9 Hilarious Moments When French Translations of English Movie Titles Got It Completely Wrong
You probably remember the brilliant film *Lost in Translation*, featuring the remarkable performances of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Personally, I’ve watched this gem about ten times over the past 20 years, and I’ll definitely revisit it soon. Interestingly, if I were in Quebec, I might know this Sofia Coppola masterpiece under the title *Traduction Infidèle*, which translates to *Unfaithful Translation* in English.
While this title isn’t exactly the original, it does capture the film’s essence more accurately, doesn’t it? But that’s not always the case—French film distributors often change Hollywood movie titles to better suit their audience. This is exactly what a viral Twitter thread explores.
Twitter: juan buis
Seems, French movie distributors usually ‘rename’ English movie titles to please their viewers
Picture credit: juan buis
A few months ago, Twitter user @juanbuis made a hilarious discovery: the popular 2000s comedy *The Hangover* was released in French cinemas under a title that translates back to English as *The Very Bad Trip*. This quirky translation caught the attention of many, including the original poster (OP), who dove into exploring how French films are marketed. The find was a hit and sparked even more interest in the intriguing world of movie title translations!
Picture credit: juan buis
Picture credit: juan buis
Many Hollywood movies in France get a cheeky twist with the words ‘Sex’ or ‘Sexy’ added to their titles.
For example, the police comedy *The Other Guys* hit French theaters under the title *Very Bad Cops*. Meanwhile, the French version of *Not Another Teen Movie* is called *Sex Academy*. According to the original poster, French translators seem to have a go-to trick: just slap the words “Sex” or “Sexy” into the title, and voilà—instant hit!
Picture credit: juan buis
Picture credit: juan buis
Don’t believe it? Check this out: the rom-com *Cute as a Button* was rebranded in France as *Gender Record*. The slow-burn drama *A Brief History of Decay* became *Seductive Sex Therapy*, and the magical thriller *Tangled* was dubbed *Sex Matters*! But here’s a real surprise: the recent horror-comedy *Cocaine Bear* hit French theaters not as *Sexy Bear*, but simply as *Crazy Bear*.
Picture credit: juan buis
Picture credit: juan buis
It turns out, this quirky trend isn’t just a French thing—movie distributors around the globe are jumping on the bandwagon!
“Movie distributors everywhere tweak titles to fit their audience’s tastes—or how they think those tastes should be,” explains Dmytro Kosygin, a Ukrainian film director and cameraman. “Sometimes, puns in English just don’t translate well. Other times, they’re trying to simplify or tie the film to a previous hit.”
Picture credit: juan buis
Picture credit: juan buis
“For example, in Ukraine, the first *Fast and Furious* movie was bizarrely titled *Afterburner*, which led audiences to ignore the English numbering in subsequent films. Meanwhile, *The Hangover* was dubbed *Bachelor Party in Vegas*. But it gets even stranger: *Bridesmaids*, which has no connection to *The Hangover*, was renamed *Bachelorette Party in Vegas*, giving audiences a clear hint about its content.”
Dmytro Kosygin adds, “I wouldn’t call this approach highly successful, but each country has its own distribution quirks. Film distributors try to adapt to local tastes, and while it might not always hit the mark, the audience’s response speaks volumes.”
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The Twitter replies were split right down the middle, sparking a fiery debate on the topic!
Twitter users were split on the issue, as usual. English-speaking netizens found the practice absurd, while French commenters pointed out that English puns and idioms often don’t translate well into Romance languages. For them, adapting titles for local audiences is crucial—even if the results aren’t always perfect.
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Here’s another funny example: In *Hancock*, American viewers get why Will Smith’s character chose his last name—it’s a nod to John Hancock’s famous signature on the U.S. Constitution. However, international audiences might miss this reference, so in the dubbed version I saw, the character simply explains he saw the name ‘John Hancock’ on another patient’s file at the hospital.
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Before I dive back into *Lost in Translation*, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the whole renaming movies thing. Do you think it’s a bit ridiculous, or do you have some funny examples to share? Drop your comments below—more opinions make the discussion even more fun!
