3 Star Wars Wannabees That Fell Short To Replicate Lucas’ Success
These movies had some potential but their main problem was that they wanted to be Star Wars too much.
George Lucas’ space opera was an absolute hit when it came out in 1977 and it’s no surprise that many filmmakers attempted to repeat Lucas' success.
Let’s take a look at some of the exemplary Star Wars- inspired movies that failed to succeed.
Battle Beyond the Stars
If you're a fan of Star Wars, you might find this movie familiar because it shares many of the same elements. We've got a young hero, an evil empire, and a diverse group of characters working together to fight for a noble cause.
Battle Beyond the Stars didn't really hit the mark for most critics and audiences. They found it to be a low-budget knockoff of Star Wars, lacking in originality and depth. But here's the thing, despite its flaws, this movie has somehow garnered a devoted following among fans of cheesy sci-fi flicks. So, if that's your jam, you might want to check it out.
Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone
This 1983 sci-fi movie had some evident similarities to the epic Star Wars franchise — a group of unlikely heroes on a risky mission, weird and wonderful alien creatures, and an overall feeling of adventure. But unfortunately, it didn't quite achieve the same level of success as the Star Wars series or other big sci-fi hits.
The critics had a few gripes with the film. They felt that it lacked the depth and complexity of Star Wars, and that the characters and plot were a bit too formulaic and predictable. Plus, the film's low budget and limited special effects also held it back from reaching its full potential.
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn
The 1983 movie revolves around a hero named Dogen who embarks on a mission to take down the villainous Jared-Syn, who has seized control of the planet.
Many viewers have pointed out that Metalstorm bears a striking resemblance to Star Wars. To be fair, it does borrow some elements from the iconic space saga. However, while Star Wars achieved tremendous success, Metalstorm failed to reach the same heights.
The film hit theaters at a time when the sci-fi genre was flooded with similar movies, and it faced some tough competition from established franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek.