Discover the wild world of remakesploitation, where filmmakers boldly reimagined Hollywood hits with local flair and creative liberties. In this episode of Cinema Scope, host Andy Nelson welcomes Dr. Iain Robert Smith, author of The Hollywood Meme, to explore this fascinating film movement that flourished from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Turkish Cinema’s Creative Adaptations
The episode focuses on five remarkable Turkish remakes: Fistik Gibi (based on Some Like It Hot), Tourist Omer in Star Trek, Three Giant Men (featuring Spider-Man as a villain fighting Captain America and Santo), Seytan (their version of The Exorcist), and the infamous The Man Who Saves the World (better known as Turkish Star Wars). Each film demonstrates how Turkish filmmakers balanced faithful adaptation with local cultural elements, often on limited budgets but with boundless creativity.
Global Remakesploitation Phenomenon
Members get exclusive access to discussions of five additional films from around the world: James Batman (Philippines), La Mujer Murcielago (Bat-Woman, Mexico), Lady Terminator (Indonesia), Shocking Dark (Italy), and Mahakaal (India’s take on A Nightmare on Elm Street). Dr. Smith explains how these unauthorized adaptations reflect each country’s unique approach to Hollywood properties.
Though remakesploitation’s heyday has passed due to strengthening global copyright laws, these films offer fascinating insights into cultural exchange and creative adaptation. Many survive only through restoration efforts by scholars like Dr. Smith, who continues working to preserve and share these unique pieces of cinema history. Whether you’re a film buff or simply curious about this unauthorized corner of movie history, this episode provides an entertaining deep dive into a truly original film movement.
Film Sundries
- Find Dr. Iain Robert Smith on his website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and on his university page
- Recommended and Discussed Movies
- Fıstık Gibi (Turkish Some Like It Hot) on YouTube
- Turist Ömer Uzay Yolunda (Turkish Star Trek) on YouTube
- 3 Dev Adam (Turkish Captain America and Spider-Man) on YouTube
- Şeytan (Turkish The Exorcist) on Amazon and JustWatch
- Dünyayı Kurtaran Adam (Turkish Star Wars) on Amazon and YouTube
- James Batman (James Bond meets Batman and Robin in the Philippines) on YouTube
- The Bat Woman (Mexican Batwoman) on Amazon and JustWatch and YouTube
- Lady Terminator (Indonesian Terminator) on Amazon
- Shocking Dark (Italian Aliens and Terminator) on Amazon and JustWatch and YouTube
- Mahakaal (Bollywood A Nightmare on Elm Street) on Amazon and YouTube
- Check out the Italian Spider-Man remakesploitation spoof
- Our Letterboxd List
