It looks like nearly each film from the previous has the potential to get remade by movie studios today, typically to disappointing outcomes. This may be for a wide range of causes, starting from reboots not resembling what got here earlier than it to making an attempt too arduous to duplicate precisely what occurred within the unique.
In some instances, the remake simply would not stay as much as the unique in any respect, whereas in different instances, there simply by no means gave the impression to be a necessity for the remake in any respect. The unique would not even be that previous in these conditions. That stated, a handful of remakes are literally simply pretty much as good, if not higher than what got here earlier than.
Nevertheless, that is about probably the most baffling remakes ever made. It would not at all times should be the remakes that have been thought of the worst, simply those that actually made little to no sense to do, whether or not it is as a result of it was too quickly after the unique or as a result of they missed the boat ultimately.
Oldboy (2013)
That is one thing that occurs far too typically on this planet of moviemaking. An excellent movie is made internationally just for somebody in america to discover a approach to remake it in English. The tip result’s typically a misfire because the aforementioned The Departed is the exception, not the rule.
In 2013, this occurred once more as Oldboy was remade after being thought of probably the greatest movies ever made in South Korea. The unique is held in excessive esteem for the surprising plot twists and extremely well-executed motion sequences.
Doing a remake of it a decade later was questionable, although the movie had severe expertise behind it with Spike Lee within the director’s chair and Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen within the lead roles. The difficulty is that this remake is clearly steps behind what the unique achieved, and no facet hits as arduous because it initially did.
The Mummy (2017)
In a number of instances, movies get remade a number of instances over, which is the case with The Mummy. A remake of a 1932 movie, the 1999 iteration is standard and beloved with millennials. It is a enjoyable action-adventure romp with a terrific solid that spawned a franchise and marked Dwayne Johnson’s first foray into appearing.
The lackluster third installment had solely come out 9 years earlier than the 2017 remake of the unique. The thought for this was to begin what was going to be often called the “Darkish Universe,” placing Common Monsters just like the Mummy and Frankenstein in a shared universe.
This was a kind of instances of making an attempt to drive a shared universe as a result of issues just like the MCU have been performing effectively. Even with Tom Cruise because the star, The Mummy was extensively panned. It lacked the enjoyable of the 1999 franchise, and other people weren’t desirous about a tackle the story that was taken this severely.
The Lion King (2019)
The historical past of Disney’s live-action remakes has been a blended bag and that is being beneficiant. The movies have principally all made some huge cash however the high quality has been severely missing when in comparison with the animated originals they stem from.
In 2019, they selected to do a “live-action” remake of The Lion King regardless that the overwhelming majority of the movie is CGI. Disney even now touts it because the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Whereas the monetary success was there, critics have been lower than thrilled.
1994’s The Lion King is likely one of the finest films of its time, but this model was met with a blended response. The issue was that it lacked a variety of the center from the unique, and whereas the visuals have been spectacular, the animals trying so practical meant the expressions from the cartoon could not be replicated, leaving it considerably impassive.
Ben-Hur (2016)
The 2010s actually marked a time when remakes have been coming at a fast price and that was as evident as ever in 2016. The choice was made to present the world a brand new tackle Ben-Hur. The 1925 silent movie was effectively acquired and the 1959 remake is taken into account probably the greatest and most spectacular movies ever made.
That remake was comprehensible additionally on condition that we have moved on from silent movies to talkies. Nevertheless, remaking it in 2016 proved to be a swing and a miss. This was supposed to be a brand new interpretation of kinds however it was panned by critics in all places.
This model was criticized for not having sufficient new concepts to be this recent retelling and it tried to make up for it with an overuse of CGI and questionable enhancing. On high of the poor critiques, Ben-Hur was additionally an enormous flop commercially, grossing simply $94 million on a $110 million price range.
Imply Ladies (2024)
That is a kind of instances the place a remake is not truly unhealthy however sure elements made it an odd remake. For starters, the unique Imply Ladies was solely 20 years previous when this arrived and stays one thing that individuals rewatch constantly, so a brand new model wasn’t wanted.
Nevertheless, going the route of constructing it an adaptation of the stage play relatively than the precise movie was an fascinating selection that did one thing new. The issue was that it was oddly by no means marketed as a musical, so there are many tales of viewers members being confused when characters broke out into track.
One other problem was that a few of the musical elements have been disappointing. Auliʻi Cravalho and Jaquel Spivey are nice, Avantika will get a great musical quantity, and Reneé Rapp is excellent in each scene however in any other case, the songs miss the mark. Imply Ladies is an efficient remake, only one with some baffling elements.
A Nightmare On Elm Road (2010)
If there’s one factor that will get remade extra typically than worldwide movies, it is horror films. Over time, we have seen remakes of Friday the thirteenth, Halloween, The Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath, and extra, so it was solely a matter of time earlier than we might get A Nightmare on Elm Road.
The primary movie from 1984 is a basic and a few sequels are actually good however some later entries did get a bit goofy. This 2010 iteration regarded to return to a really severe, darkish tackle Freddy Krueger. Add in Jackie Earle Haley, scorching off his efficiency in Watchmen, as Freddy and this had potential.
Sadly, it ended up as one of many worst-received entries within the franchise. The CGI on Freddy’s face was a far cry from the unique make-up and whereas devoted to the supply materials, the movie lacked what made the 1984 model so particular.
The Crow (2024)
As is commonly the case, remaking one thing that has a big, loyal following and is beloved generally is a big mistake. Stuidos discovered that lesson as soon as once more in 2024 with the remake The Crow. The 1994 unique has an enormous cult following.
It is held up as probably the greatest comedian variations ever made and Bradon Lee’s efficiency is tough to match. The 2024 reboot had Invoice Skarsgård within the lead and he’d already confirmed his expertise as an iconic character in 2017’s It.
Alas, this was one more remake that upset critics and audiences. It solely grossed about half of its $50 million price range and was met with overwhelmingly detrimental critiques. Alex Proyas, director of the unique, refused to look at this and known as it a “cynical cash-grab.”
Jacob’s Ladder (2019)
Typically, a reboot is introduced and it simply would not really feel like one thing that ever wanted to be redone. Jacob’s Ladder falls into that class. The unique, starring Tim Robbins, was launched in 1990 and whereas it is considerably iconic, it was a field workplace failure.
Studios normally go for remakes of issues that have been already field workplace hits, so Jacob’s Ladder was an fascinating selection. To be honest, this wasn’t given a significant theatrical launch and principally was simply broadcast on DISH Community, however that is nonetheless not one thing you’d count on to get remade.
The “straight-to-TV” facet appeared clear as this wasn’t precisely made on a giant price range. That was evident within the last product and the critiques performed into that, with a 4% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
Psycho (1998)
Psycho is likely one of the finest and most influential films ever made. It impressed slashers for the following few many years and stays one of the vital spectacular movies made by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. The 1998 remake was none of these issues.
For starters, this had loads to stay as much as when it comes to how particular the unique is. On high of that, 1998’s Psycho made the odd selection of merely being a shot-for-shot remake of the unique, besides in coloration. That is not one thing reboots typically do.
The movie flopped on the field workplace and was a misfire with critics, even profitable Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Director (Gus Van Sant) and Worst Remake). The normally stable Vince Vaughn was additionally very miscast as Norman Bates.
Battle Of The Worlds (2025)
H.G. Wells’ The Battle of the Worlds novel from 1898 has been tailored a number of instances all through the years with probably the most notable being in 1953 and, extra not too long ago, 2005’s model directed by Steven Spielberg. There was additionally a TV present from 2019-2022 that instructed one other iteration of the story.
Then, from seemingly out of nowhere, Prime Video launched its personal soak up 2025. This model took inspiration from Looking and Lacking, because the movie is instructed via varied laptop screens and facilities on a Homeland Safety agent who tracks threats.
Though the solid options names like Ice Dice, Eva Longoria, and Clark Gregg, critiques have been about as unhealthy as they get. The movie sat at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes for some time however is now as much as 3%. It was blasted by critics for nearly each facet and is a baffling remake that does not work for the story it adapts.
