A movie’s title is supposed to get audiences excited about a film and, in some way, tell them what it’s about. The title needs to do its jobbefore audiences even see the opening sequence.With those burdens on the name, it’s no surprise that film titles go through revisions throughout the entire pre-production process. But what is even stranger is when titles get a makeover after the film has been released.
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Sometimes there’s a marketing explanation for the change, and sometimes it’s for much zanier reasons. But for whatever reason, there are plenty of examples of films getting a revamped title after it’s already hit theater screens.
‘Star Wars’ — Wait, which episode?
When the much anticipatedEmpire Strikes Backwas released in 1980, audience members were baffled when the title came up. They had no idea that the first film had been in the middle of the saga and that they were beginning Star Wars Episode V, not II. The previous film had been calledStar Warsbecause it had been decided that telling audiences they were starting with Episode IV would be too confusing (and they were probably right).
After that, they went back and renamed the first film, adding the Episode IV and its now-beloved subtitle (and sometimes title),A New Hopetoits unforgettable opening crawl.
‘Ghostbusters’ (2016) — A Tough Call To Make
When there’s a remake, or a reboot, of a cherished film series, there’s always much chatter about what to call the production. The all-female revamping ofGhostbusterswas no exception. However, the discussion trailed on after the film’s release, which eventually meant the movie was renamed in its credit sequence.
While the film opens with the director,Paul Feig’spreferredGhostbusters, the end of the credits refers to itself asGhostbusters: Answer the Call. And when the film came out on DVD, the more extended title was used, possibly to boost sales after the movie’s disappointing box office takings.
‘Begin Again’ (2013) — A Fresh Start
Sometimes a film’s name change comes as the final tweak before wide release. WithBegin Again, starringKeira KnightleyandMark Ruffalo, the movie started life with the more artsy and unwieldy title ofCan A Song Change Your Life?It was then rechristened when The Weinstein Co. picked up the distribution rights after its debut at the Toronto Film Festival.
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ProducerAnthony Bregmantold Hollywood Reporterthat the title change came from audience research. They didn’t think the title was reflective of the film, so the studio changed it toBegin Againfor the wider release.
Name changes are sometimes used to prevent confusion, like the 1992 low-budget gore-festBraindeadfromPeter Jackson. It was first released in Jackson’s home country of New Zealand under the original title, but when it was due to be released in the US, the producers discovered there had already been a movie three years earlier with the nameBrain Dead.
In response, they changed the title toDead Alive. Unfortunately, the modification didn’t prevent the film from being a financial failure. It wasn’t until after Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy came out that it found a second life.
When a film is a local hit but doesn’t get wide attention, it gets a bit tricky when the sequel goes global. That’s what happened withMad Max, which was popular in Australia but didn’t register a blip with American audiences. So when the sequel,Mad Max 2,was released in 1981, it was marketed to US audiences asThe Road Warriorso as not to confuse them.
The name change worked. The rebranded sequel proved very popular in America and is still afavorite dystopian film among critics and audiences alike. And the name change made it easy for the new fans to go back and rediscover the original on VHS.
‘The Mighty Ducks’ (1994) — Playing Around
A renaming can cause future trouble that requires even more scrambling. WhenThe Mighty Duckscame out in 1994, some countries like Australia saw it under the nameChampions. So when the sequel came out, those countries got it asThe Mighty Ducks, which of course, was confusing as the first movie had been released in many other places under that name.
To avoid even more confusion, it was decided the worldwide home video release of the first movie would be released titledThe Mighty Ducks Are the Champions. Despite the awkward name games, the Ducks franchise kept its stamina and remainspopular with its recent Disney+ live-action TV show.
‘Pirate Radio’ (2009) — Still Sunk
Success cannot be guaranteed even with a total rethink and a name change.The Boat that RockedwithPhilip Seymour Hoffmanunderwent a complete re-edit after it failed to do well in the UK in the hopes that it would do better in the US market. The film’s moniker was replaced with the pithierPirate Radioand a shorter runtime.
Unfortunately, the reworked film still didn’t land with audiences, andBox Office Mojo reportsthat the film only made $8 million US against its budget of $50 million.
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981) — For Consistency’s Sake
George Lucasloves to revisit and improve on his past work. Although it doesn’t seem possible, he even went back to the almost perfect filmRaiders of the Lost Arkand, in his role as producer, had it re-released asIndiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, unlike other re-edit decisions, he’s made, this one caused barely a ripple amongst the fandom.
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The reason was that the later films all started with the initialIndiana Jones and…,and he didn’t actually change any frame in the movie, not even the title card. It was just the name on the video sleeve, so few folks cared very much.
‘Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey’ (2020) — A Bird By Any Other Name
Regardless of how good a movie actually is, a solid movie title is fundamental to getting people in theaters to see it. So it was withBirds of Prey (or the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). When it opened to positive critical reviews and disappointing box office sales, the studio decided to make the title snappier, changing it toHarley Quinn: Birds of Prey.
The new title was meant to be easier to find by both theatergoers and search engines. Plus, it was straight to the point, telling audiences who the film was about at the beginning instead of burying it at the end.
‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014) — Right The First Time
Very occasionally, the title of a movie gets confirmed by the audience, not the producers. WithEdge of Tomorrowand its very well-chosen taglineLive Die Repeat, it was the tagline that stuck with viewers and marketers alike. And while it was the original favorite title of directorDoug Liman, it took the popular support of the public to make the unofficial switch.
Even though the movie is still officially calledEdge of Tomorrow, movie websites likeIMDbandRotten Tomatoeslet visitors find the film with either title, a concession to how well known it is by just its tagline.
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