Films with the Same Name but Vastly Different Stories

We've all gotten excited to watch a movie that we know we've seen before. You click on the name and get ready to watch it but when the opening scene starts you realize this isn't the same film. Not even remotely close. These films have the same name but vastly different stories. This may seem rather strange but it's quite common in the film industry. Movies that are one-offs, meaning they aren't part of a franchise or merchandise, don't have trademark rights to a name. This makes it common for films to use similar or the same names repeatedly.

To gather this list of films with the same name but vastly different stories, 24/7 Tempo consulted several informational entertainment websites. These include IMDb, Collider, and ScreenRant. The truth is, duplicate names are an entertainment industry pattern, whether you enjoy watching documentaries, horror films, action flicks, or romance. (Discover the 20 best romance movies of all time.)

The earlier "Beautiful Creatures" was released in 2000 and is a thriller comedy. Leading roles are taken by Rachel Weisz, Susan Lynch, and Iain Glen and it is directed by Bill Eagles. The plot revolves around one young woman, Dorothy, witnessing another young woman, Petula, being abused by her boyfriend. Dorothy intervenes and accidentally kills him! There is plenty of dark humor for audiences to enjoy.

The later "Beautiful Creatures" from 2013 is a romance thriller directed by Richard LaGravenese. Some noteworthy cast members include Emmy Rossum, Alice Englert, Viola Davis, and Emma Thompson. The PG-13-rated film is about a young man named Ethan who's desperate to escape the small town where he was raised.

As he tries to figure out how he can run away from boredom and misery, he crosses paths with an interesting young woman who captivates him at first sight. Together, they begin uncovering ugly, dark secrets kept by both of their families.

The first "Cake" movie was released in 2005 and is a comedy romance. The plot revolves around a witty travel writer who has to take over a wedding-based magazine formerly run by her father. Even though she doesn't want to do it at first, the experience ends up teaching her a lot about love. Stars include Sandra Oh, Taye Diggs, and Heather Graham.

In 2014, another movie called "Cake" was released. The film featured Jennifer Aniston in the leading role. The R-rated drama was directed by Daniel Barnes and also included Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington, and Felicity Huffman in the cast. This film was written with serious themes in mind. It's about a middle-aged woman contemplating suicide after living for several years with chronic pain. When she finds out that a member of her support group killed herself, it sparks her morbid interest in the subject.

The early "Best Laid Plans" movie from 1999 is a thriller crime movie. The plot follows a group on the run from the law but making very little effort to go straight. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, and Alessandro Nivola and is directed by Mike Barker.

"Best Laid Plans" from 2012 is a dramatic action movie directed by David Blair. You might recognize actors like Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Lee Ingleby, and Stephen Graham in the cast lineup. This unrated movie is loosely based on the novel "Of Mice and Men," written by John Steinbeck.

It takes place in a town called Nottingham and sheds light on the life of a crime boss. He finds himself in massive debt with nowhere to turn. Fearing for his life, he decides to manipulate a mentally ill individual he unexpectedly meets. The crime boss's willingness to use someone with a mental disorder makes him an incredibly difficult protagonist to root for.

The first "Thunderstruck" movie was released in 2004 and is a comedy musical directed by Darin Ashton. The plot follows five teenage boys who are obsessed with the rock band AC/DC. When their best friend dies, they vow to get him buried next to AC/DC band member Bon Scott. It takes a while, but eventually, they succeed. The stars include Stephen Curry, Ryan Johnson, and Damon Gameau.

2012's "Thunderstruck" is a comedy sports film directed by John Whitesell. One of the big draws for this flick is that it features a real NBA star in the cast lineup. Kevin Durant is the star of 2012's "Thunderstruck." Other actors in the movie include Taylor Gray, Jim Belushi, and Brandon T. Jackson.

The movie is about a young basketball player who's uncoordinated and awkward. He magically absorbs athletic talents from a professional NBA player. He finally has a chance to impress everyone at his high school. The NBA player, on the other hand, is faced with the possibility of losing his professional career.

"Twilight" from 1998 is a thriller film, directed by Robert Benton. Interestingly enough, Benton was also one of the screenwriters. He knew exactly how he wanted his written vision to play out on the silver screen. Some of the biggest actors in the film include Susan Sarandon, Reese Witherspoon, and Gene Hackman.

It's all about a retired detective who agrees to take on one more job. He's supposed to be relaxing in his older years, but the risk is worth it to him. The job takes him by surprise when he realizes that some of his forgotten traumas will undoubtedly resurface as he tries to move forward.

"Twilight" from 2008 is a romantic fantasy directed by Katherine Hardwick. The movie stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner in the leading roles. These three actors play teenagers stuck in a love triangle. The triangle consists of a human girl, a vampire, and a werewolf.

Bella Swan relocates two Forks, Washington, and falls in love with Edward Cullen. At first, she's completely unaware that he's a vampire who's been alive for 108 years. His aging process stopped as soon as he turned into a vampire, which means living life as a high school kid is one of the easiest ways he can continue blending in with the rest of the world. Their love for each other is passionate and intense. The story gets more captivating thanks to the involvement of a teenage werewolf named Jacob Black who loves Bella just as much.

The first "Frozen" movie was released in 2010 as a horror crime film. It was directed by Adam Green and included actors like Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, and Kevin Zegers in the leading roles. 2010's "Frozen" is about a group of young skiers who get stranded on a ski lift. Since they're trapped on the ski lift in the middle of a snowstorm, it's nearly impossible for anyone on the ground to see their deathly struggle. They're forced to make life-or-death decisions amongst each other as a way of trying to survive.

Just three short years later in 2013, another movie called "Frozen" was in theaters. This movie is arguably more popular since it's a Disney movie that fits into the musical fantasy genre. The animated flick is directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. It includes tons of talented voice actors like Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Jonathan Groff.

2013's "Frozen" is about two sisters named Elsa and Anna who struggle to get along. Their issues stem from the fact that Elsa isn't comfortable sharing her darkest secrets with Anna. Because of that, Anna feels rejected since she's always left in the dark. Elsa only wants to keep Anna safe by hiding her ice powers until she must tell the truth.