Movie Remakes That Never Should Have Been Made

We’ve all been there: We walk out of the movie theater after seeing an updated version of a classic film. We look at our companions,  scratch our heads and wonder aloud, “Why was that movie even made?” Certain remakes have at least some redeeming value, but we’ve rounded up 20 remakes widely considered to have absolutely no reason to exist. 

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. Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 remake of the 1960s Frank Sinatra vehicle “Ocean’s 11” is stylish and witty. Perfectly cast with one of the greatest ensembles of all time, it is decidedly better than the original, which is essentially a Rat Pack hangout film.

Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Best Picture Oscar winner “The Departed” completely overhauled, and improved upon its source material, the Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs.” And while the 1960 B-movie original version of “Little Shop of Horrors” is something of a cult classic, Frank Oz’s 1986 musical remake is one of the most beloved films of all time. 

The worst – or perhaps more appropriately, least necessary – remakes of all time are the complete opposite. Instead of building on the source material, they don’t capture anything that made the original worthwhile. The writing, directing, and/or performances leave something to be desired. 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. 

These movies aren’t even so bad you have to see them. They’re completely passable and have no reason to exist. We recommend you forget all about these remakes and just watch the originals instead. 

Godzilla (1998)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

The 1954 Japanese classic “Godzilla,” in which a giant monster attacks postwar Japan, has inspired a few reboots. Thankfully the most recent, 2014’s “Godzilla,” has inspired a well-received and popular franchise. However, the 1998 remake, starring Matthew Broderick, abandoned the source material in favor of so-so special effects. All planned sequels were canceled. 

Psycho (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 “Psycho” is a certified classic, one of the most influential and beloved horror films of all time. Gun Van Sant’s 1998 shot-for-shot remake, starring Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche, was very poorly received, largely because it brought nothing new to the table and didn’t have any of the original’s creative spark. 

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

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. 

The Stepford Wives (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

1975’s 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, starring Nicole Kidman, on the other hand, was panned for watering down the source material and being mindlessly campy with none of the original’s bite. 

The Wicker Man (2006) 

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

The original 1973 “The Wicker Man” 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!” 

The Pink Panther (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Starring David Niven and Peter Sellers, the original 1963 “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. 

The Omen (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Richard Donner’s 1976 supernatural horror film “The Omen” scared the pants off of 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. 

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1951’s “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. It was instead just a collection of action sequences. 

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1981’s original “Clash of the Titans” is an epic fantasy adventure 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.

Death at a Funeral (2010)

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Charming and sophisticated, the original 2007 “Death at a Funeral” was part slapstick, part farce. 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. 

Footloose (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Footloose” was one of 1984’s highest-grossing films and 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. 

Arthur (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Dudley Moore’s 1981 comedy “Arthur,” in which he 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. 

Red Dawn (2012)

Source: Courtesy of FilmDistrict

The original 1984 “Red Dawn” perfectly captured the political moment, following a group of teenage guerrillas during a fictional World War III in which the Soviets occupy America. The 2012 remake was completely unoriginal and didn’t capture any of the original’s political or cultural messaging. 

Total Recall (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 original “Total Recall” is a sci-fi cult classic. The film 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. 

Oldboy (2013) 

Source: Courtesy of FilmDistrict

Believed by many to be one of the best movies of all time, the 2003 South Korean action-thriller “Oldboy” 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. 

RoboCop (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Starring Peter Weller as a murdered police officer who is revived and turned into a cyborg, 1987’s “RoboCop” 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. 

Point Break (2015)

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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. 

Ben-Hur (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

A cinematic masterpiece, the 1959 religious epic “Ben-Hur” is regarded as one of the best films of all time. It even won a record eleven Academy Awards. 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. 

Flatliners (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Joel Schumacher’s 1990 “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. 

The Mummy (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Finally, 1999’s “The Mummy” is a 90s classic, widely beloved for its humor and old-fashioned sense of adventure. Brendan Fraser’s star wattage in this film is up there with the very best Brendan Fraser movies.

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.