MOVIE VS. MOVIE
These are movies that were in direct competition with another project and most studios rushed to get their version in theaters first. To save space and time.... I will be listing a film.... and then elaborating on which film it was in direct competition with.
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- DirectorMimi LederStarsRobert DuvallTéa LeoniElijah WoodA comet is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. As doomsday nears, the human race prepares for the worst.One of two competing meteor/asteroid projects. DEEP IMPACT was released close to two months prior to ARMAGEDDON and the writer for the former.... Bruce Joel Rubin.... stated that it was no coincidence. He said that when he had a script meeting with Disney.... the President of the studio took notes.... and then proceeded to work on his own film. Disney.... fully aware that there would be comparisons.... spent an additional $3,000,000 to boost the special effects to help differentiate the two projects. A third asteroid project called BRIGHT ANGEL FALLING was also in the works.... that was to be written and directed by Peter Hyams and produced by James Cameron.... but it seemingly disappeared the same year as the other two projects were released.
Deep Impact (5/08/98): $140,464,664 (Domestic) / $349,464,664 (Worldwide)
Budget: $80,000,000
Armageddon (7/01/98): $201,578,182 (Domestic) / $553,709,788 (Worldwide)
Budget: $140,000,000
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsColin FarrellAnthony HopkinsRosario DawsonAlexander, the King of Macedonia and one of the greatest army leaders in the history of warfare, conquers much of the known world.One of two competing projects based off of the life of Alexander the Great. Although only one of them came to fruition. Christopher McQuarrie and Peter Bushman developed a script back in the 90's and were courting Leonardo DiCaprio to star. DiCaprio liked the script but was hesitant of McQuarrie's ability to direct the film. He had three choices in mind to direct.... one of which was Martin Scorsese.... who came onboard the project. Because of the busy schedules of DiCaprio and Scorsese.... they had to wait.... and Oliver Stone managed to get his version into theaters first. The poor reception of Stone's film led to the demise of the other.... but that didn't stop director Baz Luhrmann from taking another crack at the source material.... with DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman.
Alexander (11/24/04): $34,297,191 (Domestic) / $167,298,192 (Worldwide)
Budget: $155,000,000 - DirectorEric DarnellTim JohnsonLawrence GutermanStarsWoody AllenSharon StoneGene HackmanA rather neurotic ant tries to break from his totalitarian society while trying to win the affection of the princess he loves.One of two competing animated bug pictures released in 1998.... the other being A BUG'S LIFE. Work on ANTZ was reportedly started long after A BUG'S LIFE was well known as a project in the animation community. Pixar's John Lasseter and Steve Jobs believe that Jeffrey Katzenberg.... who left Pixar to set up DreamWorks.... had ripped off their idea. Furthermore.... Katzenberg reportedly offered financial incentives to the animators to get his film in theaters before the other. However.... Katzenberg denies those claims.
Antz (10/02/1998): $90,757,863 (Domestic) / $171,757,863 (Worldwide)
Budget: $105,000,000
A Bug's Life (11/20/98): $162,798,565 (Domestic) / $363,258,859 (Worldwide)
Budget: $120,000,000
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsMilla JovovichJohn MalkovichRab AffleckA young girl receives a vision that drives her to rid France of its oppressors.One of many competing projects focusing on Joan of Arc... and the only one that was actually filmed. The director of THE MESSENGER.... Luc Besson.... was originally hired as an executive producer for a film that was to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow had been developing ideas for a Joan of Arc film for about a decade. Her film was to be entitled Company of Angels.... with Jay Cocks hired to write the script. The film was to be made with Besson's assistance and financial backing. In July 1996 contracts between Bigelow and Besson were exchanged.... which gave Besson the right to be consulted on casting in addition to his personal fee. According to Bigelow.... eight weeks prior to filming.... Besson realized that his then wife.... Milla Jovovich…. was not going to be cast as Joan.... and he subsequently withdrew his support from the film.... and with it the support of his financial backers. Bigelow threatened legal action for breach of contract and for stealing her research.... but the matter was settled out of court. After Besson left.... he commenced production of his own Joan of Arc project and the production of Company of Angels disbanded shortly thereafter.
Another project that was in development at the time was titled JOAN OF ARC: THE VIRGIN WARRIOR.... which was to be directed by Ronald Maxwell.... with Mira Sorvino on board to portray the title character. Jacqueline Bisset.... Kevin Conway.... Cary Elwes.... Albert Finney.... and Derek Jacobi were also reportedly cast to appear in the film as well. The project was rumored to be smaller in scale.... but much more faithful to the source material. The project eventually fell apart.... most likely due to the poor box office performance of THE MESSENGER. There was also a CBS miniseries that starred Leelee Sobieski that premiered a few months before THE MESSENGER.... but given its format and production values.... I don't really think it was ever in direct competition with it.
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (11/12/99): $14,276,317 (Domestic) / $66,976,317 (Worldwide)
Budget: $85,000,000
- DirectorChris NoonanStarsJames CromwellMagda SzubanskiChristine CavanaughGentle farmer Arthur Hoggett wins a piglet Babe at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly and discovers that he too can herd sheep. But will the other animals accept him?One of two competing projects featuring a talking pig.... the other being GORDY. The latter was actually released three months earlier.... and is credited with a story conceived by Jay Sommers in the 1970s. However.... BABE.... though being released after GORDY.... has a more definite basis for its story; Dick King Smith's 1983 children's book The Sheep-Pig.
Gordy (5/12/95): $3,941,146 (Domestic / Worldwide)
Budget: Unknown
Babe (8/04/95): $63,658,910 (Domestic) / $254,134,910 (Worldwide)
Budget: $30,000,000
- DirectorPete TravisStarsKarl UrbanOlivia ThirlbyLena HeadeyIn a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.One of two movies released in U.S. theaters about police officers trying to take out a drug lord.... the other being THE RAID: REDEMPTION. Although the latter was released first.... DREDD started filming six months before the other.... and its screenplay had been making the rounds way earlier than that. At the end of the day.... most people tend to agree that it was a matter of coincidence.... and both films were well received in the end.
The Raid: Redemption (3/23/12): $4,105,187 (Domestic) / $9,100,000 (Worldwide)
Budget: $1,100,000
Dredd (9/21/12): $13,414,714 (Domestic) / $35,626,525 (Worldwide)
Budget: $50,000,000 - DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsTim RobbinsGary SiniseDon CheadleWhen the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.One of two competing film projects based around Mars that were released in 2000.... with the other being RED PLANET. Apparently.... the former was based on an attraction at Disneyland called MISSION TO MARS. The latter was originally titled Alone.... but during pre-production it was changed to Mars. But it was changed to RED PLANET to avoid confusion with MISSION TO MARS.
Mission to Mars (3/10/2000): $60,883,407 (Domestic) / $110,983,407 (Worldwide)
Budget: $100,000,000
Red Planet (11/10/2000): $17,480,890 (Domestic) / $33,463,969 (Worldwide)
Budget: $80,000,000
- DirectorRenny HarlinStarsKellan LutzGaia WeissScott AdkinsThe origin story of the mythical Greek hero. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom.One of two competing film projects based around the mythos of Hercules that were released in 2014.... with the other being HERCULES. There was actually a third film released titled HERCULES REBORN.... but that was strictly a mockbuster to capitalize on the success of the Dwayne Johnson pic.
The Legend of Hercules (1/10/2014): $18,848,538 (Domestic) / $61,279,452 (Worldwide)
Budget: $70,000,000
Hercules (7/25/2014): $72,688,614 (Domestic) /
$244,819,862 (Worldwide)
Budget: $100,000,000
Hercules Reborn (7/15/14): $61,609 (DVD / Blu-Ray Sales)
Budget: $1,000,000
- DirectorChris RockStarsChris RockBernie MacLynn WhitfieldWhen a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.One of two competing film projects featuring a black president (a somewhat unique idea at the time).... although the other never saw the light of the day. Apparently in 1999.... there was a race between Chris Rock and Chris Tucker.... on whomever could get their respective project into theaters first. Rock was working on HEAD OF STATE which was released in 2003.... while Tucker was working on his supposed directorial debut.... Mr. PRESIDENT. Tucker denies that neither actor was competitive however.... and he even made mention that he planned on having Bill Clinton cast in a supporting role.
Head of State (3/28/2003): $38,125,247 (Domestic) / $38,620,484 (Worldwide)
Budget: $35,200,000 - DirectorRoger DonaldsonStarsPierce BrosnanLinda HamiltonJamie Renée SmithA volcanologist arrives at a countryside town recently named the second-most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that a nearby long-dormant volcano may awaken at any moment.One of two competing volcano projects.... with the other being VOLCANO.... that were released in 1997. DANTE'S PEAK was the bigger financial success.... but VOLCANO had slightly better reviews.
Dante's Peak (2/07/97): $67,127,760 (Domestic) / $178,127,760 (Worldwide)
Budget: $116,000,000
Volcano (4/25/97): $49,323,468 (Domestic) / $122,823,468 (Worldwide)
Budget: $90,000,000 - DirectorBrian GilbertStarsJudge ReinholdFred SavageCorinne BohrerDivorced executive Marshall and his 11-year-old son Charlie casually touch a magical Tibetan skull, releasing a mysterious power that transfers Marshall's mind to Charlie's body and vice versa. Their problems have just begun.One of two competing body swapping projects (three if you count the previous year's LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON)…. the other being 18 AGAIN. Neither film was a huge box-office success.... but VICE VERSA made more money and was received much more favorably.
Vice Versa (3/11/88): $13,664,060 (Domestic / Worldwide)
Budget: $10,000,000
18 Again (4/08/88): $2,567,099 (Domestic / Worldwide) - DirectorAndy CadiffStarsMandy MooreMatthew GoodeMark HarmonAnna wants to be like other girls her age (18): date a guy etc. but she's the US president's daughter and always guarded. In Prague he breaks his promise of only 2 agents following her to a concert and she runs away with Ben to see Europe.One of two competing projects focusing on The President's daughter.... the other being FIRST DAUGHTER.
Chasing Liberty (1/09/2004): $12,195,626 (Domestic) / $12,313,323 (Worldwide)
Budget: $23,000,000
First Daughter (9/24/2004): $9,055,921 (Domestic) / $10,592,180 (Worldwide)
Budget: $30,000,000 - DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsGerard ButlerAaron EckhartMorgan FreemanSecret Service agent Mike Banning finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack and works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.Being first out the gate certainly has its advantages.... and OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN capitalized on being the first White House set action film of 2013. WHITE HOUSE DOWN soon followed with a much bigger budget.... but was far from being profitable.
Olympus Has Fallen (3/22/2013): $98,925,640 (Domestic) / $170,270,201 (Worldwide)
Budget: $70,000,000
White House Down (6/27/2013): $73,103,784 (Domestic) / $205,366,737 (Worldwide)
Budget: $150,000,000 - DirectorNeil BurgerStarsEdward NortonJessica BielPaul GiamattiIn turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.One of two competing projects based around the world of magic.... with the other being Edward Norton's THE PRESTIGE.
The Illusionist (8/18/2006): $39,868,642 (Domestic) / $87,892,388 (Worldwide)
Budget: $16,500,000
The Prestige (10/20/2006): $53,089,891 (Domestic) / $109,676,311 (Worldwide)
Budget: $40,000,000 - DirectorRod DanielStarsJim BelushiMel HarrisKevin TigheTo stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.One of two competing projects where a detective teams up with a canine partner.... with the other being TURNER & HOOCH.
K-9 (4/28/89): $43,247,647 (Domestic) / $78,247,647 (Worldwide)
Budget: Unknown
Turner & Hooch (7/28/89): $71,079,915 (Domestic)
Budget: $13,000,000 - DirectorTarsem SinghStarsLily CollinsJulia RobertsArmie HammerAn evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.One of two competing projects featuring the character of Snow White.... with the other being SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN
Mirror Mirror (3/20/2012): $64,935,167 (Domestic) / $183,018,522 (Worldwide)
Budget: $85,000,000
Snow White & The Huntsman (6/01/2012): $155,332,381 (Domestic) / $396,592,829 (Worldwide)
Budget: $170,000,000 - DirectorStephen HerekStarsCharlie SheenKiefer SutherlandChris O'DonnellFrance, 1625: Young d'Artagnan heads to Paris to join the Musketeers but the evil cardinal has disbanded them - save 3. He meets the 3, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and joins them on their quest to save the king and country.One of two competing projects based on The Three Musketeers. There was also a rival TriStar version that was also in development at the same time as the Disney version.... with Johnny Depp and director Jeremiah S. Chechik attached. Both studios wanted Oliver Platt to play Porthos in their own respective versions.... and Johnny Depp was actually approached by Disney to star in their version as well.
The Three Musketeers (11/12/93): $53,898,845 (Domestic / Worldwide)
Budget: $30,000,000 - DirectorTaylor HackfordStarsKeanu ReevesAl PacinoCharlize TheronAn exceptionally-adept Florida lawyer is offered a job at a high-end New York City law firm with a high-end boss--the biggest opportunity of his career to date.One of two competing projects about a law firm run by Satan.... with the other being LUCIFER. Not much is known about the latter.... other than the fact that Wesley Snipes was attached to star in the project.
The Devil's Advocate (10/17/97): $60,944,660 (Domestic) / $152,944,660 (Worldwide)
Budget: $57,000,000 - DirectorSteve CarrStarsKevin JamesKeir O'DonnellJayma MaysWhen a shopping mall is taken over by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to a mild-mannered security guard to save the day.One of two competing projects about mall security guards.... with the other being OBSERVE AND REPORT.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (1/16/09): $146,336,178 (Domestic) / $183,348,429 (Worldwide)
Budget: $26,000,000
Observe and Report (4/10/09): $24,007,324 / $26,973,554 (Worldwide)
Budget: $18,000,000 - DirectorDavid HoganStarsPamela AndersonAmir AboulElaAdriana AlexanderDuring the Second American Civil War in 2017, Barb Wire owns a nightclub called the Hammerhead. Things become complicated when her ex-lover Axel Hood, who is married to the fugitive Corrina Devonshire, re-enters her life.One of two competing projects featuring leather clad heroines.... with the other being THE DEMOLITIONIST.
Barb Wire (5/03/1996): $3,793,614 (Domestic / Worldwide)
Budget: $9,000,000
The Demolitionist (7/09/1996)
Budget: $1,000,000 - DirectorKevin ReynoldsStarsKevin CostnerMorgan FreemanMary Elizabeth MastrantonioRobin Hood decides to fight back as an outlaw when faced with the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham.One of two competing projects based on the folk hero.... with the other being Patrick Bergin's ROBIN HOOD. 20th Century Fox was originally supposed to release the Bergin version only domestically.... with Carolco Pictures handling international territories. However.... the deal fell through due to financial problems and as a result.... Carolco called off distribution deals for the film. Fox then decided to release ROBIN HOOD internationally as well.... starting off with Japan in mid-April 1991.... the UK in May.... and the rest of the world in June. In the United States.... the film was broadcasted as a three-hour-long television film on the broadcasting block Fox Night at the Movies in May.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (6/14/1991): $165,493,908 (Domestic) / $390,493,908 (Worldwide)
Budget: $45,000,000
Robin Hood (5/13/1991): $387,139 (Worldwide)
Budget: $15,000,000 - DirectorOtto BathurstStarsTaron EgertonJamie FoxxBen MendelsohnA war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown.One of four ROBIN HOOD projects that were being developed in 2015.... and the only one that actually entered production. The other projects included one that Warner Bros put into development.... with a script by Will Beall.... and was to be produced by Dan Lin and John Zaozirny. The project was very hush-hush and little else is known about it.
Disney was developing a script from Brandon Barker called Nottingham & Hood.... which was described as a swashbuckling family friendly adventure film in the vein of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona were onboard to produce.
Sony also bought a Robin Hood pitch for $1,000,000 from Cory Goodman and Jeremy Lott.... with Aperture’s Adam Goldworm onboard to executive produce. That project.... Hood.... was described tonally as a high-action FAST & FURIOUS meets MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-style reinvention of the tale. Jerry Bruckheimer was rumored to be producing as well.
Robin Hood (11/21/2018): $30,824,628 (Domestic) / $86,493,046 (Worldwide)
Budget: $100,000,000 - DirectorDuncan GibbinsStarsGregory HinesRenée SoutendijkMichael GreeneA terrorist hunter is hired by a scientist to deactivate her android double, a walking, talking, murderous nuclear bomb which has gone amok in the big city and is about to explode.One of two female cyborg pictures that were released in 1991.... with the other being STEEL AND LACE.
Eve of Destruction (1/18/91): $5,451,119 (Domestic)
Budget: $13,000,000
Steel and Lace (1/30/1991)
Budget: Unknown - DirectorJohn RobertsStarsGena RowlandsTony ShalhoubCheech MarinA talking parrot named Paulie recounts his travels to look for his original owner to a Russian janitor who helps him to the end of his journey.One of two talking bird movies released in 1998.... with the other being THE REAL MACAW. However.... the latter was only released in Australia.
Paulie (4/17/98): $27,084,499 (Domestic)
Budget: $23,000,000
The Real Macaw (9/24/98): $741,876 (Worldwide)
Budget: $5,000,000 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMatt DamonTom SizemoreFollowing the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.One of two competing WWII films released in 1998.... with the other being THE THIN RED LINE.
Saving Private Ryan (7/24/98): $216,335,085 (Domestic) / $485,035,085 (Worldwide)
Budget: $70,000,000
The Thin Red Line (12/23/98): $36,400,491 (Domestic) / $97,709,034 (Worldwide)
Budget: $52,000,000