{"id":216778,"date":"2023-03-15T13:26:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T17:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/es\/?p=276975"},"modified":"2025-07-01T19:48:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T02:48:59","slug":"the-road-the-last-of-us-plagiarism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/the-road-the-last-of-us-plagiarism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Last of Us Prequel: why The Road is the main inspiration?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/hbo-max-wins-netflix-streaming\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HBO Max<\/a> series has ended, we can safely say that <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/the-last-of-us-episode-final-father-willing-to-make-daughter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Last of Us<\/a> is one of the greatest cultural works of the 21st century<\/strong>. The video game was already a milestone in its time, managing to rise as one of the best rated titles, especially in its narrative, of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"HBO Max\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-m\/p\/a2f73840-9b6e-11e6-a5b8-00163ec9f5fa\/1641088715\/hbo-max-logo\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">HBO Max<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/hbo-max.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DOWNLOAD<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/hbo-max.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the series has made the value of the title grow even more. It has been a full-fledged <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/the-last-of-us-transmedia-revolution-adaptations-of-videogames\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transmedia revolution<\/a>, and may be the first of many titles that end up succeeding on streaming platforms. At the moment, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-best-international-film\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Netflix<\/a> has BioShock and Amazon Prime Video has <a href=\"https:\/\/god-of-war.en.softonic.com\/?ex=DINS-635.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">God of War<\/a><\/strong>, so things are looking good for the future of video game adaptations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, riding on the success of The Last of Us, <strong>a 2009 film has surfaced whose plot is dangerously similar to that of the video game: The Road<\/strong>. The feature film came out four years before <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/the-last-of-us-chapter-8-hbo-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Naughty Dog<\/a> got their hands on their video game\u2026 and it&#8217;s best to judge for yourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed-Youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Official Trailer: The Road (2009)\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oofRyiatr5I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Connections between The Road and The Last of Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Road is a film directed by John Hillcoat and <strong>starring <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/the-lord-of-the-rings-new-films-warner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Viggo Mortensen<\/a> and Kodi Smit-McPhee<\/strong>, but also features stars such as Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce. At the time it competed at the Venice International Film Festival and received very good reviews, but few remember it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is most striking about The Road is its plot. The film is based on the book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, and the original work went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. In other words, it is a story known to all and that went far at the time. But <strong>what exactly is it about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tiempodecine.co\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/the_road.jpg?fit=1400%2C937&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cada cual es el mundo entero para el otro: La carretera, de John Hillcoat \u2013  Tiempo de Cine\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The story tells the life of an anonymous father -we don&#8217;t know his name at any point- and his young son. <strong>Both survive in a post-apocalyptic world turned into a winter desert<\/strong> where there is nothing left but hostility. The curious thing is that we never know what happened to make the world what it is, since the plot focuses exclusively on the relationship between the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both the movie and the book tell how the main characters are constantly searching for food to eat and a roof over their heads to sleep and be safe, as they flee the cold temperatures on a journey south on which they seek to reach the coast. Along the way <strong>they encounter bandits and cannibals who are a great threat to them<\/strong>. And, with no animals or plants left, they constantly fight for the few resources that remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the film we follow the father in his struggle for survival, as he teaches his son to fend for himself in this hostile world. In addition, throughout the film he must fight against a psychosis that does not leave him alone. These are <strong>nightmares that appear to him in the form of flashbacks<\/strong>. The film uses these resources to tell his story, how the boy&#8217;s mother died and why he wants to reach the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pics.filmaffinity.com\/La_carretera_The_Road-636310933-large.jpg\" alt=\"La carretera (The Road) (2009) - Filmaffinity\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although comparisons are odious and <a href=\"https:\/\/the-last-of-us.en.softonic.com\/?ex=DINS-635.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Last of Us<\/a> has ended up being clearly superior in many ways, it is curious that the plot of the game (and the series) is so similar to that of this work. Both feature a post-apocalyptic, wintry world, a father and son (or adopted daughter) as protagonists, a journey to a specific location, and <strong>a traumatic past that haunts the main character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watching the movie, there are many more coincidences that appear between these two works. It is true that <strong>The Last of Us has much more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/cordyceps-mushroom-the-last-of-us-poses-real-world-danger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">it has infected by Cordyceps<\/a>, the relationship between the protagonists is more complex and there is more character development. However, this comparison is still striking, and many believe that it is plagiarism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/review\/primary_image\/reviews\/the-road-2009\/EB20091124REVIEWS911249990AR.jpg\" alt=\"The Road movie review &amp; film summary (2009) | Roger Ebert\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspiration or plagiarism?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the fact that evil tongues speak very fast and that the creators were already accused of plagiarism at the time, Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, the directors of the original game, <strong>never denied their attachment to The Road<\/strong> and acknowledged that they were inspired by the film.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sc-card-program\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-program__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__img\" alt=\"HBO Max\" src=\"https:\/\/images.sftcdn.net\/images\/t_app-icon-m\/p\/a2f73840-9b6e-11e6-a5b8-00163ec9f5fa\/1641088715\/hbo-max-logo\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-title\">\r\n        <span class=\"sc-card-program__title\">HBO Max<\/span>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-program__button sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/hbo-max.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DOWNLOAD<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-program__col-rating\">\r\n        <svg class=\"rating-score__content\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.1\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 50 50\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 50 50\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><path class=\"rating-score__background rating-score--good\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><path class=\"rating-score__value rating-score__value--0\" fill=\"none\" stroke-width=\"6\" stroke-dashoffset=\"0\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" d=\"M40 40c8.3-8.3 8.3-21.7 0-30s-21.7-8.3-30 0 -8.3 21.7 0 30\"><\/path><text class=\"rating-score__number\" content=\"\" text-anchor=\"middle\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 1 25 31.0837)\" data-auto=\"app-user-score\"><\/text><\/svg>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <span class=\"sc-card-program__description\"><\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-program__row\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-program__bigpic\" src=\"\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-program__link track-link sc-card-program-internal\" href=\"https:\/\/hbo-max.en.softonic.com\/android\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an interview with the Los Angeles Times about how the game set a precedent in the early 2010s, both creators cited the movie as one of the foundations on which they built their world. In addition, <strong>they also highlighted other references such as the Japanese game Ico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover The Road, the film that came out four years before The Last of Us and greatly inspired the original video game and the HBO Max series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9257,"featured_media":216779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":1},"categories":[1015],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-216778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9257"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216778"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":321662,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216778\/revisions\/321662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216778"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=216778"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=216778"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=216778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}