Top 10 Pairs of Dueling Movies
It's not too common, but every now and then, two movies with a lot in common - and aiming to attract the same basic audience - are released very close to each other, sometimes even at the same time. When this happens, the two movies are often called "dueling movies."This list compiles the most famous examples of movie pairings that dueled it out in theaters.
Both films feature central heroes in conflict with one another due to ideological differences, leading to major battles and consequences for their universes. Each movie introduced new characters who later became significant in their respective cinematic franchises. It looked like it would be the ultimate film showdown: a movie about Batman fighting Superman and one about Captain America battling Iron Man.
When the movies came out, however, it wasn't much of a fight. Civil War not only outgrossed BvS, but Civil War was also critically acclaimed, while BvS was universally panned.
The most recent (as of Jan 2017) dueling film combo. It's no surprise to say that Civil War won the battle against Dawn of Justice.
Both animated films about insect societies focus on an underdog worker ant rising against authoritarian leadership to achieve freedom for their colony. Released by rival studios, these movies were both centered around themes of individuality within structured insect societies. DreamWorks' first animated film also ended up becoming their most controversial upon its announcement. You see, A Bug's Life (then titled Bugs before its completion) was already known to the animation community as Pixar's upcoming second animated film (after Toy Story, of course). John Lasseter and everyone over at Pixar felt betrayed (as they knew and had previously been in business with the executives over at DreamWorks), and the months that followed were ripe with feuding and competition.
In the end, both films were unique in their storytelling approaches (with most dismissing the idea that there was any reason to accuse either company of plagiarizing the other), and the critical and financial results were positive for both films. Everyone won (except Antz has not had the same success A Bug's Life has had on home video in the years since).
Both are James Bond films released in 1983, featuring the iconic spy as he works to foil international plots involving nuclear weapons. Octopussy stars Roger Moore, while Never Say Never Again marked the return of Sean Connery to the role. Both Bond films. Both released in 1983. One was an official EON Production starring Roger Moore (in his penultimate installment). The other was the return of the original Bond, Sean Connery (in his last reprisal). It's complicated explaining how this came to happen, but I can tell you that the official film, Octopussy, earned slightly more than Never Say Never Again, and, as a result, technically "won" the battle.
Both films center on catastrophic volcanic eruptions and the struggle to evacuate civilians from the affected areas. Set in small towns or major cities, these movies explore the impact of natural disasters on communities and emergency response. Both are 1997 disaster films centered around volcanoes. Dante's Peak, starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton, is arguably the better film and made more money at the box office than the Tommy Lee Jones-led Volcano, which was released two months later.
Both action thrillers depict attacks on the White House and follow protagonists attempting to rescue the U.S. President from heavily armed terrorists. Each film explores themes of loyalty, patriotism, and the resilience of those defending the country. They're both 2013 action films about terrorists attacking the White House. Neither was really a huge success, although Olympus Has Fallen did well enough to get a sequel (London Has Fallen) in 2016 (which, while more financially successful, was a critical failure) and is slated to get a second sequel, tentatively titled Angel Has Fallen, which will begin filming in 2017.
Both animated films follow a supervillain who ultimately reforms after experiencing the value of companionship and positive relationships. Released in 2010, each story contrasts the protagonist's path from villainy to heroism in a comedic style. The winner of this 2010 animated death match was clearly Despicable Me. It received much higher reviews and fared far better at the box office, while Megamind ended up becoming one of DreamWorks' lowest-grossing animated films.
Megamind personally is a much better movie than Despicable Me.
Both films center on the discovery of an asteroid or comet on a collision course with Earth, leading to missions intended to prevent global catastrophe. Released in 1998, each explores the heroism and personal sacrifices of characters involved in the life-or-death mission. Again, both are disaster films. This time, they both focus on apocalypse-level events where asteroids are at risk of colliding with the Earth. Both films were released in 1998 and received mixed-to-negative reviews (with Armageddon getting the shorter end of the stick despite earning considerably more at the box office than the more scientifically realistic Deep Impact).
Both movies revolve around characters whose daily lives are broadcast as entertainment, raising questions about privacy and media ethics. The Truman Show portrays an unaware participant, while in EDtv, the protagonist consents to the constant filming.
Both films are based on true stories of individuals who survive life-threatening ordeals, ultimately demonstrating resilience and courage. 127 Hours follows a man trapped by a boulder, while Soul Surfer centers on a surfer overcoming a shark attack. Even though 127 Hours was released in 2010 and Soul Surfer in 2011, they're both based on true stories of courageous individuals who suffered the loss of a limb and still managed to come out on top. There's a lot more to it than that, but I haven't seen either film (yet), so I'm not the person to tell you about them.
Both science fiction films depict dystopian futures in which the Earth's resources have been depleted, leading to major divides in wealth and power. Set in visually contrasting environments, each movie examines themes of class struggle and human survival. 2013 had a lot to offer where science fiction was concerned. While most people will remember films like Gravity, Star Trek Into Darkness, The World's End, and Pacific Rim (and, perhaps, even the unacknowledged Europa Report), there are three lesser sci-fi films that will probably only be remembered for being terrible (After Earth comes to mind) or for being forgettable (that's where Oblivion and Elysium come in).
The two films above were released a number of months apart, so they never shared theaters, but one could forgive someone for thinking they're the same movie. You have a big-time movie star lead (Tom Cruise and Matt Damon, respectively), a desolate planet setting, a lot of high-tech gadgetry to look at, and an obscure three-syllable title. Oh, and both are surprisingly boring. I'd bother to look up which film made more money, but I just don't care enough to do so.
This was all the way back in 1988, so I understand why people might scratch their heads at this one.
Girls Trip beat out Rough Night!