Whenever a movie has a modicum of success, the conversation around a sequel immediately starts up. If a studio believes there is more money to be made off the inherent familiarity that comes with a sequel, then they will often focus on making them, even at the expense of potentially trying original projects.
There is, however, an even more egregious reliance on a successful film. While lots of movies have ripped off whatever was popular at the time, these movies went one step further, and legitimately tried to claim kinship with whatever film was popular or successful. Here are 10 movies that literally claimed to be sequels to movies they weren’t connected to in foreign markets.
Dawn Of The Dead - Zombi 2 (Italy)
Fans of zombie horror probably know about Italian horror legend Lucio Fulci’s gory classic Zombi. An impressive standalone movie, that was then marketed as a sequel to Romero’s hit film and retitled Zombi 2, due to Romero’s film being called Zombi in Italy.
There were other smaller zombie films to use the phrase “of the dead” in an effort to ride the wave created by Dawn of the Dead, but none were as popular. In the years since its release, Fulci’s film has gained a cult following and it has come out that both he and Romero were unhappy with the marketing of it.
Last House On The Left - A Bay of Blood (Italy)
This Italian splatter film was released under four titles. A Bay of Blood, Blood Bath, Twitch of the Death Nerve, and the one that gets it a spot on the list, Last House on the Left Part 2. What sets this film apart from most of the schlock on the list, is that it had a successful run without the attempt to cash-in on Craven’s horror film.
The movie was one of the most violent ever made at the time and has been recognized as a major influence on the slasher genre. There are even notable homages to this film in the more popular horror franchise Friday the 13th.
Planet Of The Apes - Time of the Apes (Japan)
Japan went after the success of the apes series not once, but twice. First, in the 70s, the series Army of the Apes ran on Japanese television as a pseudo-sequel to the American classic. Then, in 1987, a movie titled Time of the Apes was released in Japan, in another effort to become part of the franchise.
Both properties are only loosely connected to the actual events of the American version, and neither was well-received on release.
The Exorcist - Return Of The Exorcist (Multiple)
This Italian horror film was made and released under a plethora of titles. In most parts of the world, it was called Return of The Exorcist. Never claiming to be a direct sequel to the classic, it is obvious that it was trying to trick fans of The Exorcist which came out only two years earlier.
Then there are the other titles. A personal favorite is Naked Exorcism, which is worth mentioning for obvious reasons but doesn’t exactly get the film onto this list either. Oh, here it is, In Greece and a number of other small markets, the film was titled The Exorcist Number 2, and in the UK the film released as The Exorcist 3 at one point.
The Hills Have Eyes - Mind Ripper (Multiple)
While the low budget horror film Mind Ripper premiered in the U.S. on HBO in 1995 under that exact title, in other countries it went for a much bigger claim. The movie was titled The Hills Have Eyes III in multiple markets, in an attempt to capitalize on the success of Wes Craven’s horror series.
But why stop there? The film was also released in certain areas that never received the actual Hills Have Eyes sequel, so Mind Ripper was released in those places as a sequel to the original film. Meaning the film was simultaneously claiming to be the second and the third of the same franchise.
Alien - Alien 2: On Earth (Italy)
While never actually claiming to be a sequel to Ridley Scott’s breakout horror film, this Italian schlock film called itself Alien 2 only one year after the other film’s release. Plus, no matter how hard you look, there is no Alien 1 that connects to this one, making its clear attempt to steal fans of Scott’s film even more obvious.
Sharing zero similarities to the popular franchise, this wild film played on late cable often and likely tricked new viewers every night. In the years since it has been found out, it has actually gained a slight following just for being such a ridiculous movie on its own.
Terminator - Shocking Dark (Italy)
If it wasn’t clear that Italian cinema of the 80s knew no shame, this one should cement the argument. Shocking Dark went under all of the following titles: Terminator 2, Terminator II, Aliens 2, Alienators, and Contaminator. The film was most often advertised as a sequel to James Cameron’s Terminator, but the actual plot is a clear ripoff of the other Cameron classic, Aliens.
Just in case someone still isn’t sold on this masterpiece, it should be known that partway through, a terminator does show up through a time portal, and he sides with the aliens for no apparent reason.
Demons - The Ogre (Italy)
The most confusing choice of this entire list comes with Lamberto Bava’s cult classic horror film. The Italian movie became wildly popular both in Italy and America, leading to a true sequel, also made by Bava a few years later. Now, just when it seems like Italy is finally going to be the one to get ripped off in this one, things stop making sense.
Bava himself takes a different project he directed and simply releases it as Demons 3 in some areas. The director makes an entirely unrelated film and then attempts to cash in on his own previous film’s success. Even more than Shocking Dark, this film proves that entertainment lawyers in Italy need to find a new profession.
Jaws - Cruel Jaws (Italy)
In a baffling choice by, you guessed it, Italian filmmakers, this shark thriller was renamed not Jaws 2, but Jaws 5. The people behind this “film” truly believed they would find more success by marketing it as a sequel to Jaws: The Revenge.
In maybe the least shocking twist on this list, the film is actually on par with the actual later Jaws sequels, mainly based on the fact that its budget and style make it more fun to watch.
The Evil Dead - A Lot Of Titles (Italy)
One of the greatest campy horror films of all time spawned the strangest lineage of films possible. Hold on to something. First, The Evil Dead received a release in some areas titled Ghosthouse and La Casa. This lead to Italian filmmakers, years later, making a film called Ghosthouse, and then releasing it as Evil Dead 3 to capitalize on the pure confusion. They didn’t stop there, releasing an entire line of La Casa films. Almost all of the La Casa films were originally made as other projects, meaning that Italy finally outdid itself by retitling films into a retitled film in an effort to capitalize on the popularity of a movie they had nothing to do with.
My head is spinning and I did the research. Here is a series of titles that have been retitled to be in the Evil Dead, La Casa, and Ghosthouse franchises. Many of these were given all three titles at some point during their runs.
Ghosthouse, The Witchery, House of Witchcraft, House 3, House IV, The Ogre (Yes, the same one that was a Demons sequel earlier), House of Lost Souls, Beyond Darkness, and The Last Horror Show.
There it is. If you are a massive Evil Dead fan and those official two sequels, a series, and one remake aren’t enough for you, congratulations, you’ve got some watching to do. Be warned, most of these only connect by having a house somewhere in the film or the title.
