Movie Remakes That Should Never Have Happened

Films are typically something we all enjoy doing and center many nights out – or in – around. "Movie night" is a whole vibe, from choosing your seats online before you go, or selecting the best seat in your living room, to anticipating the popcorn and candy you'll partake in along the way. Movie theatre attendance may be down since the COVID-19 pandemic, with people preferring to rent a film from the comfort of their homes, but whether you watch in a theatre or from the comfort of your couch, for the amount of time, effort, and money you put into it, you expect to get a quality production.

It may not seem as though there are many original films anymore, with the constant rotation of films that are either remakes, prequels, or sequels. One film on this list of remakes has even had a new installment released in theatres last month – The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which while it didn't earn back its budget on opening day, has since recovered. It makes you wonder though, if people are tired of the same material.

Certain remakes may have some redeeming value, and some may even be better than the originals, but we've rounded up those remakes widely considered to have been completely unnecessary to recreate. The best remakes don't only bring something new to the table, they also overshadow the original to the point where many people might not even realize that it's a remake. This isn't the case here.

The worst – or perhaps more appropriately, least necessary – remakes of all time don't build on the source material and don't capture anything that made the original worthwhile. The writing, directing, and/or performances leave something to be desired, and they might not be as thought-provoking as the original, abandoning important themes in favor of mindless action sequences. They might show a total lack of respect for the source material. Or they might just be bad movies and should be avoided. Then there are the movies so bad you have to see them.

• Original premiere date: 1954
• Remakes, sequels: Three, 35 (38 in total)

The Japanese classic "Godzilla," in which a giant monster attacks postwar Japan, has inspired a few reboots, with the most recent, 2014's "Godzilla," a well-received and popular franchise. But it was the 1998 remake, starring Matthew Broderick, that abandoned the source material in favor of so-so special effects. (2024 saw another sequel in the franchise, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire)

• Original premiere date: 1960
• Remakes, sequels: One, four

It's hard to top the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, whose "Psycho" is a certified classic and one of the most influential and beloved horror films of all time. But Gun Van Sant attempted it with the 1998 shot-for-shot remake, starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche. It was very poorly received, largely because it brought nothing new to the table and didn't have any of the original's creative spark.

• Original premiere date: 1968
• Remakes, sequels: One, Eight (four based on the original; four based on the remake)

1968's original "Planet of the Apes" is a unique and thought-provoking sci-fi classic. Tim Burton's 2001 remake was a convoluted mess, with underdeveloped characters and no real soul behind it. The film was more of a showcase for Rick Baker's makeup skills than anything else.

• Original premiere date: 1975
• Remakes: One

The original "The Stepford Wives" is a cult-classic psychological thriller in which a couple discovers that all the wives in their new town are unwaveringly subservient to their husbands. It's satirical, chilling, suspenseful, and culturally relevant. The 2004 remake, on the other hand, starring Nicole Kidman, was panned for watering down the source material and being mindlessly campy with none of the original's bite.

• Original premiere date: 1973
• Remakes: One

The original film is an eerie, super-intelligent folk horror film that's regarded as one of the best British films ever. The 2006 rename, starring Nicholas Cage, captured none of the creepy vibe of the original. It is more remembered nowadays for Cage shouting "The bees! The bees!"

• Original premiere date: 1963
• Remakes, sequels: One, 10 (Nine on the original, one on the remake)

Starring David Niven and Peter Sellers, the first "The Pink Panther" introduces us to bumbling inspector Jacques Clouseau as he tries to catch a jewel thief. It's one of the wittiest, funniest, and most memorable comedies of all time. The 2006 remake also had an all-star cast (which included Steve Martin as Clouseau), but it had none of the original's charm and humor.

• Original premiere date: 1976
• Remakes, sequels: One, four

Richard Donner's supernatural horror film "The Omen" terrifed audiences with its depiction of a child Antichrist. Suspenseful and skillfully directed to create a truly chilling atmosphere, it was a huge hit and is regarded as a true classic. The unnecessary, uninspired 2006 remake captured none of the vibe of the original.

• Original premiere date: 1951
• Remakes: One

"The Day The Earth Stood Still" is a certified Cold War sci-fi classic, exploring the philosophical and moral implications of aliens invading Earth. The 2008 remake, starring Keanu Reeves, dealt with none of those themes but was instead just a collection of action sequences.

• Original premiere date: 1981
• Remakes, sequel: One, one

The epic fantasy adventure "Clash of the Titans" is loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. It was hailed as a grand adventure with great storytelling and jaw-dropping special effects. The 2010 remake, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as awe-inspiring and relied too heavily on CGI action sequences.

• Original premiere date: 2007
• Remakes: One

The original 2007 "Death at a Funeral" was part slapstick, part farce, and all charming and sophisticated. An all-black comedy, it was a great British ensemble piece following a dysfunctional family attending the patriarch's funeral. The 2010 American remake, starring Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence, lacked originality and failed to even attempt to improve on the original.

• Original premiere date: 1984
• Remakes or reboots: One

One of the highest-grossing films of the time, and considered a cultural icon, "Footloose" was one of the most popular teen movies of the 80s. The film starred Kevin Bacon as a teen who moved from Chicago to a small town that forbids dancing. The 2011 remake had none of the spark and charisma of the original.

• Original premiere date: 1981
• Remakes or reboots: One

The comedy "Arthur," in which Dudley Moore plays a drunken New York City millionaire, was charming and witty, with a massive amount of chemistry between Moore and co-star Liza Minnelli. The 2011 remake starred controversial comedian Russell Brand. It received poor reviews due to Brand's lackluster performance and an overall lack of humor.

• Original premiere date: 1984
• Remakes or reboots: One

The original "Red Dawn" perfectly captured the political moment, following a group of teenage guerrillas during a fictional World War III in which the Soviets occupied America. The 2012 remake was completely unoriginal and didn't capture any of the original's political or cultural messaging.

• Original premiere date: 1990
• Remakes or reboots: One

Paul Verhoeven's original "Total Recall" is a sci-fi cult classic, a film that stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a construction worker who may or may not be living in a memory he had transplanted about him living on Mars. It's incredibly creative, thought-provoking, and instantly memorable. On the other hand, the 2012 remake captured none of that, instead focusing more on action sequences.

• Original premiere date: 2003
• Remakes or reboots: Two

The 2003 South Korean action-thriller "Oldboy," believed by many to be one of the best movies of all time, follows a man who is imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years and his quest for revenge after he is released. Spike Lee's 2013 remake lacked all of the original's emotional depth and made some questionable and unnecessary changes.

• Original premiere date: 1987
• Remakes, sequels: One, three

The original, starring Peter Weller as a murdered police officer who is revived and turned into a cyborg, is a clever and almost comically violent action film that's also a brilliant satire that explores themes including the nature of humanity and corporate greed. The 2014 remake captured none of that satire and explored none of those philosophical overtones.

• Original premiere date: 1991
• Remakes: One

One of the greatest action crime films of all time, 1991's "Point Break" captured the infinite chemistry between stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. The film followed an undercover FBI agent (Reeves) investigating a bank robbing ring led by Swayze. The 2015 remake had none of the charisma and excitement of the original, and the scenes of surfing and other extreme sports were dull.

• Original premiere date: 1907
• Remakes: Five

The 1959 religious epic "Ben-Hur" is a cinematic masterpiece and is regarded as one of the best films of all time, winning a record eleven Academy Awards. It technically qualifies as an original as both versions one and two were silent films, but the 2016 remake had none of the original's epic scale. Furthermore, poor acting and action scenes with way too much CGI bogged the remake down.

• Original premiere date: 1990
• Remakes: One

The first "Flatliners" is a sci-fi psychological horror classic about a group of medical students who conduct secret experiences to induce near-death experiences. The 2017 half-sequel-half-remake was bland and predictable. It captured none of the original's suspense or psychological depth.

• Original premiere date: 1932
• Remakes, sequels: Three, Two
• Prequels: One

Many think "The Mummy" (1999) is the original and there's no denying that this 90s remake is a classic, widely beloved for its humor and old-fashioned sense of adventure. But Brendan Fraser's star wattage in this film came after Boris Karloff, one of the true icons of the horror genre. Both the first and second versions were hits with audiences, but it was the third attempt that was a box-office bomb.

The 2017 remake, starring (and largely guided by) Tom Cruise, was messy, humorless and chemistry-free. The film was supposed to jumpstart a new Universal cinematic universe. However, due to the film's poor performance, it died on the vine.