10 Movie Ripoffs Better Than The Original
5. Cars Is Better Than Doc Hollywood
Pixar's Cars may seem like a wholly original IP on the surface, but it didn't take long for many to realise that the plot is a thinly-veiled riff on the 1991 Michael J. Fox-starring rom-com Doc Hollywood.
In that film, Fox's protagonist is a hotshot doctor who crashes his car while cruising through a podunk town, forcing him to stick around in order to make things right, where he comes to appreciate small-town values and re-evaluate his high-flying life.
That's... basically the exact plot of Cars from start to finish - subbing out an arrogant doctor for an arrogant race car - to the extent that the "inspiration" is basically indisputable, even with the shift from live-action to animated form.
It has to be said, though, that Cars is far and away the better of the two films. Doc Hollywood's an entertaining enough ride, but Cars' dazzling animation, excellent voice cast, and thrilling race scenes make it a no-brainer winner.