Overview:
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Alien went through development as Star Beast before the team chose its final name.
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Following a suggestion by a studio executive, Back to the Future nearly took on the quirky title Spaceman from Pluto.
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Fascinating title histories surround Pretty Woman, Scream, and Casablanca, shedding light on how Hollywood makes creative choices.
Certain movie titles become so iconic that picturing the films with any other name is nearly impossible.
From Alien to Back to the Future, these names remain deeply linked to unforgettable characters, iconic scenes, and milestone moments in cinema history. Still, several acclaimed films nearly went by entirely different titles prior to hitting theaters.
Whether driven by a screenwriter hunting for the ideal phrasing, a studio executive proposing an odd option, or a storyline undergoing major shifts during production, these shifting titles reveal much about Hollywood’s creative process.
While some rejected titles proved strange or revealing, a few even carried the potential to give viewers an entirely different viewpoint on the films.
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
Even though Ridley Scott’s Alien stands as a deeply influential sci-fi horror picture, it initially carried a much less cryptic working title. Dan O’Bannon’s original concept and script for the story went by the name Star Beast.
As the story goes, the title Alien came to Dan O’Bannon later in the writing phase when he noticed how frequently the word “alien” popped up throughout his screenplay. Realizing that the single word functioned as both a noun and an adjective, O’Bannon found it a fitting choice for a tale centered around an extraterrestrial menace.
History proved the name appropriate. Set in 1979, Alien follows the crew of the Nostromo spaceship as they cross paths with a deadly creature.
Back to the Future (1985) – Almost Called Spaceman from Pluto
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future is a celebrated time travel adventure, yet it nearly went by the name Spaceman from Pluto.
Universal executive Sidney Sheinberg put forward this title because he felt the original moniker made the movie resemble any standard sci-fi flick, advising the team to pick something more fun.
However, the director and screenwriter rejected the idea, and producer Steven Spielberg effectively turned Sheinberg’s memo into a running joke, keeping the original title intact.
The proposed moniker did nod to a specific moment where Marty employs sci-fi tropes to impress his teenage father. Ultimately, though, Back to the Future aligns better with the film’s narrative since it captures its core theme of journeying through time and altering the past.
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Pretty Woman (1990) – Originally Titled $3,000
Starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the romantic comedy Pretty Woman began as a very different project that nearly kept the name ‘$3,000’—a nod to the payment Edward Lewis promised Vivian Ward for spending a week together.
In J.F. Lawton’s initial script, the narrative was far darker than the romantic comedy that eventually reached screens. It was conceived as a drama centered on money, class divides, and life on society’s margins.
Once Disney bought the script, significant revisions steered the material toward a lighter, more romantic tone. The film was also renamed Pretty Woman, drawing inspiration from Roy Orbison’s song, which plays a major role in the movie.
Scream (1996) – Originally Titled Scary Movie
Wes Craven’s Scream breathed new life into the slasher genre by blending horror, suspense, and self-aware humor. Yet, before its premiere, the project went by Scary Movie.
Kevin Williamson’s script played with genre conventions so innovatively that the moniker fit a film constantly poking fun at traditional horror rules.
Ultimately, the creators opted for Scream as the final title, viewing it as a stronger-sounding name that matched the eerie atmosphere while establishing a brand for the entire franchise.
Scarly Movie did not fade away in Hollywood, however. The title was later reused for the 2000 comedy parodying various scary films, including those spawned by the Scream series.
Casablanca (1942) – Inspired by Everybody Comes to Rick’s
No classic film links more closely to its title than Casablanca. Nevertheless, the 1942 romance originally derived its name from an unproduced stage play penned by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison titled “Everybody Comes to Rick’s.”
The cafe run by Rick Blaine served as the namesake and the primary gathering spot for individuals navigating the chaos of World War II, forming the backdrop for the movie’s intricate web of personal, political, and moral conflicts.
The film’s title, Casablanca, was pulled from the Moroccan city where the story unfolds. This new name granted the movie a distinct identity closely tied to themes of war, romance, and escape.
Fueled by standout performances from Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the picture cemented its status as a cinematic classic, renowned today for both its romantic storyline and its title.
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Final Takeaway
Though a movie title might seem minor next to its performances, script, or direction, it can heavily shape how viewers interpret a tale. These five examples highlight how the right name often surfaces through experimentation, creative disagreements, and major overhauls of a film’s initial concept.
From Star Beast turning into Alien to $3,000 shifting into Pretty Woman, these final titles built lasting identities that audiences recognize decades later. While the discarded alternatives provide an amusing look into Hollywood history, they also underscore an essential creative truth: discovering the perfect title can carry just as much weight 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.
