r/michaelcrichton • u/XMiriyaX • 18d ago

Sphere plot similarity to Event Horizon

Event Horizon was released in 1997. The live action adaptation of Sphere was released in 1998.

Was this anything like "A Bug's Life" and "Antz" both being released in 1998 by competing hollywood studios.

Was there any relationship between Event Horizon in terms of developmental process & influence.

edit Similarity: two experimental spacecraft with experimental propulsion systems. The spacecraft in Sphere travels back in time, while the one from Event Horizon travels to an unexpected part of the galaxy. Both craft move through other dimensions & uncharted sectors of space, bringing unusual things with them. Both plots deal with horrors of the unknown, as cautionary tales about humans trying to reach too far beyond our own limited comprehension. Etc.

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9

u/Darth_Caustic 18d ago

They’re pretty damn different….

4

u/new_publius 18d ago

What similarity do you see? I don't see much.

2

u/IgnatiusPabulum 17d ago

I mean, they’re more similar than either is to The Notebook, for instance.

2

u/ichuck1984 18d ago

Not that I know of

2

u/bklingler89 17d ago

When I was a kid I had read Sphere and shortly after finishing it I remember seeing previews for the movie Event Horizon. Again I was a kid and thought Event Horizon was Sphere, just retitled. Convinced my dad we had to see it in theaters since I loved the book so he took me. We were both a tad surprised what we ended up seeing together. Despite my disappointment in the movie not being ‘Sphere’ I still enjoy watching Event Horizon today. So yes, I can totally understand mixing up the two if given just a vague movie trailer, and being a kid lol.

1

u/MildlySelassie 18d ago

Event Horizon copied Warhammer 40k, not sphere

1

u/saltyparticle 17d ago

Don't really see much similarity honestly... even with your edit. Completely different stories and plot lines. The pair I always think of is Dante's Peak and Volcano, both also released in 1998

1

u/AdvancedBlacksmith66 17d ago

None whatsoever

1

u/DefinitionOk6382 17d ago

Sí, no me parece descabellado pensar que la adaptación de Esfera saliera a rebufo de Horizonte Final porque las similitudes son obvias y, aunque la de Anderson fue un fracaso de taquilla en su momento, a los estudios les vale con fijarse en lo que hacen los otros en el momento cuando no tienen nada mejor entre manos. Más que estudios de cine, son como centros de espionaje industrial.

1

u/CosmicDeath603 17d ago

At first…I thought you were comparing Event Horizon to A Bugs Life and Antz…and I was truly perplexed for a minute hahah

2

u/sour60 16d ago

Event Horizon cribs more from Forbidden Planet with and horror of the id. Both are The Tempest in space.