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30 Movie Title Translations From Other Countries That Sound Like A Totally Different Story
As a Lithuanian, I often find myself baffled by the way we translate foreign movie titles. In our country, Superbad became Hard Nuts, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was transformed to The Power of Feelings, and This is the End was renamed to Christmas Cakes, Drugs, and Sex. Turns out, we're not the only ones doing this.
Even though the task of translating a movie title to a local audience seems like a fairly simple one, handled by one of those fancy types who speak more than one language, it's really complex. So much so that it sometimes makes the story sound like a totally different thing. Continue scrolling this list by Bored Panda and see for yourself.
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#1
Vaseline (Argentina)
As one linguist said, while the practice of translation is always a work of adaptation, it is much more so when it comes to translating movie titles. For instance, how should the Russian villain in a typical Hollywood production be presented in Moscow cinemas? And what do we do about cultural references?
In addition, there is the fact that the title of a movie is supposed to summarize and condense a two-hour story. Therefore, the translator must rifle through nuances, overtones, examples of polysemy, as well as a number of other approaches.
#2
Big Liar (China)
#3
Meth Dad (Slovakia)
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
It sounds like the sitcom version of the show. “Next week on ‘Meth Dad’: Can Walter handle drug dealers, watching his kids for a day, AND his nosy neighbor? Find out on ‘Meth Dad’!”
What makes it even more difficult is that the reader has no context to understand the translated title of the film; a title should be evocative and should work with no other references than its own semantic values and connotations. The translator can't use contextual elements to supplement or clarify the meaning.
The translation of movie titles involves not only retaining/giving it meaning, but there are also rhythmic constraints (in this case, this comes closer to literary translation and more specifically, poetic) and commercial ones (bringing us closer to marketing translation). It's a minefield.
#4
It's Raining Falafel (Israel)
Lucia B... 3 years ago
Probably because falafel is much more popular than meatballs in Israel?
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Oskar vanZandt 3 years ago
I think "Cloudy with the chance of Matzo Balls" has a nicer ring to it.
Dave P 3 years ago
lol. However Falafel is more common there given the 70% of Jews there with at least one grandparent who was a refugee from an arab country, and the 22% of Israel's population being Arab, this was a bit easier to work with. Plus it is the most common eaten street food there.
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RoseTheMad 3 years ago
It's raining falafel! Hallelujah it's raining falafel! Honestly I'd be happy if it rained falafel. falafel is delicious.
Vicky Z 3 years ago
It would be interesting if it was a traditional plate for every country😂😂😂 so the Greek one could be: its raining mousaka!!!
elia 84631 3 years ago
Not the Keftedes and it's the actual greek translation of the movie title
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Luis Hernandez Dauajare 3 years ago
In Latin America was Lluvia de Hamburguesas, or Burger Rain.
person (i think) 3 years ago (edited)
Burger rain, burger rain, I only wanted to see you bathing in the burger rain
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TheDankBoi 69 3 years ago
In Spanish, it's called "Lluvia de Hamburguesas" which translates to "Hamburger Rain"
Cybele Spanjaard 3 years ago
Both translations sounds pretty accurate..except falafel is not meat!! So "pretend balls from sky falling'.
Sam T Godfrey 3 years ago
That one's actually funny all around! Problem is, cheeseburgers are far from falafel! They are definitely not Kosher! Oh, and today is Shabbat during Pesach (Passover!) Chag Pesach Sameach! (I hope I got that right...)
mande.be 3 years ago (edited)
In Serbia: PADAĆE ĆUFTE = Meatballs will fall (ĆUFTE = Meatballs)
Mae Mosse 3 years ago
That definitely sounds like a different type of movie. More White House Down
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Clarissa De Simoni 3 years ago
In Italy it’s a mix of both: “Piovono polpette” (which translates to “It’s raining meatballs”)
Rebecca Surette 3 years ago
For some reason, never mind that falafel has no meat, this title makes me laugh.
Mónica Elisabeth Sacco 3 years ago
And how in h#ll did they justify images of falling meatballs?
Jenný Samúelsdóttir Herlufsen 3 years ago
Iceland: meatballs in chapters (kjötbollur á köflum)
RiaDeCatterpillar 3 years ago
I would be disappointed if i watched that and there was no falafel.
Mária Dusová 3 years ago
In Czech it´s: Cloudy with a chance of wheelbarrows (It´s raining wheelbarrows is Czech saying with the same meaning as "It´s raining cats and dogs)
Ryan Michael 3 years ago
I feel like this is the only title on this list that somewhat corresponds with the actual movie title
#5
Die Hard: Mega Hard (Denmark)
#6
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Behaved Very Nicely Around Me (Malaysia)
#7
Santa Is A Pervert (Czech Republic)
#8
Mom, I Missed My Plane (France)
#9
If You Leave Me, I'll Erase You (Italy)
#10
My Partner With The Cold Snout (Germany)
#11
The Urban Neurotic (Germany)
#12
Super Power Dare Die Team (China)
#13
The Unbelievable Trip In A Wacky Aeroplane (Germany)
#14
Rita Heyworth, Key To Escape (Finland)
Wyn Williams 3 years ago
Works both ways, a Finnish film called girl you will be a star was translated to English as beauty and the beast :) the translator also changed a lot of what was said as apparently he didn't like the movie
#15
Knight Of The Night (Spain)
#16
My Boyfriend Is A Psycho (Russia)
#17
This Hitman Is Not As Cold As He Thought (China)
#18
Six Naked Pigs (China)
#19
Son Of Devil (China)
#20
The Hole Of Malkovich (Japan)
#21
If You Drink, Don't Marry! (Brazil)
#22
His Powerful Device Makes Him Famous (China)
#23
Dimwit Surges Forth (Thailand)
#24
A Supertough Kangaroo (Spain)
#25
The Teeth From The Sea (France)
#26
Captain Supermarket (Japan)
#27
Pigs And Diamonds (Mexico, Spain)
#28
The Gun Died Laughing (Israel)
#29
American Virgin Man (China)
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What do you think ?
Martyna Przybył 3 years ago
In Poland, "Dirty dancing" was translated as "Spinning sex". Fortunately, they don't use that translation anymore.
Mayra 3 years ago
In germany we have translated "13 reasons why" into "dead girls don't lie and I hate it (german "tote mädchen lügen nicht")
Alina Rainer 3 years ago
"dead girls don't lie" - sorry interpunctutation makes a difference :D
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Random Panda 3 years ago (edited)
In Bulgaria they translated "Kick-ass" as "kick in the ass". Or another one was "Dear John" translated as "with the scent of cinnamon".
Addelyn 3 years ago
A quick Google search shows many of these are incorrect. Did BP seriously just make this whole list up?
fuggnuggins 3 years ago
Generally they don't create a single thing. They pilfer it from other sites. Mostly from Reddit and Twitter.
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Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
I think Annie Hall got the best re-title, courtesy Germany. Urban neurotic. Yep!
SheHulk 3 years ago
Meanwhile here in sweden, the title of every movie starring Goldie Hawn starts with "Tjejen som ..." (The girl who ..). For example "Overboard" Is translated to "The girl who fell overboard"! Not that funny on it´s own but collectively hilarious! Like she´s running a franchise. Swedes are generally good at english, but they do have their blind spots like confusing v with w! I once watched a motorshow on tv where the commentator referred to the "Dodge Wiper" the whole way through. My father who lived in english speaking countries for 20 years always mixed up j and y. So it was "where´s my jellow yumper"!
Oskar vanZandt 3 years ago
lessons we have learnt: more words a better title do not make nor does a synopsis of the plot...
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
In Finnish, "Once Upon A Time In The West" becomes "Huuliharppukostaja" or... "Harmonica Avenger" which makes perfect sense, but for some reason I find hilarious.
Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 3 years ago
how does "home alone" even translate into "mom, i missed my plane"
fuggnuggins 3 years ago
(Just in case, "cadence" is a bit like rhythm of words, like in poetry.)
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Lukáš Bahounek 3 years ago (edited)
In the Czech Republic, the film Motherless Brooklyn is named The Dark Face of Brooklyn. 🤔 And Die Hard is A Deadly Trap.
DrumsAndCoffee 3 years ago
In Norwegian, Spinal Tap was called "Help! We are in the pop industry!"
Martyna Przybył 3 years ago
In Poland, "Dirty dancing" was translated as "Spinning sex". Fortunately, they don't use that translation anymore.
Mayra 3 years ago
In germany we have translated "13 reasons why" into "dead girls don't lie and I hate it (german "tote mädchen lügen nicht")
Alina Rainer 3 years ago
"dead girls don't lie" - sorry interpunctutation makes a difference :D
Load More Replies... Random Panda 3 years ago (edited)
In Bulgaria they translated "Kick-ass" as "kick in the ass". Or another one was "Dear John" translated as "with the scent of cinnamon".
Addelyn 3 years ago
A quick Google search shows many of these are incorrect. Did BP seriously just make this whole list up?
fuggnuggins 3 years ago
Generally they don't create a single thing. They pilfer it from other sites. Mostly from Reddit and Twitter.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
I think Annie Hall got the best re-title, courtesy Germany. Urban neurotic. Yep!
SheHulk 3 years ago
Meanwhile here in sweden, the title of every movie starring Goldie Hawn starts with "Tjejen som ..." (The girl who ..). For example "Overboard" Is translated to "The girl who fell overboard"! Not that funny on it´s own but collectively hilarious! Like she´s running a franchise. Swedes are generally good at english, but they do have their blind spots like confusing v with w! I once watched a motorshow on tv where the commentator referred to the "Dodge Wiper" the whole way through. My father who lived in english speaking countries for 20 years always mixed up j and y. So it was "where´s my jellow yumper"!
Oskar vanZandt 3 years ago
lessons we have learnt: more words a better title do not make nor does a synopsis of the plot...
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
In Finnish, "Once Upon A Time In The West" becomes "Huuliharppukostaja" or... "Harmonica Avenger" which makes perfect sense, but for some reason I find hilarious.
Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 3 years ago
how does "home alone" even translate into "mom, i missed my plane"
fuggnuggins 3 years ago
(Just in case, "cadence" is a bit like rhythm of words, like in poetry.)
Load More Replies... Lukáš Bahounek 3 years ago (edited)
In the Czech Republic, the film Motherless Brooklyn is named The Dark Face of Brooklyn. 🤔 And Die Hard is A Deadly Trap.
DrumsAndCoffee 3 years ago
In Norwegian, Spinal Tap was called "Help! We are in the pop industry!"
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