How similar can two screenplays be without it being trashed?

Question

Like many others I am taking my chances of breaking into the screenwriting frenzy. :)

The sceenplay I am working on is considerbly similar to one of the movies that helped inspire me...(I dont plagerize, I swear it!)

How similar can an (amatuer) screenplay be to a 'blockbuster' film without it being immediatley trashed - and pissing off people?

p.s. the film is "The Phantom of The Opera" (w/ Butler...one sizzling phantom!)-- my guilty pleasure=)

Answer 1

The similarities between screenplays may be less imporant than the differences. Just think of how many times the story of the Gunfight at the OK Corral has been told. Or how many times screenwriters has summoined Count Dracula.

I suspect that not many people in the general public realize that "10 Things I Hate  About You" is a re-telling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." And "Forbidden Planet". is a re-imaging of the immortal bard's "The Tempest."

.If you're worried about plagiarism, start by thinking how you can change things up, a new setting, role reversal, gendere reversal, different ethnicity, etc.