Who came up with this title?
There are countless films out there that have questionable titles.
From not having anything to do with the plot to being completely made-up words or difficult-to-pronounce names, the following films have critics everywhere wondering who was in charge of the title.
“Phffft” (1954)
That’s it, that’s the title.
The Hollywood Reporter said “the dismissive tone reads like the movie was named by a passive-aggressive teenager,” and we couldn’t agree more.
This comedy romance is about a divorced couple who keep running into each other around town, while they pursue new partners.
Columbia Pictures, Phffft (1954)
‘Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx’ (1970)
It’s not often you find a statement of fact as a title for a film.
This Gene Wilder comedy is about a young man who struggles with employment and romance, but you wouldn’t get that from the title.
(UMC), Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970)
‘Blackenstein’ (1974)
This blaxploitation horror film is loosely inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and was apparently meant to cash in on the success of Blacula, which premiered two years prior.
Frisco Productions Limited, Blackenstein (1973)
‘Zardoz’ (1974)
This sci-fi film is named after a bloodthirsty floating stone head that travels across the postapocalyptic landscape of a futuristic Earth.
It didn’t get the best reviews, and the title may play a small part.
Twentieth Century, Zardoz (1974)
‘Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo’ (1984)
Critics say the title went off the deep end as soon as they added, “boogaloo.”
The break-dancing film’s predecessor was simply titled: Breakin’.
The Cannon Group, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
‘Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes’ (1984)
It’s often said that this title has entirely too many words.
In case you couldn’t tell, this adventure drama film is about a missing heir of a respected family who had been raised by animals in the African jungle.
Warner Bros., Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
‘C.H.U.D.’ (1984)
The title of the horror flick stands for “cannibalistic humanoid underground dweller,” which, although still a mouthful, sounds far more interesting than the nonsense acronym.
New World Pictures, C.H.U.D. (1984)
‘Leonard Part 6’ (1987)
This title gives absolutely no information. It sounds more like the name written on the side of an old home video.
The parody spy movie stars Bill Cosby as a CIA agent turned restaurateur who battles a vegetarian trying to take over the world with magical meat given to him by a gypsy.
Also, Parts 1 through 5 apparently don’t exist. So, there’s that, too.
Columbia Pictures, Leonard Part 6 (1987)
‘F.A.R.T: The Movie’ (1991)
Well, at least the crude title belongs to a movie that is about exactly what you would expect it to be about.
In this comedy, the husband loves to fart and the wife hates it. That’s pretty much it.
Golden West Films, F.A.R.T. The Movie (1991)
‘V.I. Warshawski’ (1991)
Critics say the name choice is the problem here. Apparently, many people struggle to pronounce the private eye’s last name.
Hollywood Pictures, V.I. Warshawski (1991)
‘Operation Dumbo Drop’ (1995)
Several bubbles were burst when people found out that this film is actually not the sequel to Disney’s animated classic, Dumbo.
Walt Disney Pictures, Operation Dumbo Drop (1995)
‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar’ (1995)
There had to be several other title options for this one.
This comedy drama is about three drag queens who travel cross-country until their car breaks down and they become stranded in a small town.
Universal Pictures, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
‘The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain’ (1995)
This title reads more like a haiku than a title of a Hugh Grant WWI film.
It’s about a man who has to tell a small town that their mountain is actually only a hill. We’ll just leave it at that.
Miramax Films, The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain (1995)
‘Santa With Muscles’ (1996)
At first, the title sounds a bit like an oxy-moron. That is, until you find out that Santa is played by Hulk Hogan.
Some critics go as far as saying the title suggests the movie may be for a more rated R type of audience. Others believe the entire movie makes no sense.
Legacy Releasing, Santa with Muscles (1996)
‘8 Heads in a Duffel Bag’ (1997)
Do we even have to tell you what this movie is about? The title tells it all.
Joe Pesci plays a mobster who is charged with transporting a duffel bag full of severed heads to his boss.
Orion Pictures, 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997)
‘Teaching Mrs. Tingle’ (1999)
Critics say the title for this teacher-student dramedy sounds more like a lesser-known Dr. Suess book. And we couldn’t agree more.
Miramax, Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999)
‘eXistenZ’ (1999)
Many people claim they struggled to pronounce this title. It’s one thing to make up words, but to add random capitalization in the mix is just taking it too far.
The Movie Network, Existenz (1999)
‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ (2000)
This comedy starring Sean William-Scott and Ashton Kutcher is about two dopeheads who misplace their car. The title is taken from a line in the movie.
Critics are undivided on whether this title is suitable or ridiculous.
Twentieth Century, Dude, Where's My Car (2000)
‘Freddy Got Fingered’ (2001)
Of the crudely titled film, critic Roger Ebert wrote: “This movie isn't the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't below the bottom of the barrel. This movie doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels.”
And many others are in agreement.
Regency Enterprises, Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
‘Riding in Cars With Boys’ (2001)
Though the movie itself isn’t bad, critics say the title doesn’t exactly create much anticipation of excitement.
Riding in Cars With Boys is a coming of age story starring Drew Barrymore.
Columbia Pictures, Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
‘From Justin to Kelly’ (2003)
If you didn’t know what this movie was about, your imagination could take you to make places.
The musical starred American Idol Season 1 winner and runner-up, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini—so that’s where the title comes from, in case you were wondering.
19 Entertainment, From Justin to Kelly (2003)
‘Gigli’ (2003)
Critics claim the Kevin Smith movie, which was made at the height of the Bennifer craze, boasts a title that “reads like an Italian dessert.”
Columbia Pictures, Gigli (2003)
‘I *heart* Huckabee’ (2004)
The actual title of this film has a heart emoji in there—which some critics find annoying.
The Hollywood Reported said, “David O. Russell may be one of the few directors brave enough to use an emoji in the title of his movie.”
Qwerty Films, I Heart Huckabees (2004)
‘Lucky Number Slevin’ (2006)
Critics everywhere claim the title reads like a typo—that is, until you know what the movie is about. The thriller’s main character’s name is “Slevin.”
The Weinstein Company, Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ (2009)
For the moviegoers who are unaware of the film’s plot, they may be led to believe that their movie-watching experience will consist of them staring at men who are, in turn, staring at goats.
If you’re wondering, the film is about a journalist who uncovers military secrets about the paranormal.
BBC Films, The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
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