Top 15 Movies with Very Bad Titles

A movie’s title can greatly influence what viewers expect before the film even begins. Titles can sometimes be unclear, difficult to recall, or overly complicated with phrases or references that don’t make sense until later in the film. Studios may even change a movie’s title or marketing if initial reactions suggest audiences are confused about what the film is about.

Some movie titles have caused problems, and this is a look at the stories behind them. We’ll explore how those names were originally chosen, how they changed in different places, any last-minute adjustments made for marketing, and the consequences those choices had when the films were released.

‘Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever’ (2002)

The action movie ‘Ecks vs. Sever’ stars Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu as opposing agents. The title comes from a video game featuring the character Sever, and ‘Ecks’ was added later when the story shifted to focus on a rivalry. Although the script was revised many times, the core idea of a face-off between the two characters remained, eventually evolving towards a theme of teamwork.

The marketing campaign heavily emphasized a striking visual style and unique character names, creating a buzz that felt like a major event. However, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters compared to other action films with big stars at the time, and it became a well-known example of a film that confused audiences. When a video game adaptation was released, it used the same branding, keeping the confusing association alive for years.

‘Freddy Got Fingered’ (2001)

The film’s title references a joke made within the story about Freddy’s brother. It’s a deliberately suggestive phrase that signaled the movie’s over-the-top, shocking humor, leading to an adults-only rating in many countries. Tom Green not only wrote and directed the film, but also starred, bringing the same playful, prank-filled style that made him famous on television.

The film’s title caused problems for radio and TV ads, as announcers usually wouldn’t say it exactly as written. To capitalize on the attention, home video boxes featured the title in large, bold letters to make it stand out in stores. While international versions sometimes changed the promotional slogans, they generally kept the original title to maintain consistency worldwide.

‘Movie 43’ (2013)

I was so intrigued to learn about how this movie came to be! It’s made up of lots of short stories, each with a different director and a huge cast of famous faces. Apparently, the title started as just a temporary name while they were figuring things out, but they couldn’t come up with anything better, so it stayed! It’s funny because the number doesn’t actually *mean* anything within the film itself – it’s not about chapters or a running joke, just a name that stuck.

The movie’s marketing focused on its ensemble cast instead of its mysterious title, which didn’t give audiences any idea what the film was about. Because the title didn’t feature any recognizable stars or hint at the plot, many media reports emphasized that the film was being promoted primarily by its production company. This approach ultimately became a talking point in the industry, serving as a warning about marketing anthology films without a clear and compelling premise.

‘John Carter’ (2012)

This movie is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom novels, which feature a human transported to Mars. Originally, the film was going to be titled “John Carter of Mars,” just like the books. However, the studio decided to simply call it “John Carter” to attract a wider audience beyond science fiction fans, while still acknowledging the source material for those who knew the books.

The alteration caused a disconnect between the story’s space setting and how it was presented in promotional materials. Later commercials and box art reintroduced Mars through logos and taglines to make the story’s focus clearer. While the character’s initial story wasn’t changed, the simplified title became a frequently discussed example of the importance of clear branding when launching a franchise.

‘The Last Exorcism Part II’ (2013)

The title of this new movie is a bit ironic, since the first film seemed to wrap up the story. The filmmakers decided to keep the series name to connect it to the original, but also wanted to make it clear this was a direct continuation with the same main character. Another noticeable difference is the storytelling style – it moves away from the ‘found footage’ approach of the first movie to a more conventional format.

Marketing for the film highlighted Ashley Bell’s return and continued the story from where the last one left off. The title itself created confusing headlines, but this actually drew more attention to the movie. To address the strange wording, international posters often emphasized the character Nell’s name while still making it clear this was a sequel.

‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014)

This action-packed science fiction movie is based on the Japanese novel *All You Need Is Kill* by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. While promoting the film and showing it to test audiences, the phrase “Live Die Repeat” became very popular – it was featured prominently in advertising and eventually became the main title used on DVD and streaming covers. Many stores and online platforms listed the movie as “Live Die Repeat” with the original title, *Edge of Tomorrow*, appearing in smaller letters.

The film was known by two different names – a tagline and its official title – which caused confusion among viewers, with some remembering one and others the other. Later marketing efforts used both names to attract more people searching online. This situation became a well-known example of how a title can change after release, making it hard to distinguish between the film’s name and its advertising slogan.

‘Birdemic: Shock and Terror’ (2010)

James Nguyen independently created this eco-thriller, handling the writing, directing, and distribution himself. It became a cult favorite thanks to its low-budget, practical effects and sincere message about the environment. The title combines the words ‘bird’ and ‘epidemic’ to suggest a swift, widespread bird attack caused by problems with the natural world. The film initially played to small audiences, but grew in popularity through local screenings and positive word-of-mouth, eventually finding a late-night following.

The movie’s marketing – posters and trailers – prominently featured a combined word, something rarely seen in major film releases. The tagline ‘Shock and Terror’ deliberately referenced older, sensational films, signaling that this movie followed in that style. Later sequels continued this approach, establishing a distinct and somewhat controversial brand, particularly among fans of classic and independent cinema.

‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008)

The title of this James Bond film comes from a short story by Ian Fleming, but the movie’s plot is completely different. The title itself refers to the smallest amount of solace someone needs to recover from being betrayed, a theme that reflects Bond’s emotional state after his last assignment. The filmmakers chose this title to continue the series’ tradition of using Fleming’s original works whenever they can.

The new, less straightforward title required trailers to spend more time clarifying the story’s central conflict, unlike previous games with clearer names. The title’s phrase was visually emphasized in the music and opening credits to help viewers connect it with the game. Importantly, the title wasn’t translated into different languages, which often happens with titles that rely on symbolism or figurative language.

‘The Hottie & The Nottie’ (2008)

This romantic comedy features Paris Hilton and tells the story of two friends navigating their love lives together. The movie’s catchy, rhyming title uses trendy slang from the film’s dialogue and advertising. The plot revolves around makeovers and how people are perceived, which the filmmakers attempted to capture in the short, memorable title.

The film’s title proved difficult for family-oriented businesses to use in advertising due to its language, restricting some marketing options. It didn’t perform well at the box office and is now mostly remembered when discussing comedies from that time. When released internationally, the English title was often kept instead of being translated, maintaining brand recognition but losing the rhyme’s impact for audiences who didn’t speak English.

‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ (1995)

The film’s title comes from a message written on the back of a signed photo of Julie Newmar, which is featured early in the story. This message foreshadows the journey of the three main characters – played by Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo – who are drag performers traveling across the country. The title is actually a direct quote of the message seen in the film.

The movie’s name was often shortened to “To Wong Foo” in everyday conversation and on TV listings, even though the full title appeared on posters and in the opening credits. This shorter version stuck around thanks to frequent television airings. It’s a rare example of a line spoken within the film actually becoming its widely recognized title.

‘The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?’ (1964)

Director Ray Dennis Steckler made this quirky, low-budget horror musical with a deliberately eye-catching, headline-style title. The title’s unusual punctuation – lots of exclamation points and a question mark – has been consistently used in promotional materials and on home video releases. Critics at the time often commented on how long the title was, and this helped the film become a favorite for late-night showings and gain a dedicated cult following.

Because of limited space, the movie’s title was often shortened on theater signs and in newspaper listings. When the film was shown as part of double features, those accompanying movies also tended to have overly dramatic titles. Thankfully, recent efforts to restore the film have focused on using the complete, original title to ensure accuracy for researchers and fans of the genre.

‘Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood’ (1996)

This comedy from the Wayans brothers playfully combines elements and titles from popular 1990s crime and drama movies. The title itself is a joke, created by stringing together familiar phrases from those films. Marlon and Shawn Wayans star, and the movie is full of celebrity cameos, emphasizing its spoof nature.

Marketing materials like posters and video covers highlighted the first four words of the title in large letters, then stacked the rest to make it easy to read. TV ads usually showed a shorter version of the title spoken by a voiceover, while the full title appeared on screen. This strategy turned the title into both a running gag and a list of clues, clearly indicating who or what the film was making fun of.

‘The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain’ (1995)

This charming Welsh film, set during wartime, tells the story of a village determined to make their local hill officially a mountain. Hugh Grant stars as a mapmaker whose work unexpectedly leads to this quirky challenge. The film’s title perfectly captures the story’s central idea, much like a chapter heading in a fairytale.

Early advertisements for the film featured beautiful scenery and costumes, but the long title had to wrap around the artwork. When listed in TV guides and on home video boxes, it was often shortened to ‘The Englishman’ to save space. Surprisingly, the film did well internationally with very little need for translation or adaptation, as the story is easy to follow even for non-English speakers.

‘Joe Versus the Volcano’ (1990)

This romantic fantasy film, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, centers on an office worker who undertakes a dangerous mission – jumping into a volcano in the Pacific Ocean. The film’s title presents this dramatic event like a sporting match, reflecting the story’s overall fairytale quality. Writer and director John Patrick Shanley intentionally used mythical themes and imagery, and the title emphasizes this aspect of the film.

The movie’s trailers used a distinctive volcano image alongside the film’s title to help viewers remember it. Later, when people looked back at the actors’ work together, this unique pairing of image and title continued to be discussed. When the film appeared on TV and streaming services, the full title was usually shown because it wasn’t too long for program listings.

‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)

This story brings together two of DC Comics’ most famous heroes and hints at a future team-up. The use of ‘v’ – a legal term often written without a period – suggests a conflict between them. The subtitle ‘Dawn of Justice’ foreshadows the introduction of a larger group of heroes in a later movie.

The movie’s marketing featured striking posters where the logo was split across the faces of characters. Because the full title was often too long for theater signs, they also used simple posters focusing on individual characters with just one word. When the movie came out on home video, it kept the original title but added a label for an extended edition, adding a line to the packaging without altering the theater version’s wording.

Which titles would you add to the conversation in the comments?

2025-10-11 03:47