# Good Movies with Bad Titles **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396 "2001-08-08T02:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/21 "2001-08-09T04:29:32Z")
_Cradle Will Rock_ has an unfortunate title because people confuse it with the completely unrelated _Hand That Rocks the Cradle_. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/22 "2001-08-09T04:31:30Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by ThisYearsGirl \* **I always thought All About My Mother (Todo Sobre mi Madre) was a stupid title. I like it better in Spanish.** I think it makes sense since the plot of _All About Eve_ echoes all through the story. _Nurse Betty_ gets my vote for a good movie with a pitiful title. Maybe it worked though, because I was expecting much lighter fare and was caught off-guard. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/23 "2001-08-09T05:05:54Z")
Haven’t seen it, so I don’t know if it’s a good movie, but the title **Swordfish** does so little for my SO that he can never remember what the movie is called. He keeps calling the movie **Silverfish**. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/24 "2001-08-09T08:24:45Z")
> [@](#): > > _bnorton says:_ Uh, **Arc** , I know the premise of the movie. This thread is about good movies with bad names. The Big Red One is a stupid name for a movie. I suppose you’d prefer _Lee Marvin: Tough War Guy_? 😃 btw, 500 posts and I have my first SDMB nickname! Signing off, **Arc** 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/25 "2001-08-09T11:26:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boris B \* > **This is a great movie with a lame title. I mean, “Manhunter”?! So it’s about a hunter who’s a man? A cannibal? A foxey heterosexual woman with insatiable desires?** I would have preferred them using the original title of the book (a really great book). However, a “manhunt” is a pretty common term for a search for an escaped fugitive. So I never really questioned the title; kinda made sense. Though I haven’t seen the movie. The book focussed quite a lot on the detective searching and on how he searched for the killer. If the movie doesn’t do that, then the title might not make sense. My contribution: _ **The Lawnmower Man** _. Now, I haven’t seen it in years. However, I recall enjoying it when it first came out (I think I did, anyway). But the title…it just never sat right. I can’t think of a title that’s better, right now, but there has to be something. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/26 "2001-08-09T15:32:46Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThisYearsGirl \* > **I always thought All About My Mother (Todo Sobre mi Madre) was a stupid title. I like it better in Spanish.** > > I think it makes sense since the plot of _All About Eve_ echoes all through the story. > \*\* Yeah, but I never liked that title much either. And I thought Almost Famous was such a stupid title. Yes, I know it was the name of the tour, but it’s still dumb as hell. I didn’t think it was a particularly good film, though, but alot of people do, so I guess I can use it for this thread. Plus, it gave entertainment journalists the idea to start using that phrase to describe people. Almost clever there, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/27 "2001-08-09T15:46:55Z")
Isn’t it neat how things work out? I _just_ read Red Dragon over the weekend, though I’d long ago devoured (ahem) Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Cool to see it being discussed, even though it’s a 22-year-old book. I haven’t seen Manhunter though. Congrats on your nickname, Arc! I always thought The Big Red One sounded awfully phallic, which I suppose is appropriate for a war movie. What about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? For months I was calling it Sniping Tiger, Springing Dragon and variations thereof. Wonderful movie, of course. And hey, where was the dragon in THAT flick?? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/28 "2001-08-09T15:55:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by okielady \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > > > > I swear to God I am not making this up. > > > > The the Coliseum move multiplex here in Mississauga, there was a handwritten sign outside that on the top half was advertising that new positions were available. On the bottom half it announced the release of the upcoming Guy Ritchie flick. > > > > So the sign said “Now Hiring Snatch.” \*\* > > I saw a picture of a sign outside a movie theater featuring a triple play. Unfortunately, the marquee displayed the disturbing announcement: > > Erin Brockovich > Screwed > My Dog Skip > > I don’t even know if this is a good movie or not. It’s because of the title that I’ve never seen it. Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag. > I also thought that a movie as entertaining as The Opposite of Sex could’ve had a better title. \*\* Back in June, the Vic Theatre in Chicgao (A great second-run theatre) had the following marquee: Blow Tomcat Snatch I had to take a picture… ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/29 "2001-08-09T18:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ellen \* > \*\* > What about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? For months I was calling it Sniping Tiger, Springing Dragon and variations thereof. Wonderful movie, of course. And hey, where was the dragon in THAT flick?? 😉 \*\* My Chinese-speaking sister tells me that the title is in reference to a line of dialog in the film that does not appear in the English subtitles/dubbing because it is a play on words that only makes sense in Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Jargent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@Jargent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jargent)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/30 "2001-08-09T18:39:27Z")
I can’t stand “[Adjective] [Animal]” titles. For example: Albino Alligator Reservior Dogs Clay Pigeons I’m sure there are more. The moves may be ok. But damn, get a new title. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/31 "2001-08-12T10:42:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > **How about The Shawshank Redemption? Many have said that the title was most of the reason it didn’t have better box office. And the movie title was even shortened from the Stephen King story titled Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. After you see the movie or read the story, of course the title is perfect…** All year people were saying “What kind of a title is **Shawshank Redemption**?” To which I would say “What kind of a title is **Forrest Gump**?” Not everyone’s idea of a “good” film, but I remember the first time I saw an ad for **Dirty Dancing** , I thought, “How will anyone, with a straight face, ask for a ticket for that?” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/32 "2001-08-12T10:45:34Z")
Also, I remember being at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in, I think, '92, or maybe '91. A trailer was shown for a French epic called **My Father’s Glory**. Immediately followed by a trailer for its sequel, **My Mother’s Castle**. Snickers and giggles broke out around the theater, and a voice behind and to the right of me said, “My brother’s dirty socks”. ---
**Author:** ![dewpickedfrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea5d25/32.png) [@dewpickedfrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dewpickedfrog)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/33 "2001-08-17T03:02:10Z")
How about “Adventures in Babysitting”? It’s a great very funny little teenage movie starring Elisabeth Shue (with bit parts by Vincent D’Onofrio and Clark Johnson). And that’s a horrible wretched title for it. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/34 "2001-08-17T03:41:49Z")
Originally the title was to be “The Secret Value of Babysitting”. When I first saw a commercial for a movie called “Dirty Dancing”, I thought, “They have got to be kidding. Are they putting Skinemax movies in the theaters now?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/35 "2001-08-17T06:51:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ellen \* > \*\*What about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? For months I was calling it Sniping Tiger, Springing Dragon and variations thereof. Wonderful movie, of course. And hey, where was the dragon in THAT flick?? 😉 \*\* Duh! It was _hidden!_ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/36 "2001-08-18T00:54:08Z")
Doh! Can’t believe I repeated myself! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396/37 "2001-08-18T00:55:26Z")
I can’t believe I repeated myself! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-movies-with-bad-titles/75396.md?page=1)