Over the last decade or two, one particular trend in Hollywood has left moviegoers divided. This specific trend involves major studios electing to remake their fan-favorite films from years before. Some enjoy seeing their favorite stories be brought back to life, while others would prefer to see studios dedicating their resources to more original ideas. Regardless of where you stand on this debate, it is impossible to deny that the movie world has recently been flooded with remakes of popular films.
A major reason why so many of these remakes are happening is because they often feel like a surefire way to make a massive profit by capitalizing on a pre-existing audience. However, several recent attempts have demonstrated that success is not a guarantee. Some remakes unfortunately end up thoroughly underwhelming their audiences, failing to offer all the exciting elements that made the original films so popular, particularly when it comes to films from nostalgic eras like the 1990s. These remakes of popular ’90s movies disappointed their viewers by failing to replicate the magic of the films that inspired them.
10
Point Break (2015)
Remake Of Point Break (1991)
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Point Break
PG-13
ActionAdventureCrimeThriller
Point Break is a 2015 action thriller centered on a young undercover FBI agent who infiltrates a gang involved in extreme sports. It is a remake of the 1991 film of the same name, exploring themes of loyalty and adrenaline-fueled adventures.
Release Date
December 3, 2015
Runtime
113 minutes
Cast
Edgar Ramirez
, Luke Bracey
, Teresa Palmer
, Ray Winstone
, Max Thieriot
, Delroy Lindo
, Tobias Santelmann
, James Le Gros
, BoJesse Christopher
, Clemens Schick
, Matias Varela
, Nikolai Kinski
, Judah Lewis
, Senta Dorothea Kirschner
, Seumas F. Sargent
, Daniel Bonjour
Director
Ericson Core
Writers
Kurt Wimmer
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When it comes to the action movies of the 1990s, few films are quite as iconic as Point Break, the relentlessly exciting feature starring the dazzling duo of Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. Because of its widespread popularity and dedicated fan base, it was not a major surprise when it was eventually revealed that the film would be remade.
This remake came a little over twenty years later, in 2015, with Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey stepping into the lead roles. Sadly, the 2015 version of Point Break could not even come close to rivaling the success of its predecessor.
The original Point Break may not have been the type of film to win tons of awards, but it was an undeniably exciting movie that was stuffed with creative, nail-biting action from beginning to end, while also having an engaging premise. Point Break (2015) lacked these elements, dishing out little more than a series of generic action sequences occurring in the midst of a bland reimagining of the story.
9
Total Recall (2012)
Remake Of Total Recall (1990)
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Total Recall
PG-13
ActionScience FictionThriller
Total Recall (2012) is a science fiction action film directed by Len Wiseman, featuring Colin Farrell as factory worker Douglas Quaid. The movie follows Quaid as he discovers his memories might not be real after visiting Rekall, a company that implants false memories. Co-starring Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel, the film offers a modern retelling of the 1990 original, inspired by Philip K. Dick’s short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.
Release Date
August 2, 2012
Runtime
118 Minutes
Main Genre
Action
Cast
Colin Farrell
, Jessica Biel
, Kate Beckinsale
, Ethan Hawke
, Bill Nighy
Director
Len Wiseman
Writers
Mark Bomback
, Kurt Wimmer
Studio(s)
Total Recall
, Original Film
, Prime Focus
, Rekall Productions
, Columbia Pictures
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The classic 1990 science fiction film Total Recall, impressed audiences and critics alike by offering something for everyone to enjoy. The film had action, humor, interesting characters, and a complex, well-constructed story set in the future. Years later, Len Wiseman stepped into the director’s chair for a modern remake of the film, one which would star Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel.
Despite the film’s star power, the updated version of Total Recall was not able to do nearly as well as the first adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic novel. Although the later iteration of Total Recall had a drastically higher budget, it only managed to make $211.8 million at the box office, which is noticeably less impressive than the $261.4 million made by the original.
The remake ended up feeling rather careless to many viewers, seeming to lack most of the elements that made the original so widely enjoyable, instead focusing almost entirely on the action element.
The remake ended up feeling rather careless to many viewers, seeming to lack most of the elements that made the original so widely enjoyable, instead focusing almost entirely on the action element. Total Recall may have created a unique, multilayered science fiction world, but the most recent iteration failed to properly explore it.
8
Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans (2009)
Remake Of Bad Lieutenant (1992)
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
R
CrimeDocumentaryDrama
Written by William M. Finkelstein and directed by Werner Herzog, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a Crime, Drama, and dark Comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. The premise sees Cage playing police officer Terence McDonagh, who suffers an injury and becomes addicted to painkillers as a result.
Release Date
May 21, 2009
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
Nicolas Cage
, Eva Mendes
, Val Kilmer
, Fairuza Balk
, Xzibit
, Shawn Hatosy
Director
Werner Herzog
In the name of immediate clarification, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is not a direct remake of Bad Lieutenant, but rather a separate film with a story and characters that only loosely resemble those of the original 1992 Abel Ferrara feature. However, because of their clear similarities, the two films are frequently associated with one another.
Unfortunately for director Werner Herzog, the comparisons are typically much more favorable to the first film to feature the “bad lieutenant” character. Bad Lieutenant (1992) may have only made two million dollars at the box office, but considering the fact that the budget was a mere one million dollars, this figure is actually fairly impressive.
The numbers of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans were much less remarkable. Although the later film had a budget of $25 million, it failed to even recuperate half of this amount at the box office. Herzog’s interpretation of the character and his story may have garnered decent reviews, but it was a complete flop financially.
7
Flatliners (2017)
Remake Of Flatliners (1990)
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Flatliners
PG-13
Horror Sci-FiDrama
Flatliners serves as both a sequel to and a remake of the 1990 Kiefer Sutherland movie of the same name. Elliot Page plays Courtney, a medical student whose obsession with the afterlife leads to her conducting a series of experiments that end up having unforeseen consequences for those who agree to take part.
Release Date
September 29, 2017
Runtime
108 Minutes
Cast
Kiersey Clemons
, Steve Byers
, Charlotte Mckinney
, Beau Mirchoff
, Nina Dobrev
, James Norton
, Diego Luna
, Tyler Hynes
, Kiefer Sutherland
, Elliot Page
Director
Niels Arden Oplev
Writers
Ben Ripley
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Columbia Pictures
, Sony
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The Oscar-nominated 1990 film, Flatliners, presented a unique, captivating premise; a group of medical students attempt to discover what happens after death by devising a series of experiments meant to bring them to the brink of death without fully killing them.
The film blended elements of psychological horror and science fiction to create a story that was gripping, inventive, and unlike anything else being released in theaters at the time. Nearly three decades later, a remake of Flatliners attempted to capture the same magic. Much to the dismay of sci-fi lovers and Flatliners fans alike, the 2017 adaptation proved to be a huge disappointment across the board.
This modern take on the story currently sits at a mere four percent on rotten tomatoes, falling drastically short of the standards set by its predecessor. Flatliners (2017) not only failed to capitalize on the intriguing premise, but it also proved ineffective at scaring its audiences, completely missing the mark on the exciting horror element captured in the first film. A modern remake of Flatliners had great potential, but came nowhere close to achieving it.
6
Mulan (2020)
Remake Of Mulan (1998)
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3/10
Mulan
PG-13
ActionAdventureDrama
The 2020 release of Mulan is a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film that focuses more on the original Chinese tale, Ballad of Mulan. In the film, war comes to china from Mongol armies, with the Emperor of China requiring each family must send one man to join the army. To protect her father from returning to the war, she dons his armor and masquerades as a man to fight for her country and bring honor to her family.
Release Date
September 4, 2020
Runtime
1h 55m
Cast
Yoson An
, Doua Moua
, Jet Li
, Liu Yifei
, Jason Scott Lee
, Jimmy Wong
, Tzi Ma
, Gong Li
, Donnie Yen
, Chen Tang
Director
Niki Caro
Writers
Lauren Hynek
, Amanda Silver
, Elizabeth Martin
, Rick Jaffa
Studio(s)
Disney
Distributor(s)
Disney
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It is difficult to argue that the most prominent name in the entertainment industry when it comes to remaking movies is Disney. In recent years, Disney has remade countless animated classics into live-action films, to a wide range of success. While some are very well-received and praised for their modern takes on beloved stories, others come off as little more than heartless cash grabs.
Among the most unsuccessful of these films is the remake of the inspiring 1998 animated feature, Mulan. The 2020 version of Mulan stripped the original film of numerous elements that had made it such a fan-favorite, with perhaps the most notable change being the removal of the musical element.
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One of the complaints about Disney’s animated Mulan is the fact that it is not entirely historically accurate. This is what is and isn’t factual.
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Granted, Mulan (2020) wasn’t completely panned by critics, even managing to earn two Academy Award nominations. However, the film only managed to earn $70 million at the box office, resulting in a massive loss for the company due to its $200 million budget. Along with the unwanted changes to the original story, the Covid-19 pandemic was a major factor in the film’s failure.
5
Funny Games (2007)
Remake Of Funny Games (1997)
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Funny Games
R
CrimeDramaHorrorThriller
A wealthy couple enjoy the start of their vacation with their son in a house by a lake. Shortly after arriving, they are approached by two threatening young men who take the family hostage, subjecting them to a game of perversion and violence.
Release Date
October 20, 2007
Runtime
108 minutes
Main Genre
Crime
Cast
Naomi Watts
, Tim Roth
, Michael Pitt
, Brady Corbet
, Devon Gearhart
, Boyd Gaines
Director
Michael Haneke
Writers
Michael Haneke
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Remakes can come in many different forms, but they seldom present the original film exactly how it was first shown. One exception to this trend is Funny Games. The original Funny Games began as an Austrian psychological thriller released in 1997, written and directed by Michael Haneke.
The chilling film follows the dark events that unfold when a pair of men hold a family hostage and force them to partake in a series of deadly activities. Just a single decade later, a shot-for-shot remake of the film was made, being written and directed once again by Haneke. Part of the appeal of movie remakes is being able to see new interpretations of beloved characters and stories, adding a modern touch to these elements which have remained unchanged for many years.
Funny Games (2007) not only deliberately chose to avoid altering the film in any significant way, but it was also released a mere ten years after the original, hardly allowing for enough time for fans to crave a new iteration. The second version of Funny Games was received much worse than the first, and barely made back half of its budget.
4
White Men Can’t Jump (2023)
Remake Of White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
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White Men Can’t Jump
R
ComedyDrama
White Men Can’t Jump, released in 2023, follows Jeremy, an ex-basketball star dealing with injuries, and Kamal, a former prodigy, as they join forces on the street ball court to pursue their aspirations in a last attempt to relive their glory days.
Release Date
May 11, 2023
Runtime
101 minutes
Cast
Sinqua Walls
, Jack Harlow
, Lance Reddick
, Teyana Taylor
, Laura Harrier
, Myles Bullock
, Vince Staples
, Zak Steiner
, J. Alphonse Nicholson
, Bentley Green
, Andrew Schulz
, James Earl
, Blake Griffin
, Arturo Castro
, Tristen J. Winger
, Paris Nicole
, Gerald ‘Slink’ Johnson
, Samir Royal
, Sherman Gay
, Joe Dinicol
, Charles Tyler Kinder
, Freddie Kuguru
, Zach Andrews
, Kareem Stroud
, Noah Ballou
Director
Calmatic
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In 1992, the powerful acting duo of Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson helped make White Men Can’t Jump a huge success in the world of sports comedy movies. The film was praised for its unique, intelligent take on the genre, successfully highlighting multiple complex characters in a sports-driven setting.
31 years later, a remake of the film was released directly on Hulu, with Sinqua Walls and rapper Jack Harlow stepping into the main roles. In an unfortunate (but not too surprising) turn of events, the 2023 remake of White Men Can’t Jump did not make nearly as much of an impact as the 1992 film.
Reviews were largely negative, with one of the most prominent criticisms of the film being that its existence felt entirely unnecessary. White Men Can’t Jump (2023) mainly came off as a shallow attempt to make some money, with the filmmakers doing little to effectively update the story in a way that would make it more relevant to modern times.
3
House Party (2023)
Remake Of House Party (1990)
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House Party
R
Comedy
House Party follows Damon and Kevin, two aspiring club promoters who, after losing their jobs as house cleaners, plan to host a major party at the mansion of LeBron James. Desperate for a financial breakthrough, they navigate the chaos and consequences of their audacious decision.
Release Date
January 13, 2023
Runtime
100 minutes
Main Genre
Comedy
Cast
Jacob Latimore
, Tosin Cole
, Karen Obilom
, D.C. Young Fly
, Kid Cudi
, Bill Bellamy
, Shakira Ja’nai Paye
, Melvin Gregg
, Allen Maldonado
, Rotimi
, Andrew Santino
, Mya
, Amber Irie
, Tamera Kissen
, Chinedu Unaka
, Jamar Malachi Neighbors
, Teddy Ray
Director
Calmatic
Writers
Stephen Glover
, Jamal Olori
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2023’s House Party may not have the same story and characters as the 1990 classic of the same name, but the general premise remains the same; two friends find themselves in the midst of the biggest party of their lives, but not without taking some major risks. Despite being just an independent film, the original House Party ended up making a major splash with critics and audiences alike, even going on to secure a spot in the National Film Registry years later.
The 2023 version of the film, produced by Warner Bros., is very unlikely to leave such a legacy. Despite including appearances from LeBron James, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, and numerous other major celebrities, House Party (2023) made less than 10 million dollars at the box office, proving to be rather unsuccessful at attracting people to the theater.
Being produced by a major studio, this new iteration of the story lost the humble, underdog-like feeling that helped make the original so special. Although the film seemed to have all the necessary pieces, it lacked the key element of any great house party: fun.
2
He’s All That (2021)
Remake Of She’s All That (1999)
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2/10
He’s All That
Not Yet Rated
RomanceComedy
He’s All That is a teen comedy film that reimagines the storyline from 1999’s, She’s All That. The film follows Padgett, a girl who has mastered her perfect high school life. A famous beauty influencer with a massive following with a seemingly ideal pop star boyfriend, Padgett has it all. But after she catches him cheating while live streaming, she goes viral for all the wrong reasons. So to repair her reputation, Padgett makes a risky bet that she can turn her scruffy antisocial classmate Cameron into prom king material.
Release Date
August 27, 2021
Runtime
88 minutes
Cast
Tanner Buchanan
, Annie Jacob
, Addison Rae
, Isabella Crovetti
, Rachael Leigh Cook
, Peyton Meyer
, matthew lillard
, Myra Molloy
, Madison Pettis
Director
Mark Waters
Writers
R. Lee Fleming Jr
Studio(s)
Netflix
Distributor(s)
Netflix
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Every once in a while, Hollywood attempts to revive an old story by presenting a new, gender-swapped version of it. A recent example of this would be the 2021 rom-com, He’s All That, a role-reversing remake of Robert Iscove’s 1999 film, She’s All That.
The original film, which starred Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook, may not have been too highly praised by critics, but it was nonetheless a fun, popular movie for fans of the romantic comedy genre. He’s All That, however, did not gain nearly as much attention. He’s All That, which was released on Netflix, went on to receive rather scathing reviews from critics, particularly for the off-putting lack of chemistry between its two lead actors, TikTok star Addison Rae and Tanner Buchanan.
Viewers felt very underwhelmed by the film as a whole, feeling as though it did very little with the idea of gender-swapping the lead roles, lazily passing on numerous opportunities to add interesting new dynamics to the story, and instead offering a bland recreation of something people had already seen.
1
The Lion King (2019)
Remake Of The Lion King (1994)
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2.1/10
The Lion King
PG
AdventureDramaFamily
Jon Favreau directs this 2019 live-action adaptation of Walt Disney’s popular film, The Lion King. Starring Donald Glover, Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, this release follows young Simba as he grows up to become a mighty lion and take vengeance on his dastardly uncle, Scar.
Release Date
July 19, 2019
Runtime
118 minutes
Cast
James Earl Jones
, John Kani
, Shahadi Wright Joseph
, Eric Andre
, Donald Glover
, JD McCrary
, Alfre Woodard
, Chiwetel Ejiofor
, Beyoncé
, Florence Kasumba
, john oliver
, Seth Rogen
, Keegan-Michael Key
, Billy Eichner
Director
Jon Favreau
Writers
Jeff Nathanson
Studio(s)
Disney
Distributor(s)
Disney
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Considering the fact that the film made over a billion dollars at the box office, it is impossible to say that the 2019 remake of The Lion King was a complete failure. However, despite its massive financial success, the film came nowhere close to matching the quality of the animated classic that inspired it.
The film seemed to prioritize impressive visual techniques and high-budget effects over the more heartfelt elements that made the first movie so special.
The original Lion King is widely hailed as one of the greatest animated features of all time, creating a massive, lasting cultural impact thanks to its powerful message and mature, emotional storytelling. Although the characters and story were technically the same in both versions, The Lion King (2019) couldn’t escape feelings of shallowness, with audiences largely in agreement that the remake simply could not pack as much of an emotional punch.
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From Alice in Wonderland’s tea party to The Lion King’s opening scene, some live-action Disney remake moments rival the original animated movies.
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The film seemed to prioritize impressive visual techniques and high-budget effects over the more heartfelt elements that made the first movie so special. The Lion King (2019) may have been a box office hit, but it could never come close to having the same impact that the original film managed to achieve.