From Screen to Reality: Five Fictional Companies That Made It Big
In the world of fiction, some companies are so iconic that they leap off the screen and into our everyday lives. We watch them in movies, laugh with them in TV shows, and read about them in books, never imagining that they could become real. Yet, sometimes the allure is too strong, the brand too memorable, and before you know it, someone has turned fiction into reality. And, when this happens, the .com domains are often ripe for the picking.
Let’s rewind the tape and look at five companies that went from make-believe to making billions: Bubba Gump, Wonka, Cheers, Holiday Inn, and Soylent. From a shrimp company inspired by a movie, to a candy empire born from a children’s book, these brands prove that, sometimes, life does imitate art.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Fictional Beginnings
First introduced in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. was the idea of Forrest Gump and his shrimp-obsessed buddy, Bubba. In the movie, Bubba asked Forrest to go into the shrimping business with him while they were fighting in the Vietnam war together. But, before they completed their tour, Bubba was killed. After Forrest was discharged from his service, he bought a shrimp boat and kept his word to become a shrimper, as a tribute to his bestie. The business ended up becoming a massive success in the movie, which made Forrest (and Bubba’s family) quite wealthy.
Real-World Success – BubbaGump.com
In 1995, Anthony Zolezzi bought the rights to the name Bubba Gump Shrimp from Paramount Pictures. Zolezzi wanted to use the brand to bring some life to his struggling seafood business, Meridian Products. Zolezzi initially packaged shrimp with the Bubba Gump name and distributed them in grocery stores. Soon after, Zolezzi and a few of his friends used the Bubba Gump brand to open a restaurant – Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
The first location opened in Monterey, California, in 1996. Today, Bubba Gump has locations worldwide, offering shrimp dishes in more ways than Bubba could’ve ever listed. It’s become a solid spot for seafood lovers, reeling in customers with its ocean of options.
Wonka
Fictional Beginnings
In 1964, Roald Dahl came out with the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where he introduced the world to Willy Wonka – a quirky candy master and chocolatier. In the book, Wonka invites a bunch of kids (the main character being Charlie) with wide eyes and (apparently) empty stomachs into his factory to see his secret recipes with their own eyes. The entry price to the factory – finding one of the five coveted “Golden Tickets” that Wonka put inside his world-famous chocolate bars. The story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, (and the lore of Willy Wonka), was woven into the social fabric of society when the tale was was immortalized in film, first in 1971 and again in 2005.
Real-World Success – Wonka.com
Wonka (the candy company) was launched in 1971 by Breaker Confections, to coincide with the release of the first film for Charlie and the Chocolate factory. The Wonka brand made candy just like people saw in the movie – Wonka Bars and Everlasting Gobstoppers, amongst others. In 1988, Nestlé acquired the Willy Wonka Candy Company when it was wrapped up in the purchase of the Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery company. The purchase price – a sweet $4.5 billion.
The Wonka brand has continued to grow as a favorite amongst sweet-tooths globally. While there might not be Oompa Loompas making the candy, the brand still brings a touch of magic—and a whole lot of sugar rush, with classics like Nerds, Runts, and Laffy Taffy.
Cheers
Fictional Beginnings
The sitcom Cheers aired from 1982 to 1993, and it made a Boston bar where “everybody knows your name” famous. If you grew up in the 80’s, it’s likely that the theme song still rings in your ears today. Cheers made you feel like you were a part of the show – besties with the entire cast – hoping that you too could walk into the friendly, neighborhood bar and everyone would yell your name to welcome you…just like your pal, Norm. Woody and Sam – they exuded the cool factor – all while having casual swagger….not to mention they were handsome devils.
Real-World Success – CheersBoston.com
In the early 1980’s, before Cheers was filmed, the producers were scoping pubs around Boston to find the “perfect” set for the show. After visiting a bar called Bull & Finch, they knew they found their match. Bull & Finch was a Boston staple – it originally opened in 1969 and was a neighborhood watering hole for many. But, after the show premiered on September 30, 1982, a path for the bar’s destiny was paved – the show was a resounding success. In the 80’s, TV was still the main medium for driving cultural movements, and people across America wanted to visit the friendly atmosphere of the bar to experience it. Cheers became a cultural anchor and destination for many.
But, it wasn’t until 2002 that the Bull & Finch Pub officially changed its name to Cheers. For years, people would visit Boston and say that they had trouble finding the bar and, (when they did find it), that the bar didn’t quite “feel” like Cheers because it wasn’t named Cheers…even though the interior looked the exact same as the show. So, the signal was loud and clear to the owners – 9 years after the show ended, they officially rebranded to Cheers.
Holiday Inn
Fictional Beginnings
Holiday Inn started as a fictional setting in the 1942 Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire film. Like most movies from the 40’s and 50’s, this one didn’t shy away from campy music and “on-the-nose” dialog with a formal tone that steered the narrative along. In the film, Jim Hardy, (the main character), gets dumped by his fiancée, Lila, on Christmas Eve. He then retreats to a farm in Connecticut and turns it into the "Holiday Inn," open only on holidays.
Real-World Success – HolidayInn.com
In 1951, Kemmons Wilson was on a family road trip and experienced a frustrating situation with lodging. After the experience, he decided to create a chain of motels that offered consistent, high-quality, family-friendly accommodations at reasonable prices.
To start the venture, Wilson partnered with Wallace Johnson who, jokingly, suggested that they should name their business after the original Crosby and Astaire film – Holiday Inn. The name stuck and, in 1952, the first Holiday Inn opened in Memphis, Tennessee. Though the film didn't directly inspire the concept for the hotel chain, it provided the launching pad for, what became, one of the largest global hotel brands. Doubtlessly, it’s been quite the journey from silver screen to sweet dreams.
Soylent
Fictional Beginnings
In the dystopian flick, Soylent Green (1973), the year is 2022, and New York City is packed tighter than a sardine can with 40 million people. Detective Frank Thorn (Charlton Heston) is on the case of a murdered bigwig, William R. Simonson. Thorn uncovers that the city's main food source, Soylent Green, isn't made of ocean plankton as advertised — it's made of people. The film wraps up with Thorn trying to blow the lid off the grim secret, reminding us that unchecked consumption might just consume us all. The movie's premise wasn’t exactly appetizing, but it sure left an impression.
Real-World Success – Soylent.com
In 2013, a group of tech entrepreneurs reimagined Soylent as a meal replacement drink for people with modern, busy lifestyles. The founders were inspired by the film Soylent Green, but wanted to create a product that was made from much less…disturbing…ingredients. Soylent products have since become a staple for health-conscious folks, showing that sometimes, truth is stranger (and tastier) than fiction. Now, it’s the future of food without the mystery meat.
The Bottom Line
These five companies show that fiction can be a goldmine of inspiration. From shrimp shacks to candy empires, nostalgic bars to reliable hotels, and even futuristic food – these brands prove that with a bit of creativity, dreams can become reality. So, next time you enjoy Bubba Gump shrimp, Wonka candy, a pint at Cheers, a night at Holiday Inn, or a Soylent drink, remember—you’re living in someone’s wildest dream.
