), Final Destination (2000) and remakes of The Ring (2002), Dark Water (2005), The Grudge (2004) and Pulse (2006).
Jesus Christ!
Ra.One (2011) vs:
Iron Man (2008), Tron: Legacy (2010) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
Event Horizon (1997) vs:
Hellraiser (1987), The Shining (1980), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Galaxy of Terror (1981) and Alien (1979).
Unhinged (2020) vs:
Falling Down (1993), Duel (1971), The Hitcher (1986) and Joy Ride (2001).
Misconceptions
Dredd (2012) vs The Raid (2011)
Both are set inside a tower block.
And that's it.
In any case, Peach Trees was written and filmed beforehand.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) vs The Last Broadcast (1998)
Concept for the former was born in 1993 and production began in 1997.
Critters (1986) vs Gremlins (1984)
Horror comedy was written a few years before Gizmo and friends came out, but Stephen Herek's debut ran into production problems.
Tributes
Sometimes, films are made out of respect.
Wither (2012) vs The Evil Dead (1981)
Super 8 (2011) vs Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Pacific Rim¹¹ (2013) vs Godzilla (1954)
Baby Driver (2017) vs The Driver (1978)
Happy Death Day (2017) vs Groundhog Day (1993)
Obsession (1976) vs Vertigo (1958)
Triangle (2009) vs The Shining (1980)
¹¹Not mentioning Neon Genesis Evangelion would be blasphemous.
Parts of the screenplay in Airplane! (1980) are identical to Zero Hour! (1957).
This is because comedy classic is a parodical remake.
Surely you can't be serious?
I am serious - and don't call me Shirley.
Slither (2006)
Night of the Creeps (1986) and Shivers (1975).
The Void (2016)
The Thing (1982) and Hellraiser (1987).
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), Phantom of the Opera (1925) and Frankenstein (1931).
The Faculty (1998)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Thing (1982), The Breakfast Club (1985) and The Terminator (1984).
Taxi Driver (1976)
Falling Down (1993), I Stand Alone (1998), You Were Never Really Here (2017) and Joker (2019).
Get this.
In Korean thriller Midnight FM (2010), a fan of television announcer and DJ Ko Sun-young begins to murder unsavoury characters in the city.
Resident psycho Han Dong-soo has been inspired by Travis Bickle.
Brilliant stuff.
Along with The Wrong Man (1956) and Pickpocket (1959), The Searchers (1956) was Scorsese's primary influence for unstable war veteran.
End credits for Eli Roth's The Green Inferno (2013) features the following sentence:
"A brief history of the Italian cannibal genre and their many names, along with their directors and their many names."
For example:
1972
"Man from Deep River" (a.k.a."Sacrifice!", "Il paese del sesso selvaggio", "Deep River Savages")
Director: Umberto Lenzi (a.k.a. Humphrey Longan, Hubert Humprhy, Humphrey Humbert, Hank Milestone, Harry Kirkpatrick, Bob Collins)
1978
"Mountain of the Cannbial God" (a.k.a. La Montagne del Dio Cannibale)
Director: Sergio Martino (a.k.a. George Raminto, Martin Dolman, Christian Plummer)
And.
1980
"Cannibal Holocaust" (a.k.a. "The Mother of All Cannibal Films")
Director: Rugerro Deodato
Hear, hear!
