The Great Pretenders: 35+ Hilarious Brand Knockoffs

Ever heard the saying, “Why make something original when you can tweak a thing or two and call it yours?” Well, get ready to dive into a world where creativity took a vacation, and imitation decided to throw a party!

Today’s listicle is all about those knockoffs that make you go, “Wait, what?” From Under Arms sneakers (because who needs the over ones?) to Calvin Klain socks (yes, apparently, the name got a makeover too), welcome to the land where originality took a vacation.

But hey, before we embark on this hilarious journey of replicas, grab yourself a snack—be it the classic Nutella or its long-lost cousins Mapella and Manuella on toast. And don’t forget your drink! Maybe a glass of Mountain View or the mysterious Shport. Trust us, it’s the perfect setup for this rollercoaster of copycat chaos. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to chuckle your way through this parade of questionable creativity. It’s a laugh riot, guaranteed!

Viotcrla,s Secrete

Ever had that “Oops, what did I just buy?” moment? Whoever snagged VIOTCRLA,S SECRETE lipstick sure did! The packaging alone screams “questionable quality.” We’d rather splurge on the real deal, Victoria’s Secret makeup, than play roulette with the alphabet soup lipsticks!

Someone snagged this gem from a dollar store, but yikes! Better to skip these bargain adventures—cheap products might just throw a skin tantrum. Plus, “Secrete” on our lips? No thanks, we’ll pass on the mystery and stick to the genuine stuff!

Calvin Klain Socks

Here is a pair of “designer” socks that someone’s partner gifted them. While they might not be authentic, it’s the thought that counts. Anyway, no one would be able to tell that they’re fake when worn; after all, they’d be hidden under long pants.

We hope the person who bought this wasn’t tricked into paying full price for this knockoff, as we noticed that the tag attached to the socks has the real name of the brand Calvin Klein on it. If someone’s shopping in a rush, they could easily be fooled.

Monsters Dru Monstrosity

Short on birthday cash? Meet the “Monsters Dru” toy—a mashup of Boo from Monsters, Inc. and a Gru from Despicable Me makeover. Sounds like a discount double whammy! Who needs pricey originals when you can gift a mishmash masterpiece? Well, in this case, definitely NOT us.

This thing is actually terrifying. One could say this Monsters Dru toy is a monstrosity. This is a mashup we didn’t need or want! This would give us nightmares, but maybe kids would be happy to play with it. Curious how many unsuspecting souls gifted this hair-raising surprise!

SpongeBob ScaryPants

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Not this version of SpongeBob SquarePants called Sponge. Mr. ScaryPants over here was created for a video game that shockingly has over, as of today, one million downloads. We would rather give this game a miss!

This game is available on Google Play if anyone wants to download it and have a good laugh. We think this character, who is an imitation of SpongeBob but with a mustache and bulging eyes, is hysterical—and creepy, we’re not gonna lie.

Air Karate Kids

Here’s how you can spot a fake pair of Air Jordans: the logo on your kicks won’t have a silhouette of Michael Jordan in the air holding a basketball known as the Jumpman logo; it will have one resembling the Karate Kid.

Make sure you buy your Jordans at a reputable store if you don’t want to accidentally go home with a pair of what one could call Air Macchios—you know, the guy who played the Karate Kid. But if you’re a sneaker-head, we’re sure you could spot fakes from a mile away.

That’s Not Nike That’s Mike

When Nike said, “Just do it,” we are pretty sure they didn’t mean just copying their brand. Changing one letter and slightly altering a logo doesn’t make it your own design—we’re talking about you, Mike backpack. This is quite amusing.

Could it be that backpack’s owner is named Mike, on a quest for his personalized gear? Or maybe this guy is just a budget-friendly legend, dodging the hefty Nike prices for a look-alike adventure. Who knows, maybe “Mike’s” on to something!

Hola! Soy Donna!

Hola! I’m Dora! Ready to spot a ripoff? Behold, Donna the Scholar—a “close enough” version of yours truly. Somebody, give that copycat a backpack and teach them the golden rule: “Swiper, no swiping!” Why don’t you get your own gig, buddy?

We can’t help but laugh at how they swapped out Boots the monkey, Dora’s sidekick, with a rabbit with shorts that oddly resemble the one from Winnie the Pooh. Guess they chose to make it different by including a character from another franchise.

It’s the Pits

Do you know Under Armour? It’s a great sportswear brand. How about Under Arms? Now that brand sounds like the pits. Get it? We personally wouldn’t want to walk around in shoes with a brand name that reminds people of sweat.

N.M Silber, an author and attorney, once said, “Knockoffs may look good, but they never last as long as the real thing.” Totally true, but let’s face it, some knockoffs don’t even nail the ‘looking good’ part—talk about a fashion fumble!”

Shh…

Behold, “Shh… Lemon”—the stealthy soda! Looks like the creators are whispering, “Keep it hush-hush,” but oops, cat’s out of the bag! Sorry, copycats, the internet spills all secrets; we know which brand you copied! Schweppes might want to trademark their “shh” too!

People may create off-brand drinks, but they will never be able to replicate the flavor of the popular sodas. Maybe the label on this soda could also be telling us to keep quiet regarding the awful sour taste. Who knows?

It’s Not a Bird, It’s Not a Plane, It’s Not the Real Superman

“Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Superman,” no, it’s actually a Superman ripoff. This 1980 movie that someone spotted on Amazon Prime is a blatant copy of Superman, but here’s the twist: it has a similar backstory to Batman.

This Superman costume is almost identical to the original with one exception: this doesn’t have the S emblem on his costume; it has an H, which we think stands for Hanuman. We would be very surprised if the creators of this movie weren’t sued for copyright infringement.

Sardar’s Fish n Chicken

We all know and love KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the fast-food chain founded by Colonel Sanders, who is also the face of the finger-lickin’ good establishment. What you probably didn’t know is there is a restaurant in India that imitated the chicken restaurant’s brand; it’s called SFC, Sardar’s Fish n Chicken.

This isn’t the first place to make a similar name and logo to the popular chicken restaurant. KFC called out all the copycat chicken shops in Britain by creating an ad campaign in 2019 with images of the restaurants with a message at the bottom that reads, “Guys, we’re flattered.” That is brilliant!

Fony Controller

Check out this bogus Sony controller, or as we fondly call it, “Fony”! They swapped symbols for letters that scream their faux identity. Talk about being as subtle as a marching band in a library—fake alert in neon lights, folks!

Here is something you might not have known: in the beloved animated show South Park they actually use this fake brand. In season 10, episode 7, you can spot the character Eric turning on a TV branded as Fony. That is pretty funny!

Mapella On Toast

Mapella—it’s not just a city in Italy; it’s also the name of a brand that imitated Nutella. Nutella is simply the best, better than all the copycats out there! This brand can copy their label, but they can’t replicate the chocolatey goodness that is Nutella.

According to Coco Chanel, “The best things in life are free.” Well, sorry Coco, Nutella didn’t get the memo—it’s definitely a splurge! But fear not, for budget warriors, there’s this knockoff spread. Maybe not as tasty, but hey, it saves you dough to buy more snacks!

HaM

Ever heard “You are what you wear”? Well, strap on this brand, and voila! You’re officially Ham—not the sandwich, but a knockoff of H&M. Yep, Hennes & Mauritz turned into a snack. Fashion, now served with a side of humor!

“Shopping is always a good idea,” they say. But beware of the online trap! Late-night retail therapy might lead to accidental knockoff purchases. Shopping in a daze? Beware—what seems real at midnight might just be a nocturnal knockoff waiting to sneak into your cart!

Home of the Pastries

Burger King, home of the whopper. Burek King, home of the hopper—that is at least what we think their slogan is. If they copied everything else, why not copy the popular burger joint slogan? It would probably be home to the pastries, as that’s what burek is.

Ever wondered if this joint’s had a Whopper rush from clueless folks? Picture them sauntering in, eyes on the prize, unaware it’s a Burger King knockoff. That would make for a hilarious menu mix-up and a royal case of mistaken burgers!

Whats App Eau De Parfum

Introducing: “Original Whats App” perfume. We don’t think copying a messaging app’s logo and name is very original, but ok. Well, we guess putting it on a perfume is. This is very odd. We wonder what it smells like, blue ticked and unread messages, maybe?

Einstein’s wisdom rings true—being creative means thinking outside the box! Kudos to the brainiac who thought, “Let’s spritz WhatsApp vibes.” So, whoever was the first person to make a perfume with the WhatsApp name and logo is very creative because we would’ve never thought to do that—nor would we want to.

Manuella Chocolate Spread

Ah, the classic Nutella meme: “Mom, can we get Nutella?” And the home reply? “Behold, Manuella!” Nice try, but not fooling us with that knockoff sorcery. No impostor spread can dupe our Nutella cravings—that is a different toast tale altogether!

Back in 2014, Nutella got all fancy with personalized jars, but hold up! This isn’t the customized version—nope, it’s a Nutella copycat spotted in Iraq. Seems like someone’s trying to ride the hazelnut spread wave, but nice try, impostor sp

Keeps Your Data Comfy

Thinking of a Samsung? Well, how about a “Samsnug” hard drive—a snug fit for your data, or so they say! But seriously, let’s not kid ourselves—counterfeits might wrap your files in a cozy blanket, but they tend to snooze on the job. Stick to the real deal for smooth tech sailing!

Samsnug might have a cute name, but watch out! It could pull a disappearing act on your data—poof, gone! Don’t be surprised if the buyer of this knockoff ends up on a scavenger hunt for lost files. Lesson learned: sometimes, cheap thrills cost a data-filled chill!

Oreo Copycats

Check out this parade of faux Oreos! Among them, “Okidoki” and “WhoNu?” taking the comedy cake! Who knew there’d be a cookie aisle full of knockoffs? But sorry, imitators—when it comes to twist, lick, and dunk, we’re sticking to the original Oreo dance routine, thank you very much!

Surprise scoop: Oreo was born as Hydrox’s doppelgänger back in 1912! Talk about a cookie plot twist—the imitation stole the spotlight. Maybe someday, one of these off-brands will take the biscuit crown from Oreo! Watch out, original, the clones are on the rise!

An “Orginial” Phone Case

Behold, the sneaky phone case! Initially, our brains saw “Pringles” because, you know, autopilot mode. But on closer inspection, it’s a tongue-twisting “Pirmlges” knockoff! Can’t even pronounce it, let alone dial the flavor! Nice try, but pass the original chip, please!

Are you seeking a quirky phone case featuring “Julias Pringles” and a mullet? Amazon’s got your back! Walking around with a “Pirmlges” case? Talk about a conversation kickstarter! Who needs a plain case when you can rock a confusing, mullet-wearing knockoff?

A Delicious Can of Shport

Quench your thirst with a splash of Shport—making Sprite a sport! Doubt it’s as refreshing as the OG. “I’ll take a cup of Shport,” said no one, ever! Maybe it’s a taste adventure… or just a quirky attempt at a carbonated knockoff!

This drink could be used in a TV show or movie that hasn’t been paid by Sprite for product placement, ’cause who wants to give out free advertising? Maybe one day, we’ll see a character on the big screen drinking a can of this Sprite ripoff.

Mockbusters

Calling all movie lovers, have you seen any of these mockbusters Chop Kick Panda, The Frog Prince, What’s Up Balloon to the Rescue, and Ratatoing? If not, we’re sure you might’ve’ watched the original blockbusters Kung Fu Panda, The Princess and the Frog, Up, and Ratatouille. Those did very well at the box office.

Ever heard of Video Brinquedo? They’re the Brazilian whizzes behind these copycat flicks. Thinking of a movie night? Heads up: these films didn’t get a tomato-splattered rave on Rotten Tomatoes. Watch at your own risk—or better yet, maybe opt for a comedy instead!

HotDognald’s, HotDognald’s

Well, well, well! Check out this hot dog cart—rocking a McDonald’s look! But hold the mustard—”HotDognald’s”? Not exactly a tongue-twister champ. Wonder if they are serving up smiles like the golden arches and if folks are loving those wiener wonders!

Curiosity’s peaking—do they serve a “Whacky Meal” at this McDonald’s look-alike? If they’re copycatting brands, why not get creative with meal names too? Time for a taste test! As Mean Girls said, “Get in, loser, we’re heading to HotDognald’s!” Let’s roll!

Where’s Waldo’s Lesser-Known Sister

Let’s play “Find Waldo”! Oh wait, you won’t find him here—it’s Lost Woman instead! Stuck on a Halloween costume idea? How about dressing up as this off-brand “Where’s Waldo” character? You might be lost, but you’ll stand out in the crowd for sure!

A missed chance: “Where’s Wanda” could’ve been a snappier name for this knockoff! But hey, straying too close to “Where’s Waldo” (or “Where’s Wally” across the pond) might have caused brand name chaos. Better to give Wanda her own mysterious spotlight!

We’ll Call This Lacassociation

Why settle for one shirt when you can rock a fusion fashion statement? Introducing the “Lacassociation” tee—combining Lacoste and U.S. Polo Association logos! Heads will surely spin when you flaunt this hybrid creation! Who needs to pick sides when you can blend logos and turn heads instead?

Hold your horses! It’s not a Lacoste or Ralph Lauren knockoff, folks—it is the U.S. Polo Association! Confusing logos, eh? Seems like there is a copycat club in the world of fashion, and they are playing logo mix-and-match if you ask us!

It’s Mockey Mouse!

Have you ever heard, “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine”? Well, after seeing this knockoff, we’ve ha been inspired to change it to “Oh Mockey, you’re not fine, you’re not fine; it blows my mind how people can copy others. Hey Mockey.”

This “Mockey” mishap might trigger some teasing—oh, the irony! Wonder if she rocks a “Monnie Mouse” outfit too—talk about inviting giggles like a comedy show! Mockey jackets and Monnie Mouse gear, setting the stage for fashion chuckles! Don’t you think?

PonysaniG Battery

Behold, the mighty PonysaniG battery, boasting a solid three-hour lifespan… or at least it did for someone! That’s the snag with knockoff batteries—they fizzle out faster than a sprinting sloth! Doubt Panasonic, the ripped-off brand, would drop the power ball so swiftly!

Sure, those knockoff batteries might wink at your wallet, but beware—they’re like the Houdinis of power, disappearing faster than you can say “energize”! Plus, they might pull a “leak and heat” party. Say no to knockoffs and stick with the authentic power players, folks!

Captain China to the Rescue

Introducing Captain China, the not-so-super superhero doppelgänger of Captain America! They tweaked the name but missed the mark by leaving the A on the noggin. A for China? That’s a super twist! Let the laughs roll in—poking fun at this could be an all-day affair, just like Cap’s famous line, “I can do this all day.”

This déjà vu feels like “China Captain: The Remix”! Movie critics couldn’t resist roasting it as a Marvel misfire. As Robin Sharma noted, “You know you’re winning when you’re being copied.” Looks like Captain America’s inspiring copycats left and right—movies, products, you name it, Cap’s shadow looms large!

Huh?

The perfume Gucci Bloom exudes sophistication and luxury—the same can’t be said about this imitation, Cuuci Boom. If we had to ask someone what fragrance they’re wearing, and they said “Cuuci Boom,” we would not be able to contain our laughter.

Aldo Gucci dropped wisdom: “Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.” While Cuuci Boom might pinch the wallet less, save those coins for Gucci Bloom—it even sounds like it’s blossoming with better quality! Splurging on scent? Might as well go for the “Bloom” bouquet!

Peepi Socks

Behold, the comical Peepi socks! Order Pepsi socks, get a soda surprise—mixed emotions, anyone? Surprisingly, folks knowingly snag these knockoffs, embracing the soda-inspired foot fashion. Who knew socks could add a dash of soda pop hilarity to your wardrobe? Not us.

If you are looking for a pair of socks to wear on National Crazy Sock Day, a day that you wear your silliest, wildest, craziest pair of socks, according to crazysocks.com, you could always wear these. They are pretty silly!

Look, It’s Calvin Klein Ripoffs

From Calvin Klain socks to the wild world of underpants! Enter the scene: Chanvien Leen, Ghanvien Kleen, and Ghldin Kldin—a tongue-twister parade! Names took a tumble from bad to worse in this knockoff Calvin Klein bonanza, spotted in the Czech Republic. Yikes, fashion fumbles galore!

Remember when Lorraine mistook Marty McFly’s name for Calvin Klein ’cause of his undies? Phew, luckily, “Ghldin Kldin” didn’t make it into Back to the Future! Marty might’ve been stuck with a very peculiar alias if those knockoff brands sneaked into the script!

Chocolate Copycats

Spot the M&M copycats! They’re selling “Chocolate Copycats”—at least they’re honest about the knockoff game. Time for a taste test! Are they as good as the real M&Ms or just wannabe choc-stars? Let’s dive into this delicious detective work and see who deserves the candy crown!

Not just a one-hit wonder: M&Ms swiped the candy-coated chocolate concept from Smarties! Lesson learned: no need for original ideas—just swipe and ride the success train! Who knew imitation was the secret sauce for climbing that sweet ladder of success?

Head and Shoulders Knockoff

Ever heard of Hoed & Shouders shampoo? Yep, a cheeky twin of Head & Shoulders! Found in Venezuelan stores, it ss not alone in the mimic game—seems like a whole lineup of personal care products joined the shameless mimicry parade!

We find it strange that they decided to brand it Hoed & Shouders because, in Dutch, it translates to hat, and if it were spelled Schouders, it would translate to shoulders. You would think you’d find this knockoff in the Netherlands, but that’s not the case.

LEOG AirPod Case

We looove this AirPod case—we just don’t love that it says LEOG instead of LEGO. Knockoffs just don’t look aesthetically pleasing and take away the focus from the nice design. The designer’s got skills—time to build their own brand instead of mimicking the blocky legends!

So, a friend gifted this knockoff LEGO AirPod case—tempting to block ’em! But hey, we’re just kidding! Gotta fit in that LEGO pun: “Block,” get it? It’s all fun and games until the blocks start flying—building friendships, one pun at a time!

Angry Birds Mildly Infuriated Bird

It’s math time! Angry Birds + Flappy Bird = the epic hybrid: “Mildly Infuriated Bird.” If the game creators spotted this knockoff, they’d be more than just mildly infuriated! Copying them and hitchhiking on their success? That’s a feather-ruffling, game-changing equation for sure!

Behold the game on Google Play: touted as “very fun and interactive” (a.k.a. Flappy Bird’s distant cousin). They won’t spill the beans, but we know—it’s a copycat! Props for the name, though; “very funny” imitating Angry Birds! Creativity points? Let’s just say they’re in the mimicry hall of fame!

Quench Your Thirst With Mountain View

Behold, Mountain View, Mountain Dew’s distant relative. We don’t know where you can find this, but we are ok not knowing. We are not very eager to taste this knockoff as it almost resembles a cleaning product like dish detergent!

American sports journalist Jemele Hill tweeted in 2019, “Good morning to everybody except the people bringing this to the cookout.” She was talking about knockoff sodas, Dr Thunder, and Mountain Lightning. We bet she also wouldn’t be impressed by this Soda Mountain View.

Welcome to Tasty Food Centre

Look at this restaurant—it’s giving KFC knockoff. Kentucky Fried Chicken should name and shame them for being copycats. The only difference is this place doesn’t serve finger-lickin’ good fried chicken; they sell soup. You can order chicken soup from them, though.

Fancy a bite at this KFC look-alike in Karachi, Pakistan? Not sure if it’s finger-lickin’ good, but hey, if you’re ever there, it’s worth a shot! Just a heads-up: even if they’re doppelgangers, don’t expect a finger-lickin’ bucket of chicken. It might be a zinger of a different flavor!

My Little Phony

This is a My Little Pony mask, or should we say My Little Frozen, or better yet, Phony mask—we don’t see any cute ponies here, just Elsa and Anna from Frozen. If someone got this for their kid, they probably told them to “let it go” and just wear it. 

Back when COVID was around, and masks were mandatory, we wonder if there were a lot of people who walked around with knockoff masks like this one here, and we just didn’t notice as we were avoiding others and social distancing.

Qatar Anyways

We’re laughing at this fake Barcelona football shirt, but you know who isn’t laughing? The person who didn’t think they were buying a knockoff and paid eighty euros for it. Yeah, we know that’s crazy. They got ripped off big time. “Anyways,” we’re sure they’ll still wear it after they paid that much for it.

You might be wondering how they didn’t notice that the shirt is a knockoff, as it has a fake badge, no Nike logo, and the wrong sponsor’s name; it says Anyways instead of Airways. Well, that’s because the seller showed them the real thing and then swapped it with the fake without them knowing!

All Aboard the Knockoff Train

If you grew up reading The Little Engine That Could, you’ll recognize that this book, The Little Train That Won a Medal, is a ripoff of the American folktale. This book was written by Darlene Geis and published in 1947—seventeen years after The Little Engine that Could was published.

There is a quote from The Little Engine that could that goes, “I think I can, I think I can.” The author of this knockoff probably read that and thought, “Hmm, I think I can copy this book and profit “from it.”

Marvel and DC Unite

Whoever thought it was a good idea to take elements from Marvel and DC superheroes to create one giant superhero was mistaken. We feel that this giant knockoff looks hilarious and somewhat disturbing. Some people have called this creation a work of art, but as they say, art is subjective.

This BatSupHulkWonderSpiderman statue was spotted somewhere in Incheon, South Korea. We don’t know why or for what purpose it was made. We won’t be able to see those superheroes the same way again after seeing this monstrosity. If you can’t stop laughing, then join the club!

Aston Maptin and Popschf

What is your favorite car model? Ours is a tie between an Aston Maptin and Popschf. Oh, sorry, we have knockoffs on the brain; we meant the well-established car brands Aston Martin and Porsche. You won’t see those names on these toy cars, though; that would be a copyright infringement.

We would like to see if this toy manufacturer has created any other knockoff car brands, like Feppapi, and Jaguap. We would buy one just for laughs. We suggest that you don’t gift this to a car enthusiast, though; they won’t be impressed or amused.

This Doesn’t Look Right

Check out these oddly familiar sodas! One claims to be “Club Cola” but screams Coca-Cola vibes—fancy that twist! They’re straight out of those TV shows with knockoff brands, right? Looks like these beverages missed the memo on the art of camouflage in the beverage world!

At first glance, these sugary drinks look authentic until you notice the funny names: Right instead of Sprite, Fancy instead of Fanta, and Club Cola, which we all know is a ripoff of Coca-Cola. We wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of consumers have been fooled by this, though.

Naike, Don’t Do It

If you want to dress to impress, wear Nike, not Naike. Someone was actually gifted this fake brand a couple of years back. Just a thought: if you are looking for a present for a friend, we wouldn’t suggest gifting a knockoff; just don’t do it. People would rather have authentic items.

Did you know that, according to the European Consumer Centre Denmark, in France, Portugal, and Italy, one faces serious consequences if found to be in possession of any counterfeit goods? Guess that means that you couldn’t wear this Naike brand in one of those countries.

Smell like a Digital Platform

Do you want to smell like Yahoo, Telegram, and Viber? There is a store that sells fragrances that took these digital platform’s brands and slapped them on some sprays. Weird right? We really want to know what these smell like.

If this product is popular we’d be shocked. We think people would be more inclined to buy a spray that is called cotton candy or summer breeze rather than one that has the same name and logo as a messaging app like Telegram. We could be wrong, though.