Some completely missed the mark
'EDtv' is also about a reality TV character, but this one does so willingly, sharing with viewers every aspect of his life.
How many films about Truman Capote does one need in the space of a year? Two, apparently.
Both 'Red Planet' and 'Mission To Mars' are set on Mars. The first one takes place in 2056 as humans are trying to make Mars habitable, but fail miserably.
Reality TV wasn't as popular in the late 1990s as it is today, and of course, how far it might go hadn't been explored yet. 'The Truman Show' is about a man who unknowingly has his entire life made into a TV show.
Both movies revolve around Capote's investigation of the murders of the Clutter family, which resulted in his famous book 'In Cold Blood.'
Hollywood can't get enough of feuding superheroes. In 2016, we saw Captain America and Iron Man disagreeing over a government decision.
'Mission To Mars' takes place in 2020, where a rescue mission finds out there was actually life on Mars.
In 'Armageddon,' a group of oil drillers are sent to space to plant a bomb that will destroy the comet before it hits our planet. In both films, humanity is saved from extinction.
Both of the following movies are about how the government deals with the fact that a comet is on a collision course with Earth. In 'Deep Impact,' the president responds by building a network of caves.
Released just one year apart, these two movies focus on the famous law enforcement officer Wyatt Earp.
'Dante's Peak' is also about a catastrophic event caused by a volcano. This one is set in a small town in Washington, while 'Volcano' is set in Los Angeles.
While 'Tombstone' addresses Earp's life as a lawman in Tombstone, 'Wyatt Earp' delves into his past as a gambler and outlaw.
The year was 1997 and the world was apparently in need of two disaster movies where the protagonist's warnings are ignored by authorities and then there's a race against time, and lava.
While 'Jobs' focuses more on the early years of Steve Job's career, 'Steve Jobs' explores a later part of his career as well as his relationship with his daughter Lisa. Michael Fassbender plays the protagonist.
Sources: (Ranker) (IMDB) (Collider) (CBR)
See also: Movies with the same title (that are completely different)
Okay, these two movies didn't come at the exact same time, but two years is not that long for a biopic about the same person to hit the theaters. Ashton Kutcher portrayed Apple's Steve Jobs in this one.
'Antz' also explores oppression in an ant colony, and how one individual does not conform. These movies were released just over a month apart.
In 'White House Down,' the White House is also stormed by a paramilitary group and a man goes on a solo mission to protect his daughter and the president.
Two similar (and bizarrely specific) animations came out in 1998. They both featured ants and an oppressor. In the case of 'A Bug's Life,' the oppressor was another insect species: grasshoppers.
In 1989, two buddy cop films came out with the exact same plot: a California detective who finds himself with a dog partner against his will. The dog then helps them solve their cases. Tom Hanks plays the protagonist in 'Turner & Hooch.'
The stars of 'K-9,' on the other hand, are Jim Belushi and his German Shepherd. Whereas 'Turner & Hooch' is set in Northern California, 'K-9' is set in Southern California. How different, right?
'Snow White And The Huntsman' is also an adaptation of the classic fairytale. Although it took a darker approach than 'Mirror Mirror,' did the world really need two Snow White movies in 2012?
But Captain America and Iron Man were not the only superheroes facing each other in 2016. Batman and Superman did it too.
In 'No Strings Attached,' Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman's characters also decided to go to bed but stay "just friends."
The movie we're talking about is indeed called 'The Illusionist.' This one though, features a romance between the characters played by Edward Norton and Jessica Biel. And as if by magic, both movies are set in Europe in the late 1800s.
A thriller featuring illusionists? Yes, please. 'The Prestige' is about the competition between two magicians. But there was yet another movie released in the same year which features an illusionist.
In this movie the White House is invaded by a group of North Koreans who hold the president hostage. Then, an ex-Secret Service agent tries to rescue him.
'Mirror Mirror' is a rendition of the fairytale Snow White. Basically Snow White and a guy try to stop her evil stepmother.
'The Matrix' was a huge hit, but it wasn't the only movie to come out in 1999 exploring the limits of reality.
David Cronenberg's movie sees people delving into the world of virtual reality and video games, thus blurring the line between reality and fantasy.
'This Is the End' is about six friends trying to survive after the apocalypse occurs during a house party.
Who doesn't like an apocalyptic comedy, right? Five friends reunite in their hometown to go on a drinking marathon, but end up trying to save the world.
Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis play two friends who agree to have sex without compromising their friendship. Of course, feelings got in the way. The movie was a hit, and so was another rom-com with the same plot.
Screenwriting is an art, and it's definitely not easy to come up with an interesting, original plot. This might be why there have been many cases where two strikingly similar movies have come out in close succession. It's possible that there was a particularly hot topic in the world at the time, or perhaps there was competition between Hollywood studios. However it came to pass, cinemagoers ended up with two bizarrely similar films in theaters at the same time! It's not surprising that these movies often get mixed up...
In this gallery, we take a look at some of the most glaring examples. Click through to get started.
Movies with similar plots (released at the same time)
Have you seen any of these flicks?
MOVIES Trivia
Screenwriting is an art, and it's definitely not easy to come up with an interesting, original plot. This might be why there have been many cases where two strikingly similar movies have come out in close succession. It's possible that there was a particularly hot topic in the world at the time, or perhaps there was competition between Hollywood studios. However it came to pass, cinemagoers ended up with two bizarrely similar films in theaters at the same time! It's not surprising that these movies often get mixed up...
In this gallery, we take a look at some of the most glaring examples. Click through to get started.