Mockbuster movies: fraud or opportunity?

[TheFrighter]

According to Wikipedia a "mockbuster"  is a movie created with the intention of exploiting the publicity of another major motion picture with a similar title or subject. Mockbusters are often made with a low budget and quick production to maximize profit. Unlike films that are produced to capitalize on the popularity of a recent release by adopting similar genre or storytelling elements, mockbusters are generally produced concurrently with upcoming films, and released direct-to-video at the same time the real film reaches theaters or video outlets. A mockbuster may be similar enough in title, packaging, etc. in hopes that consumers confuse it with the actual film it mimics, but their producers maintain that they are simply offering additional products for consumers who want to watch additional films in the same subgenres.

Actually the most famous film company in this kind of business is The Asylum, best knowed for the Sharknado saga and other shark flicks.

Sometimes they get  close to plagiarism with the titles or the covers, but nothing more in the end.

Do you think this way of making movies is someway dishonest? Or maybe it's a chance to unleash the creativity of a studio?


Here's some of the most notables Asylum's mockbusters:

Spoiler

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[LimpingFish]

It's dishonest in that they are made specifically to confuse unwary viewers. They're artistically redundant, as they exist solely to ape an existing product, while having little in the way of original ideas or creative ability.

...

And they're really, really, awful movies.

See also anything "directed" by David DeCoteau...

[Mandle]

It's dishonest in that they are made specifically to confuse unwary viewers.

It's even worse here in Japan, as the titles are often just the English title converted into Katakana. The average Japanese customer might not know exactly what all the English words are so the distributors just change one minor word and keep the rest the same to trick people into thinking it's the movie they heard about. They probably make like half their money that way.

[Click'd]

Some of the examples sound like cheesy fun, and it's interesting that they got formerly big-ish name actors.

artistically...
original ideas or creative ability....

The movies they rip off aren't exactly the pinnacle of that either. Pumping more money into something doesn't make it less stupid.

As a sidenote, these porn parodies, often called "this isn't (movie) XXX" are less prone to be mistaken, I guess. No idea how similar they are content-wise. Never seen one.

[Stupot]

I’ve been almost tricked before, picking up a video case for a film called “Independents’ Day” around the time that Independence Day: Resurgence came out. Luckily, I realised something was off quite quickly, but I can imagine some people would just grab that and take it home without a second thought.

On the other hand there is a market for these films. People collect them, have movie nights with them and talk about them online. I’m reminded of the fake Star Wars rip-off toys that themselves became collectible.

[Gilbert]

But but butt, Lance Henriksen in POTC ripoff? Could be greeeat!

Edited: Oh, he's also in that Da Vinci ripoff, and both films have 'Treasure' in the title. It must be a series!

[TheFrighter]

It's even worse here in Japan, as the titles are often just the English title converted into Katakana. The average Japanese customer might not know exactly what all the English words are so the distributors just change one minor word and keep the rest the same to trick people into thinking it's the movie they heard about.

This is interesting. Do you have any example?

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[Snarky]

Some of those look like they cross the line into something actionable. I mean, they could clearly be sued over AVH or that Tomb Invader cover. I wonder if the big Hollywood studios tolerate them from some kind of "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" reasoning, the way getting a Mad Magazine parody used to be a badge of honor.

I can't get very worked up over this either. There's something charming about a grift when it's this blatant. I'm also rather curious about Princess of Mars. I assume the book is in the public domain so they could simply do a straight adaptation without the usual "Captain Ersatz" substitutions.

[VampireWombat]

I'm also rather curious about Princess of Mars. I assume the book is in the public domain so they could simply do a straight adaptation without the usual "Captain Ersatz" substitutions.

I've actually seen Princess of Mars, but not John Carter. Or read the books. But from what I understand, Princess of Mars does indeed use the same characters and vaguely the same story.

I've seen several of the Asylum mockbusters, actually. The Sherlock Holmes one is fun and totally absurd. The CGI is low quality, but still... robot dinosaur.

[TheFrighter]

artistically...
original ideas or creative ability....

The movies they rip off aren't exactly the pinnacle of that either.

A friend of mine watched Asylum's Homeward then Disney's Onward... well, he say that apart the animation the first one is better... 

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[Mandle]

It's even worse here in Japan, as the titles are often just the English title converted into Katakana. The average Japanese customer might not know exactly what all the English words are so the distributors just change one minor word and keep the rest the same to trick people into thinking it's the movie they heard about.

This is interesting. Do you have any example?

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No, sorry, I wasn't taking photos but Stupot posted a good example above. They usually appear just before an anticipated release.

There was a load of "Jurassic (Something)" just before the first Jurassic World came out, like "Jurassic Land" etc.

[Fitz]

Hypothetical conversation at The Asylum:

Exec #1: What movie do we copy next?
Exec #2: Aladdin?
Exec #1: Done that already.
Exec #2: Beauty & The Beast?
Exec #1: Yup, done that one, too.
Exec #2: Hm... It's been a tough year... Gotta dig deeper... I hear this Sharknado flick is trending!
Exec #1: Yeah! Awesome! I've already got a title: Sharknami! Get on it!
Intern: Wait... Isn't Sharknado one of ours?
Exec #1: Uh... Oh, yeah, it is.
Exec #2: Your point being...?

[LimpingFish]

I'm also rather curious about Princess of Mars. I assume the book is in the public domain so they could simply do a straight adaptation without the usual "Captain Ersatz" substitutions.

Yeah, as VampireWombat said, it's does use the general character names and basic setup. But it plays seriously fast and loose with them, all but ignoring huge portions of Burroughs' works. Kudos to them casting Traci Lords as Dejah Thoris, though...

...he said without an ounce of sarcasm.¬¬

But, yeah, you've got to begrudgingly admire someone aping "Battle: Los Angeles" with a movie titled "Battle of Los Angeles". And yes, the "of" was really that size.

[Mandle]

But, yeah, you've got to begrudgingly admire someone aping "Battle: Los Angeles" with a movie titled "Battle of Los Angeles". And yes, the "of" was really that size.

Please tell me they wrote the "of" like this:

O
F

[LimpingFish]

Please tell me they wrote the "of" like this:
O
F

If only. But that's the exact kind of insidious genius I'm sure The Asylum is willing to pay small money for!

[Cassiebsg]

Mandle, that requires creativity!   

[cat]

I've seen several of the Asylum mockbusters, actually. The Sherlock Holmes one is fun and totally absurd. The CGI is low quality, but still... robot dinosaur.

I've seen that Sherlock Holmes movie on TV even before I knew what The Asylum was and while it was a bit weird, it was still an enjoyable movie.

There is a comedy series on a small German TV channel called "Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten" ("The worst movies of all time"). In every episode they pick one B-movie and play it full length, but with breaks with moderation of two comedians and overlays that point out weird stuff in the movie. They also have a drinking game where you drink every time something happens in a movie (e.g. every time a shark is flying in Sharknado). I've watched quite a few episodes of this.

[Mandle]

Cat, I also love those kind of shows, especially at the moment as they are a great simulation of doing the same with friends.

You can find quite a few episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on YouTube. It's the same kind of thing and very funny.

Elvira and RiffTrax are also worth looking into.

[TheFrighter]

I found an example of mockbuster tv-series: Saru no Gundan (literally Army of apes), western title Time of the Apes
It was aired in 1974 a few months after the Planet of the Apes on CBS

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[LimpingFish]

There is a comedy series on a small German TV channel called "Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten" ("The worst movies of all time"). In every episode they pick one B-movie and play it full length, but with breaks with moderation of two comedians and overlays that point out weird stuff in the movie.

I guess that's the best way to watch most of these movies.

But I think I would rank The Asylum's mockbuster output even below the typical B-movies of the 70's/80's/90's. I'd much rather watch Mutant, or even Slugs, than...ugh...Titantic II.

I found an example of mockbuster tv-series: Saru no Gundan (literally Army of apes), western title Time of the Apes.

I'd watch the hell out of that!