10 Hollywood Movies You Didn’t Know Were Ripped Off from Asia

Published April 12, 2025

Did you know that some of Hollywood’s most beloved films—like Inception, Reservoir Dogs, and The Lion King—were actually inspired by (or outright copied from) Asian films? We’re not talking about official remakes with proper licensing and credit.

These are cases where Hollywood took themes, stories, and even entire scenes and passed them off as their own. Here are 10 Hollywood films that bear striking similarities to Asian originals.

1. Inception (2010) & Paprika (2006) – Japan

Christopher Nolan’s Inception follows a team that enters people’s dreams to extract or implant ideas. Sounds original?

Not quite. Paprika, an anime by Satoshi Kon, features a stolen device that lets people enter dreams. Even the mind-bending hallway scene in Inception mirrors a sequence in Paprika where a hallway morphs, making it impossible to maintain balance.

2. Kill Bill (2003) & Aalavandhan (2001) – India

Tarantino is known for his homages, but the animated violent sequence in Kill Bill was inspired by Aalavandhan (Abhay in Hindi).

Tarantino even admitted this to Indian director Anurag Kashyap. Kamal Haasan, who starred in Aalavandhan, wasn’t offended; instead, he was glad his film influenced a Hollywood legend.

3. Magnolia (1999) & Manila By Night (1980) – Philippines

Both films weave multiple unrelated stories tied together by a central theme.

Magnolia begins in the morning and ends at night, while Ishmael Bernal’s Manila By Night starts at night and ends in the morning. Both defy conventional storytelling structures and focus on raw, interconnected human experiences.

4. The Lion King (1994) & Kimba the White Lion (1965) – Japan

Disney has always denied it, but the similarities between The Lion King and Kimba the White Lion are undeniable.

A lion cub loses his father, grows up in exile, and returns to reclaim his throne. There’s even a wise baboon, a goofy warthog-like character, and an evil lion with a scar. Coincidence? You decide.

5. Pearl Harbor (2001) & Sangam (1964) – India

An Air Force pilot disappears, is presumed dead, and his girlfriend moves on with his best friend—only for the pilot to return.

That’s the plot of both Pearl Harbor and the Bollywood classic Sangam. The only difference? Sangam came out nearly 40 years earlier.

6. Chronicle (2012) & Akira (1988) – Japan

A young man gains supernatural abilities and loses control, threatening to destroy everything.

That’s the basic plot of Chronicle and Akira. While Chronicle adds a found-footage twist, the similarities in character arcs and themes are too strong to ignore.

7. Reservoir Dogs (1992) & City on Fire (1987) – Hong Kong

Tarantino’s debut film borrows heavily from City on Fire, especially its final 20 minutes.

Both films include a violent Mexican standoff and scenes that are nearly shot-for-shot identical. While Tarantino has acknowledged owning a City on Fire poster, he’s never given full credit to the film.

8. A Fistful of Dollars (1964) & Yojimbo (1961) – Japan

Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars was such a blatant copy of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo that Kurosawa had to sue.

He won, and Yojimbo now gets partial screen credit. Other unofficial remakes of Yojimbo include Last Man Standing (1996) and The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984).

9. Leap Year (2010) & Jab We Met (2007) – India

Both films follow a bubbly, talkative woman who plans to marry her boyfriend but meets another man during a journey.

They share a hotel room, fall in love, get separated, and reunite in the end. Sounds like Jab We Met? It’s also Leap Year.

10. The Guardian (2006) & Umizaru (2004) – Japan

Both films center on elite Coast Guard units and the bond between two men—one who sacrifices himself for the other.

Unlike most cases here, The Guardian at least acknowledged its inspiration, but only as a “loose” influence.

This list is just a glimpse into the many times Hollywood has taken cues—sometimes without credit—from Asian cinema. Whether it’s a scene, a storyline, or an entire concept, the creative influence of Asian filmmakers is undeniable. While some homages are respectful and legally acknowledged, others fall into murkier territory.

As audiences become more global and informed, recognizing the original sources behind beloved films is more important than ever. Celebrating these influences not only gives credit where it’s due—it also opens the door to a wider appreciation of the brilliant, diverse storytelling traditions across Asia.