1

The Blues Brothers - Rogues at Full Speed (Spain)

Image: Tanner Boriack

The Blues Brothers sounds like a pretty straightforward name, right? Not for the Spanish , who are very protective of their native language and translate every movie title that comes across their border. When this 1980 movie was released in Spain, its title could have been easily translated as " Los Hermanos del Blues ," but, for some reason, it was named Rogues at Full Speed .

2

Die Hard - The Crystal Jungle (Spain)

Image: Yns Plt

The second entry on the list is also awarded to Spain for its creative title translation of Bruce Willis’ Die Hard as The Crystal Jungle . The reasons for this name remain a mystery . Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the city can be considered a jungle, and a significant part of the movie takes place in a city. Other than that, we're stumped.

3

Leon The Professional - This Hit Man is Not as Cold as He Thought (China)

Image: Matt Seymour

The Chinese translators of the French movie Léon: The Professional decided that the title wasn’t descriptive enough and opted instead for a name that served as a commentary on the main character .

4

Airplane - The Unbelievable Trip in A Wacky Aeroplane (Germany)

Image: Niels And Marco

Apparently, the Chinese are not alone when it comes to inventing more descriptive names for the movies they translate. The German version of the slapstick comedy Airplane! is translated as The Unbelievable Trip in a Wacky Aeroplane .

5

Thelma and Louise - An Unexpected Ending (Mexico)

Image: Amanda Sandlin

An implied rule when it comes to movie titles is that they should not be spoilers . Mexican translators decided to partially, at least, ignore this rule and went with An Unexpected Ending for the local version of Thelma and Louise . Yes, there could be countless possible unexpected endings, but still...

6

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - The Boy Who Drowned in Chocolate Sauce (Denmark)

Image: Kaffee Meister

It's well known that Scandinavians have a dark sense of humor , but some things are still surprising. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory , the 1971 movie featuring Gene Wilder in the title role, received an odd translation from the Danish.

7

Ghostbusters - Exorcists of Spirits (Serbia)

Image: Winston Chen

Serbians are no strangers to the supernatural . Many ghost stories and myths can be found in their beautiful and mysterious land. Perhaps that is why the people responsible for translating Ghostbusters thought it was acceptable to modify the original name to Exorcists of Spirits .

8

Grease - Pomade (Hungary)

Image: Lachlan Rennie

This one is not as far off as the previous examples, but there is something about it that just doesn’t sound quite as right as the original title. Who knows? Maybe that’s what Hungarians call their hair gel .

9

Home Alone - Mom, I Missed the Plane (France)

Image: Liubomyr Vovchak

The French translators could have done a lot worse with this one. After all, while the film’s storyline involves Kevin being stuck home alone, he ends up stuck at home because he missed his flight in the first place .

10

Annie Hall - The Urban Neurotic (Germany)

Image: Dylan Freedom

Yes, this is a Woody Allen movie, and yes, the main character, aside from Annie herself, is an urban neurotic. Maybe that’s why the German translators decided, once again, to change the simple original title of the movie to a description of the leading man’s character .

11

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - It’s Raining Falafel (Israel)

Image: Clark Douglas

Similar, but not the same— not by a long shot. The Israeli title for this children’s movie evokes a somewhat similar image to the one in the original title, but it does so with a more local dish as the element replacing the rain .

12

Deep Impact - The End of the World, the Sky Collapsed, and the Land Collapsed (Thailand)

Image: Viktor Mindt

Some movie title translations seem as if they were written by small children. But then, maybe that’s the kind of content their audience demands, in which case, more power to them. Deep Impact sounds ominous enough, sure. But a title like The End of the World, the Sky Collapsed, and the Land Collapsed is much more exciting , isn’t it?

1

Nike’s Swoosh was created for $35

Image: Shubham Mittal

Yes, it was. The iconic Nike swoosh was sketched in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student, for the grand sum of $35. She was helping out a friend—Nike co-founder Phil Knight—who needed a logo for his up-and-coming sneaker brand.

Years later, as Nike soared, the company gave her a thank-you gift: a gold swoosh ring and stock options that ended up being worth millions .

2

Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine

Image: Olena Bohovyk

It sounds like an urban legend, but it’s true: early versions of Coca-Cola did contain coca leaf extract , which naturally included trace amounts of cocaine. When pharmacist John Pemberton invented the drink in 1886, it was marketed as a "brain tonic" and nerve remedy, back when cocaine was legal and considered medicinal. By 1929, the formula was fully decocainized.

3

Neither Ben nor Jerry had any previous business experience

Image: Hybrid Storytellers

Absolutely. Longtime friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making from Penn State and launched their first scoop shop in a converted gas station in Vermont in 1978.

4

Barbie was based on a German adult doll

Image: Peyman Shojaei

True! She sure was. In the 1950s, Ruth Handler spotted a German novelty doll called Bild Lilli while on vacation. Originally sold as a gag gift for men, Lilli was fashionable, curvy, and definitely not meant for children. But Handler saw potential: she reimagined Lilli as a stylish role model for girls, and the first Barbie debuted in 1959.

5

Milton Hershey missed the Titanic voyage

Image: Janne Simoes

He definitely wasn’t on board—lucky for him! But just how close he came to sailing is uncertain. Legend has it that Milton Hershey and his wife were set to sail on the Titanic in 1912, but canceled at the last minute.

The only clue? A check stub showing a $300 deposit to the White Star Line. While there’s no confirmed ticket, the story has stuck.

6

GM hated (and banned) the nickname "Chevy"

Image: Jose Mueses

This one is partially true. In 2010, GM sent a memo urging employees to stop using the nickname "Chevy" in favor of the full "Chevrolet." The public backlash was swift—critics called the move tone-deaf. After all, "Chevy" was beloved, catchy, and woven into Americana.

Within days, the company backpedaled , assuring fans that "Chevy" wasn’t going anywhere. You just can’t mess with a nickname that’s already set in people’s hearts.

7

Apple was named after the forbidden fruit

Image: TheRegisti

Not quite. Steve Jobs chose the name "Apple" in 1976 because it sounded "fun, spirited, and not intimidating." It also gave the young company a strategic edge—it came before "Atari" in the phone book, which mattered in the era of printed directories.

8

Starbucks was named after Moby Dick’s first mate

Image: Athar Khan

Yes, though it was a winding path. The founders were searching for a name that evoked the seafaring tradition of coffee trading. After toying with " Pequod " (Captain Ahab’s ship), they landed on "Starbuck"—the first mate in Moby-Dick and a name with a strong, classic ring to it.

9

Harley-Davidson was going bankrupt, but its logo saved it

Image: Donald Teel

This one is sort of true. In the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson was revving on empty. The rise of Japanese bikes had them cornered—until the brand leaned hard into nostalgia . The bar-and-shield logo, dating back to 1910, became the centerpiece of a marketing push built on American pride, leather jackets, and the unmistakable growl of a V-twin engine.

It worked. The logo became a badge of rebellion, and Harley rebounded.

10

There’s an arrow hidden in FedEx’s logo

Image: Toni Pomar

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Look closely between the "E" and the "x" in the FedEx logo—there’s a white arrow formed by the negative space. It’s a perfect symbol for speed, direction, and efficiency.

The logo was designed in 1994 by Lindon Leader, and the hidden arrow was no accident. It’s a subtle nod to the company’s core promise: to get it there fast .

11

"Breakfast at Tiffany’s" launched the brand

Image: Sam Lashbrooke

False! Breakfast at Tiffany’s didn’t launch the brand. Tiffany & Co. had been around since 1837, known for fine jewelry and that iconic blue box. However, after the 1961 film, Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress and wistful gaze into the Tiffany’s shop window helped cement the brand’s image of elegance .

12

Levi’s blue jeans were created for gold miners

Image: Varun Gaba

Absolutely. In 1873, Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis patented durable denim trousers with copper rivets— perfect for miners during the California Gold Rush . The jeans were tough, practical, and ideal for the grueling work conditions out west. In time, what began as rugged workwear became an American icon.

13

Amazon was named after "the biggest river"

Image: Sunrise King

Yes, it was intentional. Jeff Bezos wanted a name that conveyed vastness, exoticism, and would appear early in web listings . "Amazon" fit the bill—although it could have been named "Nile," which is often cited as the world’s longest river. Bezos liked the idea of building the biggest online store in the world, just like the Amazon is the biggest river by volume.

1

The Miracle on Ice

Image: Jerry Yu

We begin with an unforgettable underdog story. At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid , New York , the United States faced what many considered a leviathan in ice hockey history. Adding to the challenge, the American team was composed mostly of 21-year-olds, making it the youngest U.S. squad in Olympic history . Yet, against all odds, these determined players triumphed over a heavily favored opponent in what became known as the " Miracle on Ice ."

Do you remember which formidable rival they defeated?

2

Rumble in the Jungle

Image: Attentie Attentie

Many sports historians consider " The Rumble in the Jungle " to be the greatest boxing match in history. Held in 1974 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this legendary bout cemented Muhammad Ali’s place in boxing history. Even more impressively, Ali’s victory came against an undisputed and undefeated heavyweight champion, whom he knocked out in the eighth round.

Though he is not as widely remembered as "The Greatest," this American boxer is still regarded as one of the best fighters of his generation. Can you guess his name?

3

Michael Jordan’s Last Shot

Image: Mike Von

It’s no exaggeration to say that Michael Jordan completely revolutionized basketball worldwide. Over his 15-season career , he delivered countless jaw-dropping moments. As you’d expect, choosing just one was no easy task, but we ultimately selected what is now known as Michael’s "Last Shot."

In the final seconds of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz , Jordan sank a game-winning shot that secured the Bulls’ victory. While you already know which team he scored against, there’s a certain player who is always featured in retellings of this iconic moment. Do you know who we’re talking about?

4

Serena Williams’ Golden Medal in London

Image: Josephine Gasser

What can be said about Serena Williams that hasn’t already been said? Arguably the greatest American tennis player in history, Williams’s career is a collection of remarkable achievements. However, we’ve chosen to highlight one of her later triumphs—her dominant performance at the 2012 London Olympics , where she became only the second woman to complete a career Golden Slam in singles.

Even more impressive was the way she secured her victory, defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-1 to claim the gold medal. Do you know who she faced in that historic match?

5

Michael Phelps's record-breaking achievements in Beijing 2008

Image: Gentrit Sylejmani

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the world was introduced to Michael Phelps , an affable kid from Baltimore who achieved the impossible: breaking seven world records and earning eight gold medals —the first step in his journey to becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Phelps’s incredible feats often overshadow his competitors, so we thought we’d take a moment to recognize the swimmers who came close but couldn’t overcome " The Baltimore Bullet ." Do you remember them?

Answers:

6

Miracle on Ice - Soviet Union

Image: Markus Spiske

If you guessed that the Soviet Union was the Goliath defeated by the American team at the Winter Olympics, you were right! At the time of the match, the Soviet team was a four-time defending gold medalist and the heavy favorite to win. Although the United States pulled off a legendary upset, the victory didn’t come easily . The game was a thrilling showdown , with the American team scoring the decisive goal exactly 10 minutes before the final buzzer.

7

Rumble in the Jungle - George Foreman

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

Known as " Big George ," Texas-born boxer George Foreman was defeated by Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle." As mentioned earlier, Ali’s victory was even more remarkable given Foreman’s dominance in the sport—he was a two-time world heavyweight champion , an Olympic gold medalist , and the favorite to win the match. Today, Foreman is remembered not only for his boxing achievements but also for his entrepreneurial success: Since 1994, his iconic George Foreman Grill has sold over 100 million units.

8

Last shot - Bryon Russell

Image: Markus Spiske

The play that would become known as " The Last Shot " began when Michael Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone and raced down the court. Before taking the shot, he swiftly dodged Utah Jazz defender Bryon Russell , causing him to trip and fall. By the time Russell got back on his feet, the ball was already soaring through the air, swishing through the net and sealing victory for the Bulls.

9

Serena Williams’ Golden Medal - Maria Sharapova

Image: Valentin Balan

Throughout their careers, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova maintained a high-profile rivalry as two of the biggest names in women’s tennis. Fortunately for tennis lovers everywhere, the 2012 Olympics brought these titans head-to-head, and while Serena dominated the match , it was far from the end of Sharapova’s career—she continued to showcase her talent until retiring in 2020.

10

Michael Phelps - László Cseh and Milorad Čavić

Image: Serena Repice Lentini

As mentioned earlier, Michael Phelps' historic victories at the 2008 Beijing Olympics were unprecedented, and narrowing it down to just one of his competitors wouldn't do justice to the event. Instead, we’d like to highlight a few remarkable runner-ups. Hungarian swimmer László Cseh secured multiple silver medals, often finishing just fractions of a second behind Phelps . Meanwhile, Serbian swimmer Milorad Čavić lost the 100m butterfly by an astonishing one-hundredth of a second —though he still managed to break the European record in the process.