10 Sci-Fi Rip-Off Movies (That Messed Up What They Copied)
9. Atlantic Rim
You needn't be a genius to figure out what Atlantic Rim is ripping off.
Indeed, this derivative sci-fi slop produced by mockbuster factory The Asylum cribbed literally from Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, and raced through production fast enough that it actually ended up releasing mere days before del Toro's film itself.
Now, ripping off a $200 million blockbuster with a $500,000 budget was surely never going to produce worthwhile results, but even beyond sheer spectacle, Atlantic Rim has absolutely nothing to offer fans of its inspiration.
Pacific Rim isn't just an empty effects showcase - thanks to sharp performances from the likes of Rinko Kikuchi and Idris Elba it actually has a heartfelt, character-driven story.
Atlantic Rim? Not a chance. The script, which was rewritten nine times during production, is abject nonsense, with not a single memorable character. The visuals, if it even has to be said, don't even pass muster as kitschy fun: they're just embarrassingly low-rent.
Despite the near-universal scorn for the movie and the cynicism dripping from every pore of its creation, it evidently turned enough of a profit for The Asylum to produce a 2018 sequel, Atlantic Rim: Resurrection.