By Drew Dietsch | Published
star Wars arguably the most influential film ever made. The epic space fantasy became the biggest film in the history of cinema and changed the entire landscape of the movie business.
Naturally, this led to many attempts to achieve George Lucas’ sci-fi fantasy. While some of those movies are better left in the past, there are actually plenty of flicks that stand the test of time and provide more than their fair share of entertainment.
I’m Drew Dietsch and these star Wars ripoffs worth watching.
Starcrash (1978)
Leave it to the world’s greatest film culture, the Italians, to find that one star Wars money released from theaters within a year star Wars started. I love Italians very, very much. And this spaghetti space from the beautiful boot is a B-movie blast.
Directed and co-written by legendary Italian genre legend Luigi Cozzi, Starcrash a whirlwind of low-budget joy, from the flashy costumes to the cheesy but charming effects, Starcrash revels in its theatrical beauty in such a good-hearted way that you can’t help but laugh.
And if you want to laugh more Starcrashyou can watch i Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode of the reboot series, not bad, but worth seeing Starcrash‘s deliberate silliness itself.
The Black Hole (1979)
Although we now know Disney as the king of all things entertainment, the Mouse House was actually in some financial trouble in the ’70s and ’80s. So much so that even Mickey needed to come in star Wars a ripoff game, but the movie Disney made ended up being very similar to Event Horizon of family space travel movies.
The Black Hole sees the crew of an exploratory spaceship cross the expected black hole and find a famous lost ship with one survivor, Dr. Hans Reinhardt, a brilliant scientist who creates an army of fearsome robots. Reinhardt, played with absolute brilliance by Maximilian Schell, plans to pilot a ship into a black hole and when the movie makes that promise, he’s treated to a psychological nightmare unlike anything you’d expect from the studio that brought it to you. Home on the Range.
You’ll get some tonal whiplash between the googly-eyed robot friends and Anthony Perkins’ cold-blooded death, but The Black Hole it’s so weird that everyone should give it a chance.
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
Roger Corman has gotten a lot of mileage out of releasing blockbuster successes like Alien again star Wars it was no different. War Beyond the Stars takes the concept of Akira Kurosawa’s classic story Seven Samurai take it to the stars. I’m sorry, beyond the stars.
What does it mean? War Beyond the Stars except for others star Wars ripoffs is a talent combined both in front of the camera but especially behind it. The characters include many character favorites – pick your favorite! John Saxon of Mine – but the script comes from the famous screenwriter John Sayles, the score by sci-fi icon James Horner, and James Cameron worked on the production design and special effects. This is truly a cavalcade of young and creative talents breaking loose.
It’s rare that a Roger Corman-produced picture isn’t entertaining on some level, though War Beyond the Stars it’s easily one of his must-see movies.
The Man Who Saved the World (1982)
It has been known for years as Turkey star Wars at fan gatherings, The Man Who Saved the World is notable for being a literal ripoff of star Wars as it has original footage from the original 1977 movie! What a bonkers factoid can do The Man Who Saved the World a decent portion of movie trivia, but the actual movie is even more nutritious.
Two space pilots crash land on a desert planet and must fight an evil witch and her minions while playing music from Star Wars AND Indiana Jones! How they got away with this is one of the funniest things in international cinema history.
The Man Who Saved the World it’s better seen than negotiated, and if you thought Starcrash was low budget, this is underground budget but so cheap that it ends up being more fun than most budget movies.
Krull (1983)
Now here’s an interesting one. However Krull it doesn’t use science fiction threads star Wars like all our previous movies, it still uses the superhero fantasy template that George Lucas made popular, and it really tries to be an effects show.
But, the real thing star Wars comparison of Krull comes with the idea of a symbolic weapon. star Wars it had a lightsaber too Krull he had a Glave. If nothing else, Krull succeeded in portraying a memorable weapon for the legend.
Although it was a box office and critical flop, Krull has built a healthy cult following over the decades. I tell you, that’s Glaive.
Yor, the Hunter from the Future (1983)
Okay, I promise this is our last B movie but it might be my favorite of them all. Based on an earlier Argentinian comic series star Wars, Yor, Hunter from the Future another Italian schlockfest that seems like another cheapie phonseman caveman – and really fun! – but it introduces a sci-fi apocalyptic twist and things only get better from there.
Big star Wars ripoff element Yor it really takes on the villain, the Overlord. He and his android army certainly have that Italian knockoff style we saw in Starcrash. The fact that both Yor‘s Overlord again Return of the JediEmperor was in theaters that same year and should tell you exactly what they were doing.
Through all the hardships, Yor it’s got plenty of low-key fun for anyone what Joe Bob Briggs would call an entry-level spirit. If I can’t enjoy the scene where Yor uses a dead flying dinosaur as a hang glider, I know I’m done for this world.
And that “World of Earth” song? He is the man.
The Last Starfighter (1984)
star Wars took a classic idea – a young hero entered a wonderland in the middle of a war – and gave it a kind of spin with special effects that audiences had never seen before. The Last Starfighter he took the same simple structure and brought it to what was there at the time.
Imagine playing a video game so well that it was revealed to be a recruiting tool for space pilots in an intergalactic war. That’s the idea behind it The Last Starfighterand it really sells the joy of that teenage fantasy brought to life. And the movie is just right for Dan O’Herlihy as Navigator Grig. Gotta love Grig.
It might not be a very cerebral movie though The Last Starfighter it is still a journey worth discovering.
Masters of the Universe (1987)
After ten years star Wars hit the big screen, ’80s exploitation studio Cannon Films tried their best to make their own sci-fi/fantasy pop hit Masters of the Universea toy line and cartoon series that was a huge success in the mid-’80s.
Look, I’ll be right with you: Masters of the Universe it’s not a great movie, it may not be great but it has another great cast of Emperor Palpatine and Frank Langella’s bonkers but committed take on the evil Skeletor. In fact (see what I did there?), it’s worth the entire price of admission.
Even bad movies have their bright spots, too Masters of the Universe nothing but glittering folly.
Flash Gordon (1980)
Last on our list of star Wars ripoffs bring the idea all full circle as star Wars it was directly inspired by the first one Flash Gordon film series of the 1930s and ’40s. So, when star Wars it was a smash, we got a new one Flash Gordon big movie production.
Unfortunately, the more retro cartoon tone and style of Flash Gordon it seemed corny and campy to critics at the time. Compared to star Warsfeel old. Thankfully, time has been very kind to the production of sweet film and pulpy glee. In many ways, Flash Gordon it may have started as a ripoff but it has solidified itself as colorful sci-fi entertainment for multi-generational fans.
And you know we love that Queen song.
There are others star Wars ripoffs do you think we need to see? Put your recommendations in the comments! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more compilations like this.
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