Overview:
Alien began development under the title Star Beast before its filmmakers settled on the iconic final name.
Back to the Future nearly received the unusual title Spaceman from Pluto following a studio executive's suggestion.
Pretty Woman, Scream and Casablanca also have fascinating title histories that reveal Hollywood's creative decision-making process.
Some movie titles become so iconic that it is almost impossible to imagine the films being called anything else.
From Alien to Back to the Future, these names have become closely associated with unforgettable characters, memorable scenes and landmark moments in cinema history. However, several celebrated movies nearly went by completely different names before their theatrical releases.
Whether it was a screenwriter in search of the ideal wording, a studio executive suggesting a weird choice, or a story going through extensive changes in development, these changes in titles tell a lot about the Hollywood process of creation.
Rejected titles ranged from weird to revealing, and some even had the potential to give viewers a totally different perspective on the movies.
Five Iconic Films With Surprisingly Different Original Titles
Here are five famous movies that almost had completely different titles:
Alien (1979) - Originally Titled Star Beast
Despite being a highly influential science-fiction horror movie, Ridley Scott's Alien originally had a very different working title that was much less cryptic. The original idea behind this story and its script by Dan O'Bannon was actually called Star Beast.
It is said that the name Alien occurred to Dan O'Bannon only later, during the writing process, when he noticed how often the word "alien" featured in the screenplay. O'Bannon realized that this single word could be used as a noun as well as an adjective, which made it a great fit for a title of the story about an alien threat.
As we can see, the name was very appropriate. In 1979, Alien tells the story of the Nostromo spaceship crew encountering a dangerous alien creature.
Back to the Future (1985) - Almost Called Spaceman from Pluto
Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is an iconic time travel film; however, it could have been known under another name, which was Spaceman from Pluto.
This title was suggested by Universal executive Sidney Sheinberg, who thought that the original title made the film look like any other sci-fi movie. His advice was to choose some other, more fun title for the film.
Still, the director and the screenwriter did not agree with this opinion, and producer Steven Spielberg helped to turn Sheinberg's letter into a joke. This way, the original title remained.
In addition, the suggested name referred to the scene where Marty uses science-fiction imagery to impress his teenage father. But anyway, Back to the Future seems to fit the plot of the film better because it reflects its main idea - travelling through time and altering the past.
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Pretty Woman (1990) - Originally Titled $3,000
Almost named ‘$3,000’ due to the sum Edward Lewis promised Vivian Ward for a week's time spent together, the romantic comedy Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere started its life as a very different project.
In the original screenplay by J. F. Lawton, the plot was much darker in comparison to the romantic comedy that eventually came out. It was supposed to be a drama revolving around the themes of money, class and being on the fringes of society.
After the purchase of the script by Disney, quite a few changes were made so that the material could reflect a much brighter and romantic story. The title of the movie was also changed to Pretty Woman inspired by the song by Roy Orbison that plays an important role in the film.
Scream (1996) - Originally Titled Scary Movie
Wes Craven's Scream reenergized the slasher movie with its combination of horror, suspense, and self-referential humor. Nonetheless, before its release, the movie had been known under the title Scary Movie.
The script by Kevin Williamson toyed with genre conventions in such an innovative way that made this title extremely fitting for a movie that constantly referenced genre rules.
Nonetheless, the creators decided to choose Scream as the final title, a better-sounding name which corresponded well with the movie's horrific atmosphere. At the same time, Scream gave a new brand to the entire franchise.
It should be noted that Scary Movie did not get forgotten in Hollywood. This title was later adopted by the 2000 comedy movie parodying various horror films, including those established in the Scream movies.
Casablanca (1942) - Inspired by Everybody Comes to Rick's
No classic movie can claim closer identification with the name than Casablanca does. Nevertheless, the romantic movie released in 1942 initially got its name from an unproduced play written by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison under the title "Everybody Comes to Rick's."
Rick's name was the name of the cafe owned by Rick Blaine, where people gathered in the period of chaos caused by the Second World War. The cafe becomes the setting of many complicated relations, conflicts of political and moral character described in the movie.
When it comes to the name of the movie, Casablanca appeared from the name of the Moroccan city, where the action takes place. The new title adds some specific meaning to the movie, as it gives the film a unique identity, being connected with such notions as war, love, and escape.
Thanks to the performance of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film has become a classic movie. Now Casablanca is famous both because of the romantic plot and because of the title.
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Final Takeaway
A movie's title may seem like a small detail compared with its performances, screenplay or direction, but it can profoundly influence how audiences perceive a story. These five examples demonstrate how the right name can emerge through experimentation, creative disagreements and even major changes to a film's original concept.
From Star Beast becoming Alien to $3,000 transforming into Pretty Woman, the final titles helped establish identities that audiences continue to recognise decades later. While the rejected alternatives offer an entertaining glimpse into Hollywood history, they also highlight an important creative lesson: sometimes, finding the perfect title is just as significant as telling the story itself.
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FAQs
Which famous movie was originally titled Star Beast?
Alien, Ridley Scott's 1979 science-fiction horror film, was initially developed under the title Star Beast before the filmmakers settled on the shorter, more memorable name Alien.
Was Back to the Future almost called Spaceman from Pluto?
Yes, Universal executive Sidney Sheinberg suggested Spaceman from Pluto. Director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale opposed the change, and the original title was ultimately retained.
What was Pretty Woman originally called?
Pretty Woman began as a screenplay titled $3,000, referring to the amount Edward offers Vivian. The story later became a lighter romantic comedy with its familiar title.
What was the original title of Scream?
Kevin Williamson's screenplay was originally titled Scary Movie. The filmmakers eventually chose Scream, while Scary Movie later became the title of a horror-comedy parody released in 2000.
What inspired the original title of Casablanca?
Casablanca drew inspiration from Everybody Comes to Rick's, an unproduced play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. The film adopted the name of its Moroccan setting.