26 Movies That Came Out at the Same Time and Are Basically the Same Movie

Those Snow White movies from a few years ago are just the tip of the iceberg

By John Boone Jun 16, 2014 10:06 PMTags

You know how they say there are only seven types of stories, but Hollywood tells them in a million different ways? These 26 movies missed the "being told differently" part. Oh, and they came out in the same year. So that didn't help.

Did you see White House Down? The White House-under-attack movie that came out last year? No, the other White House-under-attack movie that came out last year. The one with Channing Tatum?

Anyway:

White House Down vs. Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

White House Down: "While on a tour of the White House with his daughter, a Capitol policeman (Channing Tatum) springs into action to save his child and protect the president (Jamie Foxx) from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders."
Olympus Has Fallen: "Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, Banning works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers."

After Earth vs. Oblivion (2013)

After Earth: "A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help."
Oblivion: "A veteran (Tom Cruise) assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself."

Snow White and the Huntsman vs. Mirror Mirror (2012)

Snow White and the Huntsman: "In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White (Kristen Stewart) into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen (Charlize Theron)."
Mirror Mirror: "An evil queen (Julia Roberts) steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess (Lily Collins) enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright."

No Strings Attached vs. Friends With Benefits (2011)

No Strings Attached: "A guy and girl (Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman) try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more."
Friends With Benefits: "While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie (Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis) soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications."

Paul Blart: Mall Cop vs. Observe & Report (2009)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop: "When a shopping mall is taken over by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to a mild-mannered security guard (Kevin James) to save the day."
Observe and Report: "Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective, is recruited to close the case."

The Illusionist vs. The Prestige (2006)

The Illusionist: "In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing."
The Prestige: "The rivalry between two magicians becomes more exacerbated by their attempt to perform the ultimate illusion."

Capote vs. Infamous (2005/2006)

Capote: "In 1959, Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row."
Infamous: "While researching his book In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote (Toby Jones) develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith."

Chasing Liberty vs. First Daughter (2004)

Chasing Liberty: "The President's daughter (Mandy Moore), unable to experience life like a normal 18 year old, escapes from her entourage of Secret Service agents while traveling in Europe and falls in love with a handsome British stranger."
First Daughter: "The first daughter of the U.S. President (Katie Holmes) heads off to college where she falls for a graduate student with a secret agenda."

EDtv vs. The Truman Show (1998/1999)

EDtv: "Video store clerk Ed (Matthew McConaughey) agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a TV network."
The Truman Show: "An insurance salesman/adjuster (Jim Carrey) discovers his entire life is actually a TV show."

Deep Impact vs. Armageddon (1998)

Deep Impact: "Unless a comet can be destroyed before colliding with Earth, only those allowed into shelters will survive. Which people will survive?"
Armageddon: "After discovering that an asteroid the size of Texas is going to impact Earth in less than a month, N.A.S.A. recruits a misfit team of deep core drillers to save the planet."

A Bug's Life vs. Antz (1998)

A Bug's Life: "A misfit ant, looking for "warriors" to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe."
Antz: "A rather neurotic ant (voiced by Woody Allen) tries to break from his totalitarian society while trying to win the affection of the princess he loves."

Volcano vs. Dante's Peak (1997)

Volcano: "A volcano erupts in downtown L.A., threatening to destroy the city."
Dante's Peak: "A vulcanologist arrives at a countryside [spot] named Dante's Peak after a long dormant volcano, which has recently been named the second most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that Dante's Peak, may wake up at any moment."

Babe vs. Gordy (1995)

Babe: "Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett."
Gordy: "A talking pig named Gordy becomes involved in a quest to save his family from the slaughterhouse."

That said, you probably only remember the Babes of it all. You don't remember the Gordys (Antz, Deep Impact, Infamous, Mirror Mirror, etc.) of the world. Better luck next time, After Earth! (Just kidding, no one saw either of those movies.)