Titles are a dynamic part of any creative work, especially when it comes to movies. They can be easy, literal, straightforward (Titanic) or symbolic, dramatic, creative (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Regardless, the objective of a movie title is to summarize in some way what that film is about, be it literal or otherwise.

Of course, what some titles mean in one language, isn’t always easily translated into another language. This is especially true when people try to translate the title without any knowledge of what the movie is about.

The following is a list of some of the worst movie title translations ever to get Lost in Translation.

1. Pretty Woman

This was translated into ‘I Will Marry A Prostitute and Save Money’ in China. Well, I guess they did watch this movie before translating at least.

2. The Matrix

The French called this sci-fi movie ‘The Young People Who Traverse Dimensions While Wearing Sunglasses’. Definitely literal.

3. Leon (or The Professional)

The Chinese decided on ‘This Hit Man Is Not As Cold As He Thought’ for this title. Which I guess is true.

4. The Full Monty

Once again, China comes up with a great title, ‘Six Naked Pigs‘.

5. Girl, Interrupted

In Germany, they came up with ‘Cuckoo‘. I’m sure that goes over well with the feminists and women lit majors.

6. Thelma and Louise

I guess they don’t like surprises in Mexico. They called the movie, ‘An Unexpected End‘.

7. Nixon

‘The Big Liar‘ in China. I think this one was personal.

8. Hot Shots!

I guess they didn’t think the movie was all that great in the Czech Republic. They went with, ‘Warm Shots‘ instead.

9. Army Of Darkness

Oh Japan…’Captain Supermarket‘. It actually kind of seems appropriate.

10. Knocked Up

‘Slightly Pregnant‘ in Peru. Do they have varying degrees of pregnant in that country?

11. Boogie Nights

‘His Great Device Makes Him Famous‘ in China. Yes. Well. OK, I’ll give you that one.

12. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

In Israel, they went with a more localized food option with, ‘It’s Raining Falafel‘

13. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Italians were not as creative, but they got the job done with, ‘If You Leave Me, I Delete You‘.

14. Leaving Las Vegas

Japan gave us, ‘I’m Drunk and You’re a Prostitute‘.

15. Junior

Is Arnold Schwarzenneger not popular in China? They called the movie, ‘Son of Devil‘.

16. The Sixth Sense

I guess the Chinese hate surprises even more. They called the movie, ‘He’s A Ghost!‘

17. Risky Business

I wonder if China views all of American public high school systems this way with, ‘Just Send Him To University Unqualified’.

18. Drive Angry

Actually, I think Thailand is better at titling a Nic Cage film than Hollywood. In Thailand this movie is called, ‘Super Speeding Cleaning Evil Accounts‘

19. The Shawshank Redemption

I really don’t get what China was thinking with, ‘Excitement 1995‘. Excitement wasn’t exactly the mood of the film, and the movie didn’t even come out in 1995. It was released in 1994.

20. The Pacifier

‘A Supertough Kangaroo‘ in Spain. Is it the fact that Vin Diesel looks like a kangaroo? Does he look like a kangaroo??

Sources:

AZCentral

CinemaScope

Den of Geek

Huffingtonpost

ShortList