A popular trend in the movie world in recent years is major studios remaking their fan-favorite films from decades before. Although the idea has been popularized by Disney with their live-action remakes of their classic animated features, the trend extends far beyond the one company. Throughout Hollywood, filmmakers are aiming to capitalize on the pre-existing fan bases of their original movies. Oftentimes, putting a modern spin on a beloved classic seems like a surefire way to make a hefty profit.
However, a handful of attempts have proven that success is not a guarantee. Many recent remakes, particularly of films from the 1980s, have ended up massively underwhelming their audiences. Viewers flock to theaters hoping to see an exciting new twist on their favorite stories, but sadly discover that they are merely being given something boring, unoriginal, or otherwise disappointing. Although the films that inspired them may have been quite successful, these remakes of ’80s movies definitely left something to be desired.
10
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)
Remake Of A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
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7/10
A Nightmare on Elm Street
R
HorrorThriller
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a remake of Wes Craven’s ‘80s horror movie of the same name, released in 2010. The remake, this time starring Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger, follows the same premise as the original, with Freddy haunting the dreams of the children of the parents who murdered him.
Release Date
April 30, 2010
Runtime
95 Minutes
Main Genre
Horror
Cast
Jackie Earle Haley
, Kyle Gallner
, Rooney Mara
, Katie Cassidy
, Thomas Dekker
, Kellan Lutz
Director
Samuel Bayer
Writers
Wesley Strick
, Eric Heisserer
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema
, Platinum Dunes
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Choosing to remake one of the most iconic horror movies of all time is definitely a major risk. Unfortunately, this risk did not pay off for director Samuel Bayer with his 2010 adaptation of the 1984 horror classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Like the original, this haunting film follows a group of teenage students who find themselves being tormented and killed off by Freddy Krueger, a terrifying, demonic figure who attacks them in their dreams.
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Although this updated version of A Nightmare on Elm Street did manage to fare rather well at the box office, the critical reception of the film was much more bleak. The film was consistently panned for being overwhelmingly bland and far too straightforward to really produce any major scares. Freddy Krueger may have terrified viewers back in the ’80s, but Jackie Earle Haley’s interpretation of the role was hardly enough to make a person shiver. A Nightmare On Elm Street proved that some classics should probably remain untouched.
9
RoboCop (2014)
Remake Of RoboCop (1987)
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6.8/10
RoboCop
PG-13
Action Sci-FiThrillerSuperheroCrime
A remake of the 1987 film of the same name, RoboCop tells the story of a robotically-enhanced police officer. Set in 2028, RoboCop sees Detective Alex Murphy injured in the line of duty. His life is saved by an experimental procedure which enhances him, making him a cyborg capable of pushing back against the tide of crime threatening to wash over his city.
Release Date
February 12, 2014
Cast
Joel Kinnaman
, Michael Keaton
, Gary Oldman
, Abbie Cornish
, Samuel L. Jackson
Director
Jose Padilha
Writers
James Vanderbilt
, Joshua Zetumer
, David Self
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Sony
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In 1987, RoboCop wowed its audiences with its creative sci-fi premise and exciting action sequences. Years later, in 2014, this inventive story about a police officer who is revived as an enhanced cyborg officer was remade into a new film directed by José Padilha. This modern take on the half-man-half-machine agent featured a star-studded ensemble led by Joel Kinnaman, with Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Gary Oldman among the supporting cast.
Part of what made the original RoboCop so popular was the fact that it was not merely an exciting sci-fi/action movie, but an intelligent, multilayered satire about American culture and society.
Unfortunately, this collection of prominent actors was not enough to win over the hearts of audiences. Part of what made the original RoboCop so popular was the fact that it was not merely an exciting sci-fi/action movie, but an intelligent, multilayered satire about American culture and society. The 2014 sci-fi remake seemed to largely abandon the subtlety that made the original so special, instead presenting a revised story that felt disappointingly shallow. To make matters worse, fans were also underwhelmed by the action element, feeling as though it failed to outshine the original in that regard as well.
8
Friday The 13th (2009)
Remake Of Friday The 13th (1980)
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Friday the 13th
R
HorrorThriller
Friday the 13th is a remake of the 1980s iconic horror slasher franchise, directed by Marcus Nispel and released in 2009. This reboot centers on Clay Miller, a young man searching for his missing sister in Crystal Lake. As Clay runs into a group of friends vacationing at the ill-fated lake, a hockey-masked killer begins to stalk them relentlessly as they approach the campgrounds.
Release Date
February 13, 2009
Runtime
97 Minutes
Cast
Jared Padalecki
, Danielle Panabaker
, Aaron Yoo
, Amanda Righetti
, Travis Van Winkle
, Derek Mears
Director
Marcus Nispel
Writers
Damian Shannon
, Mark Swift
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema
, Paramount Pictures
, Platinum Dunes
, Crystal Lake Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Along with Freddy Krueger, one of the most iconic horror movie antagonists to come out of the 1980s was Jason Voorhees, the mask-wearing killer whose mythology only grows with every movie in which he is included. Audiences were introduced to Jason in the 1980 horror classic, Friday the 13th, which immediately launched a plethora of sequels highlighting the character’s deadly actions. In 2009, however, a new film was released that served not as a continuation of the story, but as a reimagining of the original film (as well as some of its early sequels).
While the original Friday the 13th immediately excited fans and introduced the horror world to a legendary new threat, the 2009 iteration didn’t do much to make itself stand out in any significant way. The film failed to add any new levels or dynamics to the original story, instead opting to simply dish out a series of bland, straightforward kills. It may have been enjoyable for die-hard fans of slasher films, but the underwhelming story and corny dialogue did little to impress wider audiences.
7
Conan The Barbarian (2011)
Remake Of Conan The Barbarian (1982)
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Conan the Barbarian
R
AdventureFantasyAction
Conan the Barbarian follows the journey of a Cimmerian warrior, Conan, who initially seeks revenge but finds himself battling monstrous foes and impossible odds. As Conan progresses, he becomes the pivotal figure who must thwart the supernatural evil threatening Hyboria’s survival. Released in 2011, this fantasy epic stars Jason Momoa.
Release Date
August 17, 2011
Runtime
113 minutes
Main Genre
Adventure
Cast
Jason Momoa
, Stephen Lang
, Rachel Nichols
, Ron Perlman
, Rose McGowan
, Bob Sapp
, Leo Howard
, Steven O’Donnell
, Nonso Anozie
, Raad Rawi
, Laila Rouass
, Saïd Taghmaoui
, Milton Welsh
, Borislav Iliev
, Nathan Jones
, Diana Lyubenova
, Ioan Lov
, Raicho Vasilev
, Stanimir Stamatov
, Nikolay Stanoev
, Bashar Rahal
, Morgan Freeman
, Ivana Staneva
, Alina Puscau
, Zlatka Raikova
Director
Marcus Nispel
Writers
Sean Hood
, Thomas Dean Donnelly
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
, Dino De Laurentiis Company
, Pressman Film
, Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.
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To provide clarification, the 2011 Conan the Barbarian movie was not meant to be a direct remake of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger film of the same name, but rather a completely separate film inspired by the mythology of the same character. Although the central character technically remained the same, the 2011 film offered a new interpretation of the titular barbarian, as well as a largely new story. Instead of Schwarzenegger, future Aquaman star Jason Momoa stepped into the lead role for the latest film.
Needless to say, fans who were expecting a faithful remake of the original Conan the Barbarian movie were highly disappointed by this new interpretation of the character and his journey.
Even those unfamiliar with the previous film weren’t particularly impressed, with the Momoa-led feature doing little more than batter the audience with a nonstop flow of over-the-top visual effects. Conan the Barbarian (2011) ended up being a complete bomb at the box office, coming well short of recuperating its $90 million budget.
6
The Karate Kid (2010)
Remake Of The Karate Kid (1984)
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The Karate Kid
PG
ActionDramaMartial Arts
The Karate Kid is a 2010 remake of the original martial arts drama film released in 1984. Directed by Harald Zwart, this new telling follows young Dre Parker who after a big move with his mother from Detroit, Michigan to Beijing, China, finds difficulty fitting in and manages to get caught in a bullies’ crosshairs. Dre is saved by the mysterious maintenance worker named Mr. Han, who teaches him Kung Fu in order to defend himself.
Release Date
June 11, 2010
Runtime
140 Minutes
Cast
Jaden Smith
, Jackie Chan
, Taraji P. Henson
, Wenwen Han
, Zhenwei Wang
, Yu Rongguang
, Shijia Lü
, Luke Carberry
Director
Harald Zwart
Writers
Christopher Murphey
Studio(s)
Columbia Pictures
, China Film Group
, Overbrook Entertainment
, JW Productions
Distributor(s)
Sony Pictures Releasing
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In 1984, the martial arts drama, The Karate Kid, became a cultural sensation. The film, which starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, was both a box-office smash and a critical hit, and even contributed significantly to the popularization of karate in America. Because of its widespread popularity and numerous sequels, it wasn’t much of a surprise when it was revealed that The Karate Kid would be receiving a modern reimagining in 2010. This updated version of the story starred Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in the lead roles.
The 2010 version of The Karate Kid was not a flop by any means, but it still didn’t fully manage to live up to the true level of cultural significance obtained by the original. Reviews of the film were decent for the most part, and the box office numbers were fairly impressive, but both of these would have had to improve dramatically in order to fully live up to the film that started it all. Fans of the franchise will surely be hoping that the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends will have a more significant impact.
5
Clash Of The Titans (2010)
Remake Of Clash Of The Titans (1981)
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7/10
Clash of the Titans
PG-13
FantasyAction
Clash of the Titans is the 2010 remake of the eponymous 1981 fantasy movie. It is based on the Greek myth of Perseus, a demigod who fights the dark forces of the Underworld, and it stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Alexa Davalos, and Jason Flemyng as Perseus, Zeus, Hades, Io, Andromeda, and Calibos, respectively.
Release Date
April 2, 2010
Runtime
1h 46m
Cast
Sam Worthington
, Liam Neeson
, Ralph Fiennes
, Mads Mikkelsen
, Gemma Arterton
Director
Louis Leterrier
Writers
Ralph Fiennes
, Nicholas Hoult
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Sometimes, even when all the necessary pieces seem to be present, it is just impossible to replicate the magic captured by an earlier film. A prime example of this ultimate shortcoming is the action-packed 2010 fantasy film, Clash of the Titans, which served as a remake of the 1981 film of the same name. This new iteration of the heroic tale seemed to have all the right elements; a timeless story, a director with plenty of action movie experience, and even a stacked cast, which included Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, and Liam Neeson.
Sadly, the final product ended up feeling like much less than the sum of its parts. Clash of the Titans (2010) did draw people to theaters, allowing it to have a successful box office run, but most of those viewers didn’t leave particularly happy. The film was widely criticized for its poor script, as well as for its over-reliance on splashy 3-D effects. Instead of focusing on the inspiring, heroic journey at its core, Clash of the Titans (2010) let itself become distracted by these flashy elements, leading to an underwhelming experience for the audience.
4
Firestarter (2022)
Remake Of Firestarter (1984)
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Firestarter
R
Horror Sci-FiDrama
Firestarter is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name, adapted from the Stephen King novel. The film, released theatrically to the Peacock streaming service, follows the story of Andy and Vicky, who undergo a clinical trial that gives them superhuman abilities. Andy is telepathic; Vicky is telekinetic. Years later, their daughter Charlie proves to be far more powerful, with volatile pyrokinetic abilities. At the same time, Charlie and her family are on the run from The Shop, a secret government agency that is hunting Charlie.
Release Date
May 13, 2022
Runtime
94 minutes
Cast
Sydney Lemmon
, Gloria Reuben
, Kurtwood Smith
, Ryan Kiera Armstrong
, Zac Efron
, Michael Greyeyes
, John Beasley
Director
Keith Thomas
Writers
Scott Teems
Studio(s)
Universal Pictures
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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Reviews of Firestarter, the 1984 sci-fi horror movie based on a Stephen King novel, were not exactly high by any means. Because of this, one would think that it would be easy for a remake of the film to live up to the quality of its predecessor. In a dismal turn of events, though, the 2022 adaptation of Firestarter failed to even do that. Starring Zac Efron and Ryan Kiera Armstrong, this recent remake of the fairly little-known ’80s horror movie managed to perform far worse than the original adaptation of King’s story.
The film currently holds an abysmal 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics being largely unable to find any real redeeming quality.
While reviews of Firestarter (1984) were mixed at best, reviews of Firestarter (2022) were overwhelmingly negative. The film currently holds an abysmal 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics being largely unable to find any real redeeming quality. To make matters even worse, the movie also performed very poorly at the box office, with most people likely feeling unsure why the studio would have even attempted to remake the original Firestarter in the first place. As far as remakes go, Firestarter (2022) goes down as one of the worst in recent memory.
3
Poltergeist (2015)
Remake Of Poltergeist (1982)
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Poltergeist
PG-13
HorrorThriller
Released in 2015, Poltergeist is a horror film directed by Gil Kenan. A modern reimagining of the 1982 classic, the story follows the Bowen family as they confront malevolent supernatural forces after moving into a suburban home. The narrative intensifies when their youngest daughter is abducted by these entities, compelling the family to seek help to rescue her. The film stars Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt.
Release Date
May 22, 2015
Runtime
93 Minutes
Main Genre
Horror
Cast
Sam Rockwell
, Rosemarie DeWitt
, Kennedi Clements
, Saxon Sharbino
, Kyle Catlett
, Jared Harris
, Jane Adams
, Susan Heyward
Director
Gil Kenan
Writers
David Lindsay-Abaire
, Steven Spielberg
, Michael Grais
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Hollywood seems to have proven time and time again that remaking iconic horror movies of the 1980s may not be the best move. This unfortunate truth was further reinforced by the 2015 horror feature, Poltergeist, a remake of the popular, three-time Oscar-nominated 1982 film of the same name. The recent adaptation of the supernatural horror story (which was originally envisioned by Steven Spielberg) stars Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt as a married couple who find their home and family being tormented by forces of evil.
The original Poltergeist may have gone on to become one of the most recognizable works of horror ever made, but the new version will not be remembered quite as fondly. The 2015 film was widely dubbed inferior to its predecessor, offering very little to enhance the characters or the story in any major way. It also relied far too heavily on cheap tricks like jump scares, as opposed to the carefully crafted horror techniques that made the first film so special.
2
Arthur (2011)
Remake Of Arthur (1981)
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Arthur
PG-13
ComedyRomance
Arthur is a comedy film that follows the life of Arthur Bach, a wealthy and perpetually intoxicated man who risks his inheritance to marry a woman he does not love. Directed by Jason Winer, the film stars Russell Brand as Arthur, alongside Helen Mirren as his valet Hobson, and Jennifer Garner as his fiancée Susan. The film explores themes of love, responsibility, and personal growth amid comedic antics.
Release Date
April 8, 2011
Runtime
110 Minutes
Main Genre
Comedy
Cast
Russell Brand
, Helen Mirren
, Greta Gerwig
, Jennifer Garner
, Geraldine James
Director
Jason Winer
Writers
Peter Baynham
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
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The 2011 rom-com, Arthur, is far from the most well-known movie remake in recent memory. This oft-forgotten feature is directly based on the 1981 movie of the same name. Arthur tells the story of a highly rich but dim-witted man who falls in love with a working-class woman, much to the dismay of his wealthy parents. Although the story remained largely unchanged, the two versions of Arthur experienced drastically different levels of success.
The original iteration of Arthur was a box office smash, earning over $95 million on a budget of less than ten percent of that. Additionally, the film won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song, while being nominated in other categories as well. In contrast, Arthur (2011) was a box office failure, barely making half of the money earned by the first film, while also requiring a budget over five times greater. The remake was panned by critics, who largely found that the film lacked the charm of the first one.
1
Overboard (2018)
Remake Of Overboard (1987)
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Overboard
PG-13
RomanceComedy
Directed by Rob Greenberg, Overboard is a 2018 Romantic Comedy and a reimagining of the 1987 film of the same name written originally by Leslie Dixon. The modern release stars Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Mel Rodriguez, and Eva Longoria. The plot revolves around a single mother convincing a rich suitor with amnesia that they are actually married.
Release Date
May 4, 2018
Runtime
112minutes
Cast
Swoosie Kurtz
, Mel Rodriguez
, Eugenio Derbez
, Anna Faris
, Josh Segarra
, John Hannah
, Mariana Treviño
, Alyvia Alyn Lind
, Eva Longoria
, Garry Chalk
, Emily Maddison
Director
Bob Fisher
, Rob Greenberg
Writers
Rob Greenberg
, Bob Fisher
Studio(s)
Lionsgate
Distributor(s)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
, Lionsgate
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In 1987, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell charmed viewers with their humorous performances in Overboard, a lighthearted romantic comedy about two individuals from drastically different social classes who unexpectedly fall in love after one of them develops amnesia. Over thirty years later, the film was remade, with Eugenio Derbez and Anna Faris playing the role-reversed versions of the main characters. This later version of the film may have been more successful from a financial standpoint, but it did little to rival the quality of the original.
Overboard wasn’t overly popular or acclaimed when it was first released back in the ’80s. Unfortunately, the 2018 version wasn’t even able to match these levels of success. The remake felt not only underwhelming as an individual film, but completely unnecessary in the first place. Overboard had been enjoyed by some people when it was first released, but it was not nearly successful enough to warrant a modern reimagining. This decision just left many viewers wondering why the studio didn’t choose a more popular or relevant story.