Overview

This book examines the recurring phenomenon in film and television where two strikingly similar productions are released in close succession. Examples include Armageddon (1998) and Deep Impact (1998), A Bug’s Life (1998) and Antz (1998), and more recently, the 2019 Fyre Festival documentaries and the 2024 Prince Andrew docudramas. Drawing from hundreds of cases, this book explores why these twin productions emerge, the industrial and creative forces that drive them, and how they reflect broader trends in media history. Situating this pattern within the fields of remake, adaptation, and media multiplicities studies, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of this largely understudied yet pervasive phenomenon. Each chapter examines different motivations behind the creation of twin films and TV shows, from economic imperatives and competitive market dynamics to shared cultural anxieties and trends in audience demand. This book presents a meticulous catalogue of examples, demonstrating how genres and themes gain traction simultaneously across different studios and networks. In addition to offering historical insights, this book engages with contemporary debates on media repetition, nostalgia, and Hollywood’s fixation on reproducing familiar narratives. Written by an author with extensive expertise in media studies, this book combines exhaustive research with a clear, accessible style, making it an essential resource for understanding the mechanisms behind content duplication in the entertainment industry. Academically, this book contributes to scholarship in film, television, and media studies by applying an interdisciplinary approach that integrates political science, feminist theory, and cultural analysis. It draws on close readings of films, industry reports, and a dataset of critical reviews to provide fresh perspectives on media production and consumption. As a valuable resource for students and scholars alike, it enriches discussions on screen media, industrial production, and the cultural forces shaping contemporary entertainment.

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9781041091394

Table of Contents

Reviews

Lauren Rosewarne’s The Twin Film Phenomenon offers a compelling exploration of films that cover the same material and are released closely in time. Rather than an encyclopedic approach, the author addresses how and why this twinning phenomenon occurs through study of ample texts. Readers will be drawn to the diversity of film examples chosen from across time, genre, and culture as well as the book's emphasis on production, reception, and close textual study. Elyce Rae Helford, Professor of English, Middle Tennessee State University With great energy and enthusiasm, Lauren Rosewarne examines the strange but common phenomenon of twin films – films that are remarkably similar and released at nearly the same time. Using a range of critical lenses, from coincidence to personal and personnel connections, via the economy and various zeitgeists, The Twin Film Phenomenon rigorously explores the reasons for these cinematic brothers (and sisters!) from another mother, expanding the understanding of filmic repetitions and questioning originality in cinema. This book will change how readers think about films and their connections to each other! Jonathan Evans, Reader in Translation Studies, University of Glasgow In this excellent book, Lauren Rosewarne focuses on the issue/occurrence of twinning in film and television productions with a focused presentation on a variety of shows. Deploying an extensive interdisciplinary knowledge of film and social processes, Rosewarne offers a compelling account of the mechanics of film/tv production and consumption. Her examination of the twin phenomenon in contemporary media further offers an overview of the various scholarly conversations and arguments concerning adaptation, originality, and copying in the industry. With this cogently argued analysis that is supported by relevant and extensive source work, Rosewarne demonstrates, once again, the breadth of both her analytical mastery and her insight into media texts. Linda Belau, Professor, Department of Literature and Cultural Studies, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley

Author Information

Lauren Rosewarne is an Associate Professor in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her most recent research centers on understanding the politics, economics and emotions underpinning film and television production. For more information: www.laurenrosewarne.com.

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