16 Ways The Crow and Robocop Are The Same Film

By Alex Kazam | Follow on Twitter

Previously, I provided 12 reasons why Robocop is a film that kicks ass so much it has actually restricted my ability to form relationships with women. This is the second in a trilogy of articles that involve my beloved law enforcement man-machine Robocop.

For no real reason other than for curiosity’s sake, I’m going to demonstrate how the first film adaptation of The Crow is essentially the fantasy version of Verhoeven, Neumeier and Miner’s sci-fi masterpiece. Where Robocop uses science to explain the plot’s impossibilities, The Crow uses the supernatural.

This isn’t an attack on The Crow. I love it and I think it’s a great film. I think it’s just interesting to look at how films and stories can be structured similarly yet the end result can be very different.

Both films are available online through various services so if you’re a streaming fan like me you can recycle your DVD copies at www.musicmagpie.com. I shifted over 150 CDs and DVDs in exchange for cash with them last month – great service.

If you can think of any other pairs of films that share a similar structure please post them in the comments section, I’d love to hear some similar scenarios!

Note: This article assumes you have seen both films so there are SPOILERS ahead.

1. Both Heroes Are Violently Murdered by a Group of Scumbags

Both police officer Alex Murphy and rock star Eric Draven are just two cool dudes going about their business when they are violently murdered by a group of thugs. The murders show no remorse for their actions and both gangs have a classic 80s/early 90s token black guy.

All the lads.

Two awesome actors and bad guys – Laurence Mason and Jesse D. Goins

2. The Violent Thugs Who Murdered The Hero Work For a Businessman Villain

Michael Wincott excels as the deliciously gravel-voiced Top Dollar. On the surface he’s a music club owner who looks like a rockstar, gets high by inhaling smoke from burning eyeballs, is in love with his sister and has Draven’s killers in his employ.

Admit it -if she was your sister you would too.

In Robocop, Ronny Cox is also great as Dick Jones – the evil second in command at the OCP corporation. He too has the murderers of the hero on his payroll. Unlike Top Dollar though he doesn’t bang any of his sisters (that we know of).

The Businessmen Villains – Dick Jones and Top Dollar

3. Both Heroes Lose The Woman They Love

Because of their violent murders, they can no longer contact their significant others. The main difference here is that Alex Murphy can never reunite with his wife (unless she is cool with some sort of detachable robot penis). Eric Draven on the other hand is working towards reuniting with his missus for some kinky afterlife lovin’.

4. Both Heroes are Resurrected from the Dead But Have No Memory of their Previous Lives

Alex Murphy returns as Robocop thanks to the magic of science and capitalism. Eric Draven returns thanks to straight up magic and a mysterious Crow that acts as a supernatural Sat Nav. Both have no knowledge of their past lives after resurrection, but start to remember as the films progress.

The Heroes: Eric Draven and Robocop