51 Hilariously Bad Translations Of Movie Titles That Are Better Than The Original

I’m a little obsessed with bad translations of movie titles (so much so I named my book after one of them). When American movies get sent abroad, foreign markets often have a difficult time with the cultural context, making the movie fit into their particular. consumer market. For instance, Israel tackled the problem of the title Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by replacing meatballs with something a little more locally popular and China had to change Pretty Woman, because the Chinese probably won’t know who Roy Orbison is.

What translators come up with instead is by turns mystifying and hilarious, often coming up with the most literal translation they possibly can (see: Step Up) or if you’re France, you just put the word sex in everything. Cruel Intentions becomes “Sexy Intentions” and The Banger Sisters is “Sex Fans of the Sixties.” But some, like Japan and Army of Darkness, totally defy explanation. Direct from IMDB, these are 51 of my personal favorites.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSgSe2GzDc&w=584&h=390]

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Italy: If You Leave Me, I Delete You

2. Boogie Nights

China: His Great Device Makes Him Famous

3. Step Up

France: Sexy Dance

4. Risky Business

China: Just Send Him To University Unqualified

5. Swingers

Sweden: Hey, Where Are the Babies?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzWmxjYNfz4&w=584&h=390]

6. Grease

Argentina: Vaseline

7. Free Willy

China: A Very Powerful Whale Runs To Heaven

8. Being John Malkovich

Japan: The Hole of Malkovich

9. The Parent Trap

Germany: A Twin Seldom Comes Alone

10. The Matrix

France: The Young People Who Traverse Dimensions While Wearing Sunglasses

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5U8suTUw0&w=584&h=390]

11. The Dark Knight

Spain: Night Of The Knight

12. Jersey Girl

Japan: I Love My Dad The Best In The World

13. Juno

Mexico: Juno: Grow, Run and Stumble

14. Army of Darkness

Japan: Captain Supermarket

15. Knocked Up

Peru: Slightly Pregnant

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PK7RSEzP9Q&w=584&h=390]

16. Get Smart

Taiwan: Is The Spy Capable Or Not?

17. Die Hard With A Vengeance

Denmark: Die Hard: Mega Hard

18. Lost in Translation

Portugal: Meetings and Failures in Meetings

19. Bad Santa

Czech Republic: Santa Is A Pervert

20. American Pie

Hong Kong: American Virgin Man

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcsirofJrlM&w=584&h=390]

21. Leon: The Professional

China: This Hit Man Is Not As Cold As He Thought

22. The Pacifier

Spain: A Supertough Kangaroo

23. The Sixth Sense

China: He’s A Ghost!

24. The Shawshank Redemption

China: Excitement 1995

25. The Horse Whisperer

Japan: Held by Wind in Montana

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knNCtO7gf7g&w=584&h=390]

26. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Malaysia: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Behaved Very Nicely Around Me

27. Girl, Interrupted

Japan: 17-Year-Old Girl’s Medical Chart

Germany: Cuckoo

28. Little Fockers

Thailand: Zany Son-In-Law, Zippy Grandkids, Sour Father-In-Law

29. Fargo

China: Mysterious Murder in Snowy Cream

30. Jaws

France: The Teeth From the Sea

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_aN0LAgMo&w=584&h=390]

31. Due Date

Thailand: Odd Couple, Wacky Trip, Go Together In Time For Birth

32. G.I. Jane

China: Satan Female Soldier

33. Drive Angry

Thailand: Super Speeding Cleaning Evil Accounts

34. The Producers

Italy: Please Do Not Touch the Old Women

35. Cat in the Hat

Croatia: Please, Do Not Touch His Hat!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPH0ct2oXBg&w=584&h=390]

36. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

Israel: It’s Raining Falafel

37. The Waterboy

Thailand: Dimwit Surges Forth

38. Dragnet

Germany: Floppy Coppers Don’t Bite

39. Leaving Las Vegas

Japan: I’m Drunk and You’re a Prostitute

40. As Good As It Gets

China: Mr. Cat Poop

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzhlV6Dzvus&w=584&h=390]

41. The Hangover

France: Very Bad Trip

42. The Full Monty

China: Six Naked Pigs

43. Annie Hall

Germany: Urban Neurotic

44. Twister

China: Run! Run! Cloudzilla!

45. No Strings Attached

France: Sex Friends

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PUwQ1JK_S4&w=584&h=390]

46. Superbad

Israel: Super Horny

47. Nixon

China: Big Liar

48. Dodgeball

Germany: Full of the Nuts

49. Weekend at Bernie’s

Spain: This Dead Person Is Very Alive

50. Never Been Kissed

Philippines: Because She’s Ugly

51. Pretty Woman

China: I Will Marry a Prostitute to Save Money 

Which are your favorites, TC readers? Sound off in the comments.

image – The Hangover/French Movie Poster

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