Whatever film industry it is, they all have a knack for creating remakes that probably no one ever asked for. Hollywood, especially seems to be gladly sailing in the seas of remakes and reboots, even though the majority of the film audience would rather not have them made.
Despite fans not wanting remakes, there are a handful of ones that hit the right spot and turn out to be a hundred times better than the original (Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, or Bram Stoker’s Dracula). As the remake fashion doesn’t seem to be dying out soon (clue Jake Gyllenhall’s Road House) here are 7 classic remakes that should be sued for even thinking of remake.
1. Planet of the Apes (2001)
A remake of the 1968 film by Franklin J. Schaffner, the Tim Burton remake of 2001 speaks up for itself once viewed. Although the film has better visuals, costumes, makeup, and set, it failed majorly in the area it was supposed to do well in the first place, the narrative and action.
Having a pretty convoluted plot, it deviated from the original’s theme and thematic depth, creating a plot far less interesting and intriguing to watch. It even lacked the social commentary aspects featured in the first film. The 2001 and 1968 Planet of the Apes can be streamed on Hulu.
2. Psycho (1998)
Vince Vaughn is a pretty good actor but he seemed to have forgotten all his talents when he starred in this remake of Hitchcock’s 1960 classic Psycho, at least that’s what the audience said when they saw Gus Van Sant‘s version. From being criticized for its acting to the storyline, there are innumerable bones or rather faults to point out.
Failing miserably to recreate the suspense, impact, and overall magic of the 1960 classic, fans reckon the movie can well be regarded as a parody instead of a remake. Both the 1998 and original 1960 versions can be rented on Google Play movies.
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3. Carrie (2013)
The 2013 version of Carrie starring Chloe Grace Moretz was yet again another take on the popular Stephen King‘s story. Even though the remake tried to provide a more modernized version of the tale, it will never be as good as the 1976 classic.
The cast was good enough but failed to add anything substantiating to the storyline, which rather was pretty bland. Lacking the original’s terror and panic, as well as its emotional depth and dark tension, the film still managed to receive mixed reviews. Both the 2013 and 1976 movies can be streamed on Max.
4. Ghost in the Shell (2017)
A reboot of the classic anime film of 1995, Ghost in the Shell starred Scarlet Johansson in the lead as Major. Despite her being a brilliant actress, the movie wasn’t one you might regard as watchable. Even though the remake’s visuals were pretty cool, it failed to successfully adapt the source material, which was a manga of the same name.
Furthermore, the film received backlash for casting Johansson in what fans expected would feature a person of color. Simplifying the complex themes of the storyline further did not help, and the movie ended up becoming one of the biggest box office bombs. Both films can be watched for free on Tubi.
5. The Karate Kid (2010)
The Karate Kid for many is more than a movie and more of an emotion, and that is perhaps why Kobra Kai is as famous as it is. However, the Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan remake of 2010 felt more typical Hollywood film instead of a classic martial arts drama.
The film even failed to capture the real emotion of the original, and Smith’s character felt as if he was only taking the martial arts route for the time instead of adapting it to his life. Lacking the magic and nostalgia, the 2010 remake will never top the original Ralph Macchio starrer film. Both the 1984 original and 2010 version can be watched on Hulu.
6. Oldboy (2013)
Park Chan-Wook is well known for creating movies that push the boundaries of cinema and are often distinct from the conventional way of storytelling. His original South Korean classic of 2003 was similar, with an intensive emotional depth and dark narrative, which is why the film is as famous as it is.
However, despite the direction of Spike Lee, the 2013 remake of Oldboy failed to capture the same intensity and depth as the original. Not only did it have a similar serious feel but it also lacked the cultural context and visceral impact, making it yet another disappointing entry on this failed remake list. Oldboy 2003 and 2013 can be rented on YouTube.
7. Ben-Hur (2016)
2016’s Ben-Hur is the fifth adaptation of the original classic novel of 1880. After the best-ever adaptation of 1959, the newest remake was widely considered a classic disaster. From overall terrible visual effects to the uncertain narrative, the remake was a weak retelling of a grand story.
Even its attempts at modernizing the storyline were met with contempt, where fans pointed out that the remake seemed more of a fan-made adaptation. Having a terrible rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2016 version remains one of the most found entries on the list of failed remakes. Both movies can be rented on YouTube.
