Mockbuster
A mockbuster (sometimes also called a knockbuster) is a film, often made with a low budget, created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or video outlets. Though the words are often used interchangeably, the term mockbuster implies a spoof or parody of the original film's premise, while knockbuster implies a more derivative (or knock-off) use of a successful film in the same genre.
Though it is possible to use properties of this sort to intentionally deceive consumers into mistakenly purchasing the derivative title (e.g., customer thinks he's buying Transformers, but is actually getting Transmorphers), another possible intention[1] is to provide legitimate add-on buying opportunity in the marketplace (e.g., customer enjoyed Will Ferrell's Land of the Lost and wants more in the same sub-genre, and buys/rents C. Thomas Howell's The Land That Time Forgot).
Sound-alike titling
Often, but not always, a mockbuster will use a title with a similar-sounding name to the mainstream feature it intends to piggy-back upon. For instance, the 2006 mockbuster Snakes on a Train traded on the publicity surrounding the theatrically released Snakes on a Plane.[2] The Asylum, a Hollywood, California based film studio, created Snakes on a Train, as well as Transmorphers, AVH: Alien vs. Hunter, and The Da Vinci Treasure.[1]
The films tend to fit the classic B movie model, produced on a small budget and largely derivative of the target film and other similar projects. The greatly reduced costs available using modern video and computer graphics equipment, and the tie-in to the mainstream film's advertising, has allowed the mockbuster to find a profitable niche in the home video market. Blockbuster, one of the largest DVD and video-game rental chains, gave implied support to the concept by purchasing 100,000 copies of The Asylum's version of War of the Worlds in time to coincide with the theatrical opening week of the Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise.[1]
History
Mockbusters/knockbusters have a long history in Hollywood and elsewhere[3][4][5][6]. For example, the 1959 Vanwick film The Monster of Piedras Blancas was a clear derivative of Creature From The Black Lagoon, complete with a creature suit by the same designer, Jack Kevan. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman spawned Village of the Giants; The Blob generated The Green Slime; Planet of the Apes begot Time of the Apes; The Land That Time Forgot spun Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds; Disney's film Gus and TV's Mister Ed were derived from the popular Francis the Talking Mule series of films. Star Wars gave derivative birth to a jumble of imitations -- Starcrash, among others.
GoodTimes Entertainment was notorious for making animated "mockbuster" counterparts to popular Disney films in the 90s.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Potts, Rolf (October 7, 2007). "The New B Movie". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Lumenick, Lou (July 26, 2006). "B-list knockoffs of summer hits are fool's gold". The New York Post.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Editorial Writer(s) (January 21, 2000). "Faux Film Festival". Suck.com. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Gagliano, Rico (March 17, 2008). "Bollywood's copycat film industry". Marketplace. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Faux Lee Artists". Entertainment Weekly. May 07, 1993. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Baby, Sean. "Turkish Star Wars, E.T., Wizard of Oz". Wave Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
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