Lost in translation: Chinese movie titles

In China, many Hollywood movies are given names which translate somewhat differently from the original title.

Here are a few examples which I found quite amusing...

"One Night, Big Belly"

1) Knocked Up

Rather amusingly, when Knocked Up was released in China it was known as 'One Night, Big Belly'.

I suppose that technically it's true!

Knocked Up > One Night, Big Belly

2)  As Good As It Gets

I've never seen the movie as 'Good As It Gets' but I've been told that it has absolutely nothing to do with cat poop. That makes it all the more bizarre that the Chinese name for 'As Good As It Gets' was 'Mr Cat Poop'!

Apparently, the main character is called Melvin, and Melvin is pronounced very similarly to the Cantonese slang word for cat poop! So obviously that was what they called the movie!

As Good As It Gets > Mr Cat Poop

3) Up

"Touring Around On A Flying House"
You'll be pleased to know that I decided
to skip a photo for movie number 2.

If anyone hasn't seen the movie Up, then basically the plot involves an old man and a kid touring around in a floating house.

Coincidentally, that's almost exactly what the marketing executives in China thought as well, because when it was released in China, the movie 'Up' was known as 'Touring Around On A Flying House'.

Up > Touring Around On A Flying House

4) Pretty Woman

My all-time favourite Chinese translation of a Hollywood movie title has to be the Chinese name for Pretty Woman.

You'll notice that the translated name gives away a slight clue to the plot, because in China the movie Pretty Woman was called 'I Will Marry A Prostitute To Save Money'.

Ha, ha! Class! You can't argue with that!

Pretty Woman > I Will Marry A Prostitute To Save Money

5) The Sixth Sense

"He's A Ghost!"
You'll be pleased to hear that I also
decided to skip a photo for movie number 4.

In what must surely be one of the most blatant spoilers of all time, the movie The Sixth Sense was renamed in China as 'He's A Ghost!'!

Seriously, did it not occur to them that they were totally spoiling the big plot twist for everyone? I mean, why not rename 'The Shawshank Redemption' as 'There's A Tunnel Behind The Poster' while they're at it?

The Sixth Sense > He's A Ghost!

6) Dumb And Dumber

For anyone who hasn't seen the movie Dumb And Dumber, firstly I found it extremely funny and strongly recommend it, and secondly, the plot involves two really stupid people.

Apparently, the Chinese marketing executives once again agreed, because in China, 'Dumb And Dumber' was known as 'Two Stupid Stupid People'. So stupid, they said it twice!

Dumb And Dumber > Two Stupid Stupid People

"Run! Run Cloudzilla!"
Perhaps the most appropriate Chinese
movie name in this week's feature.

7) Twister

If someone told me the name 'Run! Run! Cloudzilla!' was the Chinese name for a Hollywood movie, I would probably guess they were referring to the movie 'Twister', and I'd be right!

This is a another Chinese movie name which I really like, and in this instance I think 'Run! Run! Cloudzilla!' captures the emotion of the movie far better than the English name.

Twister > Run! Run! Cloudzilla!

8) Free Willy

"A Very Powerful Whale Runs To Heaven"

Although most of the translated titles so far have - in an amusing way - given an accurate description of what the movie is about, in this next example I personally found the translation slightly misleading.

In China, the movie 'Free Willy' was known as 'A Very Powerful Whale Runs To Heaven'. I therefore assumed that Willy the Whale dies, but apparently he doesn't die. Presumably, the reference to 'heaven' must be a reference to the fact that in the end Willy escapes to freedom, and I can understand how freedom equates to heaven.

Once again though, this is another example of the Chinese marketing people totally spoiling the plot for everyone before the audience have even seen the movie!

Free Willy > A Very Powerful Whale Runs To Heaven

Grease Lightning!

9) Grease

This penultimate example is a movie where the movie name was translated literally, when a less literal translation may have been more appropriate.

In China, the movie Grease became known as Vaseline!

Grease > Vaseline

10) Guardians of the Galaxy

Finally, the last movie name featured in this round-up is 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'. Looking at the English title, Guardians Of The Galaxy is a name which does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a movie about a team of super heroes who guard the galaxy. A very accurate description.

However, the Chinese name for the Guardian Of The Galaxy translates completely differently, and yet it's also an equally accurate description. In China, the movie 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' was known as 'Interplanetary Unusual Attacking Team'.

You can't argue with that! They're certainly interplanetary, and they're very unusual! They attack! And they're a team! It's the perfect description!

Guardians Of The Galaxy > Interplanetary Unusual Attacking Team

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To round things off, here's a poll. Which are your favourite Chinese translations from the movies featured above? (You can choose up to three movie titles.)

You can find more translation themed posts below:
10 interesting Chinese words and expressions
Modern Japanese words
Languages around the world (Korean)