News culture “Too similar to leave room for doubt” Steven Spielberg in turmoil, he is accused of plagiarism in the early 2000s
Published on 03/20/2024 at 10:15
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Could Steven Spielberg's production company have plagiarized one of his cult films?
Spielberg didn't even direct this movieyet his name is associated with accusations of plagiarism who surround him…
“The scenes are far too similar to leave room for doubt”
The 1998 film Small Soldiers was directed by Joe Dante, and produced by DreamWorks, Universal and Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg's production company. This film has attracted attention for reasons that go beyond its script or its direction. Indeed, a controversy emerged when filmmaker Gregory Grant sues Spielberg, DreamWorks and Universalalleging that these film industry heavyweights had plagiarized his short film Ode to GI Joe. Grant had obtained a student prize from the Academy of Oscars in 1990 for this short film. Grant claimed to have presented his concept to Amblin Entertainment, Spielberg's production company, but that the project had been abandoned. However, shortly after this cancellation, the film Small Soldiers was under construction, leaving doubt about the originality of the work. At the time of the trial, his lawyer Ira Reiner declared:
Several scenes in Small Soldiers appear to be taken from Grant's film, and the scenes are far too similar to leave room for doubt. We see it as a case of David versus Goliath. It is very unlikely that a jury would find anything other than plagiarism here.
Finally, the lawyer seems to have been a little too optimistic as to the opinion of the jury. Indeed, the courts concluded that the film was a original creationfreeing Spielberg and other parties involved from any accusations of plagiarism.
A relatively successful film…
The context surrounding Small Soldiers was already loaded with questions, with mixed reviews and box office performance below expectations. Despite a budget the 40 million the dollarsthe film only grossed $71.8 million around the world, leaving some observers perplexed about its relative success. Yet beyond the raw numbers, Small Soldiers has earned a place in the hearts of many fans, like many “Spielberg style” films from the 1980s-90s. His satire on the militarization through the media and his exploration of unintended consequences of technologies were praised by many moviegoers. Over time, it has become a cult film, rebroadcast very regularly and often highlighted for the fairly mature themes it addresses.
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…but has become a cult!
The release of the film was also accompanied by a extensive range of merchandising, including toys, video games, soundtrack … Despite a launch with critical and commercial success below expectations, Small Soldiers is really entered popular culture and had lasting impact. A few years ago, a project of remake titled Toymageddon, was even considered. It could have revived interest in the film universe, but was canceled by Disney after acquisition of 21st Century Fox. This decision left many fans disappointed. But the mere idea of a remake underlined the indelible mark left by the original film in the collective imagination. Small Soldiers reste un important moment in the history of Spielberg's production company, and in the career of director Joe Dante.
Small Soldiers was released in theaters in 1998.
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