24 Incredible Movies That Were Almost Ruined by Their Awful Titles

A movie may be a cinematic masterpiece, but there’s a chance it may get overlooked if the title doesn’t immediately capture the audience. Someone recently asked, “what are good movies with bad titles” and we’ve listed the top 25 answers below.

1917

1917 Universal Studios
Photo Credit: Universal Studios.

“Imagine if every historical film was simply titled the year it took place. Dumb.”

Sir Sam Mendes says his grandfather Alfred spent two years in the muddy trenches, which left him with a lifelong habit of washing his hands frequently. He didn’t talk about his wartime experiences until he was in his 70s.

The Nice Guys

The Nice Guys Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Yeah, that’s a stupid title. Is it worth watching?”

“Very much worth watching. Very funny!”

Rush Hour

Rush Hour New Line Cinema
Photo Credit: New Line Cinema.

“Rush Hour has almost nothing to do with the movie, except that the girl is abducted during rush hour. Nothing else takes place in traffic. It sounds like it should be an alternate title to Speed.”

“I’ve avoided watching it for years because I assumed it was just car chases and stuff.”

No Country for Old Men

No Country for Old Men Miramax
Photo Credit: Miramax.

“I thought it was some boring drama about retirement. That presumption kept me from watching it for years.”

“That movie was wild. I watched it with no info on its story or trailer. I was blown away by what I was watching because the title doesn’t fit at all.”

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Pretty sure it flopped based on the name alone, but such a good movie with a stacked cast.”

“It’s an amazing movie. It’s a very slow character study. Maybe they didn’t want loads of people watching it expecting a normal genre western and being annoyed.”

The Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow - Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“The poster (and DVD cover) literally says Live. Die. Repeat. I honestly thought that was the name of the movie for the longest time. It would’ve been better than the actual title!”

“The tagline was too prominent for the posters; I think they actually changed the title to Live Die Repeat: The Edge of Tomorrow for home media.”

Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Slevin The Weinstein Company
Photo Credit: The Weinstein Company.

“Came here to say Lucky Number Slevin. In Australia, they changed it to ‘The Wrong Man.'”

“Lucky Number Slevin is my favorite movie of all time. Glad to see it. Doesn’t seem well known despite its cast.”

A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda MGM Studios
Photo Credit: MGM Studios.

John Cleese chose the name “Archie Leach,” Cary Grant’s real name, because he was born twenty miles away from where Grant was born and because it was the closest Cleese could get to being Grant.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“I wouldn’t say it was a terrible title, but definitely a weird and unfitting one. However, the movie was good!”

“The Man From UNCLE would have had multiple sequels if the title clicked better with the masses.”

Primal Fear

Primal Fear Paramount Pictures
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“Generic name for an excellent movie with one of the best twists.”

“Ugh! That movie was one of many from the trend of naming movies as adjective + noun, with no helpful description of the movies themselves. The movie itself was good, though.”

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer  

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer A24
Photo Credit: Deer A24.

“Agree. It’s a dumb name, but actually a good, creepy movie.”

“That whole movie felt try-hardy for a David Lynch vibe, especially the title.”

The Shawshank Redemption 

The Shawshank Redemption Columbia Pictures
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

“It’s obviously very well-regarded now, but, on release, that title hurt it at the box office.”

“Stephen King’s original title is Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption. Very glad it wasn’t called that either.”

“I can’t believe The Shawshank Redemption isn’t the top.”

How to Train Your Dragon

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“Even as a kid, I didn’t want to see this movie (which eventually became one of my favorites) due to the name!”

“They named it that because it’s based on a book, but the book and film have completely different plots, so it still doesn’t make sense.”

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the title of Pauline Kael’s second collection of movie reviews. He asserts that these words are “the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of movies.” The quote is a simple way to say the famous Godard quote: “All you need to make a film is a girl and a gun.”

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water Searchlight Pictures
Photo Credit: Searchlight Pictures.

“The Shape of Water is too pretentious a title. I think they named it to appeal more at the Oscars. ‘The Amphibian Fishman from the Outer World’ sounded too vivid but would have been more accurate.”

Timecrimes

Timecrimes - Karbo Vantas Entertainment
Photo Credit: Karbo Vantas Entertainment.

Timecrimes sounds a little too pulpy for the sombreness of the movie, but we can blame that on translation from Spanish.”

“Yep, “Los Cronocrimenes” sounds way better. “Timecrimes” sounds like an action film. Still a very good sci-fi thriller.”

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“I always thought it sounded like a ridiculous title.”

“I love that movie. It has so many layers to it and keeps you on your toes till the end.”

“Yeah! It had me hooked from start to finish.”

Go

Go Columbia Pictures
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

“It’s not a masterpiece, but a fun cast and a snapshot of 1999, going to raves.”

“It’s brilliant, but the title is really odd. The only time it fits is when they’re in the car, gunning the accelerator to get away from the drug dealer. And even that’s a stretch.”

Lars And The Real Girl  

Lars And The Real Girl MGM Studios
Lars And The Real Girl MGM Studios.

“This movie was a delightful surprise. Be a weirdo anytime you want, Ryan.”

To help Ryan Gosling stay in character, the real doll was treated like an actual person, as is done by the characters in the movie. She was dressed privately in her own trailer and was only present for scenes that she was in.

Sexy Beast

Sexy Beast Fox Searchlight Pictures. FilmFour
Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures. FilmFour.

“My brother gets his bill and calls his wife. Sexy Beast!? It took them a month to connect the dots, called me, and asked about the movie I watched.

The Linguini Incident

The Linguini Incident Isolar
Photo Credit: Isolar.

“WOW, I love this movie & NO ONE EVER KNOWS IT!”

“I just looked it up on Just Watch and in my public library. Neither has any record of it, though it is on IMDB. I’m guessing it’s not about pasta, then?!”

Death To Smoochy

Death To Smoochy Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Absolute classic Robin Williams. A MUST-SEE.”

“When he gets asked what his response is to those who say he has anger management issues, he just says, ‘Who the hell said that?!’ I love it.”

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Columbia Pictures
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

“‘I know what you did last summer too’ would make more sense.”

“I know how to improve it: ‘I know what you did last summer, which is a subsequent summer to the summer in which I previously knew what you did.’ Perfect.”

The Power of the Dog

The Power Of The Dog Netflix
Photo Credit: Netflix.

To get into the character, Benedict Cumberbatch didn’t wash for almost two weeks at the outset of the shoot. He also started chain smoking, and he felt sick after each take. He went so far that he got nicotine poisoning three times.

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Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men) Warner Bros. Television
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Television.

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Avengers_ Endgame
Photo Credit: Marvel Studios.

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T-1000
Photo Credit: StudioCanal.

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Heat Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

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Robin Williams - Good Will Hunting Miramax
Good Will Hunting Miramax.

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Source: Reddit