3 Sci-Fi Movies That Tried to Replicate Star Wars, Failed Miserably
Trying to replicate a motion picture super-hit is not easy - and these three movies just couldn’t do it.
In 1977 George Lucas blew our minds with his groundbreaking space opera, now named Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. The success of the Star Wars franchise was so immense, it had other filmmakers trying desperately to emulate it - but not all of them could replicate the Star Wars magic.
Here are some Star Wars-influenced flicks that tried, but failed, to find the success that George Lucas did.
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
This movie might remind you in a big way of Star Wars, with its young hero, evil empire, and team of characters ready for any adventure. While it did try to echo that Star Wars vibe, both critics and audiences found it lacking in a big way. Despite this however, it's managed to amass a cult following among lovers of kitschy sci-fi. If you get a kick out of B-movie fun and space themed adventure stories, this one might be perfect for you.
Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone (1983)
This film tried to ride the Star Wars wave with its group of unlikely heroes, bizarre alien beings, and an overall sense epic excitement. However, it fell a bit short. Critics felt it to be largely predictable, with its formulaic characters and drab plot. The film's budget constraints and sub par special effects didn't help its cause either, leaving it in the dust of other big sci-fi hits.
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)
This movie tells the tale of our hero, Dogen, who sets off on a mission to take down the evil planet-seizing Jared-Syn. If that sounds familiar, it's because it has a very similar vibe to our beloved Star Wars franchise. While Star Wars soared to the top of the box office, however, Metalstorm got stuck being recognised by very few. Released at a time when the sci-fi scene was saturated with similar stories, it simply couldn't compete with the likes of Star Wars and Star Trek.
This trio of Star Wars-inspired films tried hard to capture the Force, but ended up missing the mark and being long forgotten by many. Regardless, each one holds an odd cult-classic status and proves that imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery.