Movies that use different titles overseas

Seantn · 03-26-05, 07:37 AM

The new XXX movie "XXX2: State of the Union", is changing it's name for the overseas release. It'll be "XXX2: The Next Level"

What other movies can you think of that changed their titles for overseas release?

The movie "Joyride" is known as "Roadkill" in Australia.

Leprechaun 2 is known as "Four Funerals and a Wedding" in some countries.

daniel18 · 03-26-05, 09:50 AM

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" outside the US.

mikewendt · 03-26-05, 09:59 AM

The Rundown was Welcome To The Jungle overseas...

Shagrath · 03-26-05, 10:44 AM

"Formula 51" was "The 51st State" over in the UK.

The Infidel · 03-26-05, 12:58 PM

Don't know if it's an overseas thing, but Steve Guttenberg's movie "Don't Tell Her It's Me" suddenly became "The Boyfriend School" for the recent DVD release.

Daniel-A · 03-26-05, 01:32 PM

Cowboy Bebop movie was Knockin' on Heaven's Door originally. Had to change it for rights in the US

natevines · 03-26-05, 01:34 PM

A Matter of Life and Death became Stairway to Heaven. This movie needs an R1 DVD release desperately!

TheGodfather · 03-26-05, 05:26 PM

In France, Speed was called "Speed" pronounced with a French accent.

Jay G. · 03-26-05, 05:40 PM

"Army of Darkness" was known in some countries as "Captain Supermarket."

jfoobar · 03-26-05, 06:08 PM

Seems like most movies get an alternate title in at least some country they are released in.

mikehunt · 03-26-05, 11:48 PM

could it be due to shitty translation jobs?

Jay G. · 03-27-05, 07:47 AM

Not so much shitty translation jobs as neccessary translation jobs.

For example, the Ghibli movie Laputa was changed to Castle in the Sky because the phrase "La Puta" means "The Whore" in Spanish.

Other times the altered title is done by the original film's producers. Hong Kong films often have very different English titles than what a literal translation of the Chinese would produce. This is done sometimes because of the oddness a literally translated title would produce.

Sometimes the changes are made due to different cultural or marketing reasons. For example, Stephen Chow's new film "Kung Fu Hustle" is titled in Chinese as just "Kung Fu." This is good enough for Chinese audiences, who know Stephen Chow and his comedic approach, and are also familiar with all the kung fu films that he homages in this film. For English, the word hustle was added possibly to add a hint of comedy to the title and to keep it from sounding too generic.

Sometimes title changes have nothing to do with translation. For example, the film that was released as "Danny the Dog" in the UK is being released in the US as "Unleashed." So sometimes is purely a marketing thing, or because a studio exec preferred a certain title.

troystiffler · 03-27-05, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGodfather

In France, Speed was called "Speed" pronounced with a French accent.

Haw haw haw.

Gdrlv · 03-27-05, 11:47 AM

Dead Alive was called Braindead in virtually every country but the US.

Kumar J · 03-27-05, 06:59 PM

Japan changes almost all the Foreign release titles.Have no idea why and who desides all those stupid titles!

Drexl · 03-27-05, 10:50 PM

Léon was called The Professional in the U.S. However, probably due to the film's following of people familiar with the original title, both titles are on the American DVD releases.

Cameron · 03-28-05, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay G.

"Army of Darkness" was known in some countries as "Captain Supermarket."

Posters? Cover Art? I want to see that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexl

Léon was called The Professional in the U.S. However, probably due to the film's following of people familiar with the original title, both titles are on the American DVD releases.

That is because LEON is a different cut than The Professional... This was the comprimise the director made....they cut his film, so he gave it a different name. Same goes with the dvd....all DC's are titles Leon, while the cut version is still titled The Professional

Panda Phil · 03-28-05, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumar J

Japan changes almost all the Foreign release titles.Have no idea why and who desides all those stupid titles!

For example, according to the Japanese trailer, The Incredibles was renamed Mr Incredible over there.

Trigger · 03-28-05, 06:26 AM

Don't forget about Cemetary Man...

tdirgins · 03-28-05, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natevines

A Matter of Life and Death became Stairway to Heaven. This movie needs an R1 DVD release desperately!

My most anticipated release. Don't understand the holdup.

pdinosaur · 03-28-05, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay G.

"Army of Darkness" was known in some countries as "Captain Supermarket."

what? and there's no "Captain Supermarket Edition" of the movie out? I smell a new release coming!

rexinnih · 03-28-05, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay G.

"Army of Darkness" was known in some countries as "Captain Supermarket."

That was the title in Japan. One of my favorite name changes.

Jeraden · 03-28-05, 12:25 PM

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle appears to be called Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies in other places.

sdk · 03-28-05, 04:02 PM

Harold and kumar is kalled "high school high" in norway. Now that is a bad title.

Cygnet74 · 03-28-05, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron

Posters? Cover Art? I want to see that one.

laserdisc jacket? right here...

http://japanld.free.fr/cover/17001-17100/17005.jpg

03-26-05, 07:37 AM	#1
Seantn DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 5,602	Movies that use different titles overseas The new XXX movie "XXX2: State of the Union", is changing it's name for the overseas release. It'll be "XXX2: The Next Level" What other movies can you think of that changed their titles for overseas release? The movie "Joyride" is known as "Roadkill" in Australia. Leprechaun 2 is known as "Four Funerals and a Wedding" in some countries. __________________ "Why don't you get a blog where you can tell others to get a blog?" - Parcher

03-26-05, 09:59 AM	#3
mikewendt DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 3,196	The Rundown was Welcome To The Jungle overseas... __________________ mikewendt.com My Movie Collection / Instagram / Twitter / '12 Oct. Horror Challenge "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. They wake up in the morning and that's the best they're going to feel all day." - Dean Martin

03-26-05, 10:44 AM	#4
Shagrath DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 6,923	"Formula 51" was "The 51st State" over in the UK. __________________ My Library - DVDProfiler

03-26-05, 12:58 PM	#5
The Infidel DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: the kingdom of the evil Voratians, ruled by the wicked Ak-Oga Posts: 9,422	Don't know if it's an overseas thing, but Steve Guttenberg's movie "Don't Tell Her It's Me" suddenly became "The Boyfriend School" for the recent DVD release. __________________ Hey you, reading this. Click and join this fan page. You're not doing anything better.

03-26-05, 01:32 PM	#6
Daniel-A DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 2,117	Cowboy Bebop movie was Knockin' on Heaven's Door originally. Had to change it for rights in the US __________________ What I have // For Trade // Wish List

03-26-05, 09:50 AM	#2
daniel18 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: FL Posts: 489	"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" outside the US.

03-26-05, 01:34 PM	#7
natevines DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,391	A Matter of Life and Death became Stairway to Heaven. This movie needs an R1 DVD release desperately! __________________ DVD collection

03-26-05, 05:26 PM	#8
TheGodfather Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 955	In France, Speed was called "Speed" pronounced with a French accent.

03-26-05, 05:40 PM	#9
Jay G. DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 11,144	"Army of Darkness" was known in some countries as "Captain Supermarket."

03-26-05, 06:08 PM	#10
jfoobar DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 31,579	Seems like most movies get an alternate title in at least some country they are released in. __________________ If you can’t say something nice, don’t say something nice.

03-26-05, 11:48 PM	#11
mikehunt DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bartertown due to it having a better economy than where I really live, Buffalo NY Posts: 29,152	could it be due to shitty translation jobs? __________________ USS Ben Sisko's Mother F***ing Pimp Hand - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT2Xpfm7Iq8&feature=plcp Vote for freedom not political parties. .... MOΛΩN ΛABE If they had a philosophy. If they weren't too busy gnawing on your insides.

03-27-05, 07:47 AM	#12
Jay G. DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 11,144	Not so much shitty translation jobs as neccessary translation jobs. For example, the Ghibli movie Laputa was changed to Castle in the Sky because the phrase "La Puta" means "The Whore" in Spanish. Other times the altered title is done by the original film's producers. Hong Kong films often have very different English titles than what a literal translation of the Chinese would produce. This is done sometimes because of the oddness a literally translated title would produce. Sometimes the changes are made due to different cultural or marketing reasons. For example, Stephen Chow's new film "Kung Fu Hustle" is titled in Chinese as just "Kung Fu." This is good enough for Chinese audiences, who know Stephen Chow and his comedic approach, and are also familiar with all the kung fu films that he homages in this film. For English, the word hustle was added possibly to add a hint of comedy to the title and to keep it from sounding too generic. Sometimes title changes have nothing to do with translation. For example, the film that was released as "Danny the Dog" in the UK is being released in the US as "Unleashed." So sometimes is purely a marketing thing, or because a studio exec preferred a certain title.

03-27-05, 11:47 AM	#14
Gdrlv DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,536	Dead Alive was called Braindead in virtually every country but the US. __________________ "What's so fine about art?" -Old 97's XBox Live and PSN Handles: RDGVegas

03-27-05, 06:59 PM	#15
Kumar J DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Berlin Posts: 3,819	Japan changes almost all the Foreign release titles.Have no idea why and who desides all those stupid titles! __________________ Necessity is, after all, the mother of invention PSN Tag: zamoch1t

03-27-05, 10:50 PM	#16
Drexl DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 14,549	Léon was called The Professional in the U.S. However, probably due to the film's following of people familiar with the original title, both titles are on the American DVD releases.

03-28-05, 06:26 AM	#19
Trigger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 23,459	Don't forget about Cemetary Man... __________________ theomnom.com Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence? Sai Baba

03-28-05, 12:25 PM	#23
Jeraden DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,921	Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle appears to be called Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies in other places.

03-28-05, 04:02 PM	#24
sdk Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: norway Posts: 218	Harold and kumar is kalled "high school high" in norway. Now that is a bad title.