Summary
Some movie remakes, like King Kong and A Star is Born, are praised for their refreshing take on the original story, while others are seen as unnecessary and disappointing.
Remakes such as Fame (2009) and The Mummy (2017) failed to capture the essence of the original films, lacking proper character development and stripping away what made them successful.
Remaking iconic horror films like Poltergeist and Psycho often fall flat, lacking the terror and suspense of the originals, and are regarded as pointless and unnecessary.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
In Hollywood, many remakes of classic movies have been released over the years, but there are a number of remakes that were unnecessary as they either didn’t add anything new or didn’t honor the source material. Some remakes can retell a classic story, some can add a new twist, and some can re-imagine the story differently from the original. The success of a remake depends on its similarities to the source material, its production, and its connection to both audiences and critics.
Some movie remakes such as King Kong, A Star is Born, and West Side Story have been released to critical acclaim and regarded as a refreshing take on the original story. Other remakes miss their target and are a bitter disappointment. There are plenty of movie remakes out there that have been seen as entirely unnecessary and unneeded by anybody at all. Here are a few of them.
10 Fame (2009)
Released in 1980, Alan Parker’s Fame centers on students attending New York’s High School of Performing Arts, as they progress from their first day to graduation. The 1980 film received praise for its acting, music, and ability to portray the highs and lows of success in a relatable manner to audiences. The film won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score and is still regarded as one of the best musical drama films of the 1980s.
The 2009 remake followed the same storyline of attending a performing arts school while using different characters but was regarded as shallow compared to the original film. It received criticism for its clichéd stories, lack of proper character development, and removing the serious and darker themes that were an essential part of the 1980 film. Critics and viewers alike agreed that this remake tried to take advantage of High School Musical’s success and relate to a younger audience, but it lacked the soul and heart that made the original a hit.
9 The Mummy (2017)
There were high hopes for 2017’s The Mummy; it was intended to be the first in Universal’s Dark Universe based on their classic monsters of the 20th century. With Tom Cruise starring as Sergeant Nick Morton, the film sees an Ancient Egyptian queen being accidentally released from her tomb and causing havoc across present-day London. The Mummy is regarded as one of the most legendary monsters of all time, so there were hopes that the 2017 film would bring a new exciting take on the story.
When the film was released, however, it failed at the box office and received a cold response from audiences. Critics felt the movie stripped away all the humor and fun that made the original 1999 trilogy a success. The original trilogy’s star, Brendan Fraser, has stated that removing the fun is where the movie went wrong. Despite strong action sequences and an interesting take on the story, The Mummy couldn’t connect with viewers, which led to Universal canceling the Dark Universe altogether.
Directed by Herbert Ross, Footloose is a 1984 musical drama film that follows Kevin Bacon’s teenager Ren, who moves to a small town where dancing is banned. With the help of new friends and his new crush Ariel, Ren fights to overturn the town’s views on dancing and the right to express themselves through music. The original was a box-office success and is memorable for its popular soundtrack; it received more recognition in recent years thanks to its multiple references in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
Paramount released a remake of Footloose in 2011, starring Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald. Unlike other remakes, it wasn’t a complete failure, receiving moderate reviews and performing decently at the box office. But critics agree that a remake of Footloose just wasn’t needed in the modern era and it didn’t have the same emotional impact on viewers as the original did.
7 Poltergeist (2015)
Produced by Steven Spielberg, 1982’s Poltergeist looks at a suburban family whose home is haunted by a host of ghosts that abduct their youngest child. Thanks to its talented cast, relatable characters, and gripping story, the original Poltergeist delivers pure terror and suspense and is regarded as a horror classic. Heather O’Rourke’s line “They’re here!” is oft-quoted as one of the more memorable lines in the horror genre.
Many horror movies have received a remake over the years, so it was no real surprise that Poltergeist would end up receiving one in 2015. However, many agree that the remake fell flat, relying too much on jump scares and adding nothing new or exciting to the story. Despite the cast giving their all, the Russo Bros’ Poltergeist remakeis largely regarded as a pointless and unnecessary rehash of an already iconic horror film.
6 House of Wax (2005)
Like Poltergeist, House of Wax is another remake of a classic horror film, the 1953 Andre DeToth film, which itself was a remake of 1933’s Mystery of the Wax Museum. The 2005 film sees a group of friends stranded on their way to a football match, and they seek assistance at a wax museum. But they soon find themselves in a fight for survival and must try to escape before they find themselves becoming the wax museum’s next exhibits.
House of Wax tries to deliver a new twist to the original story, adding an amount of gore and slash that was not seen in the original two movies. Despite receiving some praise for its casting and new take on the original story, House of Wax was ultimately written off as being too bland and mundane. It certainly couldn’t quite hold a candle to the terrors of the original films.
5 Carrie (2013)
There have been many adaptations of Stephen King’s works; his first novel, Carrie received its first film release in 1976. The original film, starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie, is regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made. It has had a major influence on pop culture and is considered an inspiration for many horror films.
Remaking an already iconic film is never easy, but director Kimberly Peirce brought Carrie into the 21st century with a 2013 remake. Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore did a decent job as Carrie and Margaret White, respectively, and the film tried to embrace a modern setting, but it was jarring that a few old bits of slang were still included in the remake. Ultimately, critics felt Carrie brought nothing new or thrilling to the original story, regarding it as a redundant version of the 1976 classic.
4 Planet of the Apes (2001)
Planet of the Apes has seen many film adaptations thanks to its fascinating concept. Its most iconic adaptation is the 1968 sci-fi movie starring Charlton Heston as an astronaut who finds himself stranded on a planet that is inhabited by talking apes. It is considered a classic science fiction film with one of the best sci-fi twist endings ever.
Tim Burton decided to bring a modern take on the story with his 2001 remake. But despite stunning visuals and make-up designs, critics considered the remake a letdown, due to its confusing story, lackluster performances, and unpopular take on the iconic ending. It was such a failure that a sequel was shelved, and it would be another decade before the franchise was rebooted again, this time much more successfully.
3 The Wicker Man (2006)
Probably one of the most infamous remakes of all time, The Wicker Man has become a movie that has achieved “so bad, it’s good” status. Marketed as a horror movie, The Wicker Man has been regarded by critics and audiences as unintentionally funny thanks in part to Nicolas Cage’s over-the-top acting and its poorly written script. The unintentional comedic aspect has allowed the movie to become a cult hit and a part of internet meme culture.
In contrast, the original 1973 film is considered a cinematic masterpiece. It was praised for its subtlety in its portrayal of horror with the beliefs of Christianity and paganism as well as stunning performances from Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. The final scene of the movie is regarded as one of the most frightening moments in movie history; considered one of the greatest folk-horror films, the 1973 original stands tall against the abysmal 2006 remake.
2 Psycho (1998)
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is one of the most influential movies, regardless of genre. Starring Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, proprietor of Bates Hotel and sadistic murderer, Psycho is seen as one of the best psychological horror films and one that laid the blueprint for movies that came after. Psycho’s iconic shower scene, where Janet Leigh’s Marion Crane is murdered by Bates, left such a mark on visual style in filmmaking that it continues to influence certain shots in modern movies today.
Gus Van Sant’s 1998 remake film is notorious for recreating the original as a shot-for-shot remake, copying Hitchcock’s camera style and the original script. Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche were seen as greatly miscast in their roles as Norman Bates and Marion Crane, and critics despised the film for its lack of thrills and horror. Winning a Razzie award for Worst Remake, Van Sant’s Psycho is a remake that nobody needed.
1 Ben-Hur (2016)
Recreating a classic film is no easy task, but the remake of 1959’s Ben-Hur was a critical and commercial disaster. Adapted from the novel by Lew Wallace, 1959’s Ben-Hur sees Charlton Heston as the titular character, fighting against the Roman Empire and trying to restore honor to his family name. It is hailed as one of the best religious drama films ever made, thanks to its influential musical score, its talented cast, and its iconic chariot race scene. It won a record 11 Academy Awards in 1960 and is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
The remake failed to make any significant impact, being deemed a pointless endeavor by critics. With the 2016 Ben-Hur remake losing close to $120 million at the box office, audiences clearly felt the same. The CGI effects and modern edits couldn’t hold up to the epic cinematography and production of director William Wyler’s original film. A misguided and incompetent remake that pales in comparison to its predecessor, Ben-Hur is perhaps at the top of the list of the most unnecessary remakes of classic movies.
This post was modified on 2023-10-04 23:17:28