Why the change of titles?

[KTS]

Why do the titles of books and movies often be changed from their US names when released in the UK/Ireland, and vice-versa?

Here are just a few examples I can think of off the top of my head

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (UK)" - "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (US)"

Book by Philip Pullman, "Northern Lights (UK)" - "The Golden Compass (US)"

Movie "Joy Ride (US)" - "Road Kill (UK)"

Movie "American Wedding (US)" - "American Pie The Wedding (UK)"

[NuMarvel]

Well the last one is easy enough - the name was probably changed in case people didn't realise this was connected to the american pie series (and therefore not go)

The same thing happened to the second X-Men film. In the US it was called X2, but on release over here it was advertised as X-Men 2. Also happens on TV as well, e.g. Smallville has been changed on Channel Four to include a reference to the early years of superman and the Lois and Clark The Adventures of Superman series a few years back had the Lois and Clark dropped on the BBC transmission.

As for the others.... hmm... can't say off the top of my head. As you can tell I don't have time to read books, I'm too busy looking at UK and US versions of Superman series -)

[redbulljunkie]

The harry potter one was because "philosopher" wasn't exciting enough for the americans

[kevSaMo]

They do research before they do the general release to see what name appeals most. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but that's why it is done.
One of the funniest was "The madness of King George III"
In the US they dropped the "III"
Why?
Because people who responded to the research said they hadn't seen parts "I" and "II"
They thought it was a sequel!

k

[KTS]

Originally posted by kevSaMo
They do research before they do the general release to see what name appeals most. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but that's why it is done.
One of the funniest was "The madness of King George III"
In the US they dropped the "III"
Why?
Because people who responded to the research said they hadn't seen parts "I" and "II"
They thought it was a sequel!

k



Yeah, this I heard. Madness! [)][D][8D][ ;)]

[Slayer]

I heard the word philosopher was a bit too much for the americans to get their head around.

As in, most of them weren't even sure what a philosopher was...

[LeBaron]

Yea, our colonial cousins are not very big on philosophy

[solice]

is it true that in the uk austin powers 2 was called "Austin Powers 2 - the spy" while in ireland it kept its full name "austin powers 2 - the spy who shagged me"

[Slayer]

Yup, something like that.

They were just calling it Austin Powers 2 across the small pond.