A number of the Egyptian movies we know and love are inspired by Hollywood films.
Some borrow the plot, others tend to copy to a great level of detail, making a few alterations to adapt the content to local audiences.
Here are 12 Egyptian movies copied from American ones.
1. Shams El-Zanaty
This popular 1991 action film Starring Adel Imam, Sawsan Badr, and Mahmoud Hemida, is based on the 1960 American film The Magnificent Seven, which, in turn, is based on Seven Samurai, a popular 1954 Japanese film.
In the film, the title character Shams is hired by a Bedouin leader to fight an outlaw, Marshal Bora3i, who took over his oasis during WWI.
2. Arees Min Geha Amneya
The 2004 Egyptian comedy film عريس من جهة أمنية is based on Father of The Bride.
The film stars Adel Imam, Sherif Mounir, Hala Shiha, and >Lebleba. The plot centers on Khattab El Naggary, a rich businessman and owner of an antiques bazaar who keeps turning down marriage proposals for his daughter, as he does not want to lose his only child.
Inevitably, his daughter falls in love and marries a police officer. But the story doesn't end there. El Naggary follows the newly married couple on their honeymoon, only to clash with his daughter's mother in law, who takes the couples' side.
Eventually, the over-protective father learns to live with his new son-in-law and realizes that as long as his daughter is happy, he is happy.
3. El Torbini
This 2007 movie is based on Rain Man, an American road comedy-drama film.
The Egyptian Film Stars Sherif Mounir as the selfish elder brother Karim and Ahmed Rezk as the younger autistic brother Mohsen. The Tunisian actress Hend Sabry stars as Mohsen's therapist.
4. Amir Al Dhalam
Amir Al Dhalam (The Prince of Darkness) is a 2002 Egyptian film based on the 1992 American drama Scent of a Woman.
In this film, Adel Imam stars as Captain Sa'eed El Masry, a blind, medically retired army officer who is committed to an institute for the blind.
He does not like the prison like environment there and locks horns with the administration, effectively turning into a rebel leader among the residents. With the help of his new friends, he prevents an assassination attempt of the Egyptian president by a sniper who takes over the institute's building.
5. Habibi Na'iman
Habibi Na'iman (My love is asleep) is a 2008 romantic comedy based on the 2001ِ American film Shallow Hal.
In this film, Khaled Abolnaga's character Ramez falls in love with Nesma, portrayed by Mai Ezz El-din, thinking that she is trim.
6. ليه خلتني أحبك
Leeh Khaletni A7ebbak (Why did you make me love you) is an Egyptian romantic movie released in 2000 and based on My Best Friend's Wedding.
The film plot goes like this: Mona Zaki stars as Dalia, the daughter of a rich man who falls in love with Hesham, played by Karim Abdel Aziz. But her father never approves of their union, forcing them to breakup.
Hesham then moves to the U.S. to focus on his studies and comes back to Egypt as a successful rich man. Hesham announces his engagement to Noha (Hala Shiha), and Dalia works relentlessly to sabotage their wedding.
7. Game Over
Game Over is the Egyptian version of the 2005 Australian-American comedy film >Monster-in-Law.
In this film, the arrogant TV host Liqaa (Yosra) tries everything to drive her son's partner, Nada (Mai Ezz Eldin), who works as a waitress at a hotel, away from him. Nada fights back and the two ladies go head to head. Eventually, love wins and Nada marries Amr (Mohamed Nour).
8. Alf Mabrook
Alf Mobrook (1000 Congrats) is a 2009 Egyptian film based on GroundHog Day, a 1993 American fantasy-comedy film.
Ahmed, (Ahmed Helmy) an arrogant, selfish young man finds himself caught in a strange time loop, repeating the same day again and again, dying at midnight each night.
9. El-Hob Keda
The 2007 comedy film El-Hob Keda (This is Love) is a remake of >Are We There Yet?, a 2005 Canadian-American family comedy film.
Seif (Hamada Helal) is a young man who isn't fond of children. He falls in love with Habiba (Dorra Zarrouk), a beautiful young lady who happens to be a widow and a mother of two.
Habiba asks Seif to take the children to upper Egypt. The unruly kids however cause them to miss their flight. Seif is then forced to take them in his car.
10. Morgan Ahmad Morgan
This hilarious 2007 Egyptian comedy film is based on >Back to School, a 1986 American comedy film.
In this film, Morgan Ahmed Morgan (Adel Imam) is a wealthy, powerful business man who never made it through college. Morgan decides to go back to college to gain the respect of his son and daughter. He surprises them on campus and joins their classes.
By the end Morgan earns the respect of his family, employees, and wins the heart of his professor, Dr Jihan (Mervat Amin)
11. Ja'ana Al-bayan Al-Tali
This epic 2001 Egyptian comedy film copies I Love Trouble, a 1994 American romantic comedy film.
In this film, Nader (Mohamed Henedi), a young man with a life-long dream of becoming a TV anchor, meets Effat (Hanan Tork), an ambitious young woman also dreams of becoming an anchor.
The two first meet at a local news channel placement test. The pair fight and compete over almost everything. But later on, the rivals reluctantly collaborate to uncover a train wreck that leads to a break-through discovery.
12. Teer Enta
This 2009 Egyptian film is a remake of Bedazzled, a 2000 American fantasy-comedy film, which is based on the Faust legend.
Fateen (Ahmed Mekky), a nerdy veterinarian has a crush on Laila (Donia Samir Ghanem) who treats her dog at his clinic. Fateen is surprised by a hilarious beginner Genie ( Maged El Kedwany) who offers to help him win Laila's heart.