Scream (1996)
Changed From: Scary Movie
Reason: The title was too comedic for a slasher flick and was changed to reflect the tone of the film. The original title eventually went to the Wayan Brothers’ spoofs.
Should’ve Been Called: Perhaps something even more literal. Knife , or AAARRGH!
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)
Changed From: Ecks vs. Sever
Reason: Ecks vs. Sever just wasn’t ballistic enough.
Should’ve Been Called: Super Mega Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever
Annie Hall (1977)
Changed From: Anhedonia
Reason: Anhedonia is the inability to find anything to laugh at and reflects the protagonist's world view. The fear was that Woody Allen fans wouldn’t know what this word means.
They’re all too aware of it now…
Should’ve Been Called: The best alternative title that was suggested was It Had To Be Jew .
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Changed From: This Side Of The Truth
Reason: The Ricky Gervais comedy is about the invention of lying so they went with a more literal title. Bearing that in mind it…
Should’ve Been Called: Thinly Veiled Atheism Metaphor That Isn’t As Funny As It Should Be And Somehow Manages To Waste Edward Norton, Jason Bateman and Louis C.K.
Blade Runner (1982)
Changed From: Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?
Reason: The cumbersome title of the source novel was deemed ‘non-commercial’. The film went through several titles, including Android , Mechanismo , and Dangerous Days before settling on Blade Runner , named after the special police units featured in the film.
Should’ve Been Called: Robots In Disguise! - although it may not accurately reflect the tone of the film.
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Changed To: Pirate Radio
Reason: When the British comedy docked in the US, it changed its title to Pirate Radio . Sticking with the themes of rubbish sea-based puns then.
Should’ve Been Called: Dancing In The Shark … that’s actually harder than it looks.
Hitch (2005)
Changed From: The Last First Kiss
Reason: Market research suggested that the original title would alienate male movie-goers, who the creators of the rom-com were hoping would bulk up their audience.
It also enabled them to put the character Hitch, and therefore Will Smith, to the forefront of the marketing strategy, much like every film he's in.
Should’ve Been Called: That New Will Smith Film
Unforgiven (1992)
Changed From: The Cut-Whore Killings
Reason: The award-guzzling Clint Eastwood film’s original title was deemed to be ‘a bit much’.
The film was then momentarily called Whore’s Gold , followed by The William Munny Killings , before Eastwood himself suggested Unforgiven .
Should’ve Been Called: How Clint Got His Groove Back
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Changed From: The Tribal Rites of the Saturday Night
Reason: The title of the newspaper article the film was based on was considered too long and so the Bee Gees’ song Night Fever was used as inspiration to shorten it.
Should’ve Been Called: Saturday Night Rites is actually a pretty decent title.
Goodfellas (1990)
Changed From: Wiseguy
Reason: The book the film was based on was called Wiseguy , so naturally the film was too. That is until a television series under the same name was discovered, forcing the creators to come up with Goodfellas to replace it.
Should’ve Been Called: You can't really change anything about Goodfellas , can you?
