It’s become a particularly large phenomenon throughout the 21st century, but the practice of remaking an older film is one practically as old as the art form itself, with Georges Méliès‘ 1896 short film Playing Cards usually being considered the first-ever movie remake. Most cinephiles tend to agree that the vast majority of remakes fail to live up to their predecessors, but then, there are the special few that manage to surpass them.
What, exactly, makes a movie remake “necessary” or “unnecessary” can be very arbitrary and subjective, but generally speaking, remakes of movies that were already masterpieces, iconic, and/or internationally renowned are the kinds that usually get the “unnecessary” label attached to them. Sometimes, though, it doesn’t necessarily result in a bad film. Indeed, throughout history, a few remakes have defied the odds and resulted in a great movie. Sure, they might still be unnecessary in the grand scheme of things, but they remain solid movies — even if they don’t contribute anything substantial to their respective franchises.
10
‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)
Ivan Reitman‘s classic horror comedy Ghostbusters is pretty much universally agreed to be one of the most essential movies of not just 1984, but the ’80s as a whole. As such, when a modern remake-slash-reboot led by an all-female cast was announced, fans were more than a little bit skeptical. Once Paul Feig‘s version of the film came out, though, fans received a pleasant surprise. Not only was the movie not terrible, but it was even pretty entertaining.
There’s no way around it: Ghostbusters (2016) is more of a lazy rehash than it is a truly great comedy, but as far as legacy remakes go, it’s undeniably on the enjoyable side. The cast is fantastic, the visuals are impressive, the third act is pretty fun, and there are some jokes that land well enough. Ghostbusters was definitely an uncalled-for reinvention, but one that works surprisingly well on a surprising number of levels.
9
‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1999)
Released in 1968, Norman Jewison‘s heist film The Thomas Crown Affair will have a second remake released in 2027, but before that, it’s worth taking a look back at the first. The 1999 John McTiernan movie of the same title, starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, is just about as charming as its predecessor, holding pretty similar ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Letterboxd.
There was really no need to redo a film that was already pretty solid and not at all outdated, but even still, McTiernan packs in more than enough surprises to make for a pleasant two hours. Sleek, glossy, and romantic, this version of The Thomas Crown Affair does a pretty decent job at updating the story for a new generation. It’s not exactly an electric caper, but it sure is an enjoyable and seductive one.
8
‘A Man Called Otto’ (2022)
The 2015 Swedish dramedy A Man Called Ove took cinephiles by surprise, attaining wide acclaim and even two Academy Award nominations. It was a simple, charming film, and one that felt like a pretty solid one-off experience. Hollywood just can’t resist Americanizing international movies, though, and so Marc Forster directed A Man Called Otto, with Tom Hanks taking on the role that Rolf Lassgård had played in the original film.
This remake lacks some of the originality and sincerity that made its Swedish predecessor so special, but with its phenomenal cast and a surprisingly solid script that tugs at the heartstrings with ease, A Man Called Otto turned out to be a pretty good dramedy in its own right in the end. Entertaining, funny, emotional, and never forgetting to stay true to the heart and the tone of the original, this version of the story should at least be able to draw more English-speaking audiences to the fantastic movie it was based on.
7
‘True Grit’ (2010)
Few legends of the Western genre are bigger or more iconic than John Wayne, and one of the actor’s best performances (the one that earned him the only Oscar win of his career) was as a tough U.S. Marshal in Henry Hathaway‘s True Grit. If there was any pair of filmmakers not just capable, but even worthy of remaking such a phenomenal paragon of the genre, it had to be Joel and Ethan Coen. Indeed, their True Grit may even be better than the first film.
The cast, including an Oscar-nominated Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges, is fantastic, and the Coens’ writing and direction are as sharp and stylish as usual. The result is one of the most rewatchable Westerns ever, even if it’s hard to deny that no one was clamoring for a reinterpretation of what was already remembered as one of the best Westerns of the ’60s. Even still, the Coens never miss, and their take on Rooster Cogburn’s story was no exception.
6
‘King Kong’ (2005)
After he revolutionized the fantasy genre with his take on J.R.R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson wasn’t planning on slowing down on his ambitions. His next project was almost just as big: a 3-hour-long reinterpretation of the quasi-mythical tale of King Kong. Remaking one of the most thrilling Classical Hollywood films is never an easy task, but though Jackson certainly didn’t manage to surpass the legendary original, he still delivered a pretty solid version of the giant gorilla.
Jackson’s King Kong, though completely unnecessary and perhaps even too ambitious for its own good, benefits from a terrific cast, groundbreaking visual effects, and an epic tone that makes the runtime feel warranted. It’s far from a perfect remake, but it’s a fantastic action-adventure epic in its own right, and with the passage of time, all it has done is age well. In an era of lazy, pointless remakes, Jackson’s King Kong never feels lazy, which is saying a lot considering the original’s outright legendary status.
5
‘Let Me In’ (2010)
Pretty much immediately upon release, the 2008 Swedish horror coming-of-age Let the Right One In became lauded as one of the greatest international horror films of the 21st century. Today, almost twenty years later, that label still applies. In the midst of all the praise, though, something that no one was saying was “man, I sure wish they’d make a Hollywood version of this ASAP.” Even still, Matt Reeves delivered Let Me In just two years later, and to everyone’s surprise, it turned out surprisingly well.
Let Me In is scary, endearing, well-written, and well-crafted pretty much all across the board.
Let Me In is nowhere near as great or memorable as the Swedish original, but it’s not too far off, either. It’s scary, endearing, well-written, and well-crafted pretty much all across the board. Though the mere thought that it came just a couple of years after its predecessor seems baffling, it does enough things differently that it genuinely feels like a refreshing interpretation of John Ajvide Lindqvist‘s novel.
4
‘A Star Is Born’ (2018)
Actors don’t always make for the best directors, but when they do, it’s something truly special to behold. As it turns out, Bradley Cooper is a fantastic director, and his feature debut, A Star Is Born, proves it. The funny bit, though? It’s a remake of a remake of a remake. The original version of this story came out in 1937, then a new one came out in 1954, then another in 1976, and then Cooper’s take on it. Pretty much every generation has gotten its version of A Star Is Born, and from the people who have seen all of them, many might argue that the newest might even be the superior one.
With a pair of powerhouse performances by Cooper and Lady Gaga, some excellent songs, and a masterfully sensitive depiction of mental health themes, A Star Is Born (2018) may not have been anything that cinephiles were clamoring for, but now that it’s here, the world is a better place. It’s perfect proof that, with the right amount of creativity and talent, even a story that’s been reheated in the microwave several times can still make for a tasty, hearty meal.
3
‘West Side Story’ (2021)
Based on a 1957 Broadway musical of the same title, which itself was inspired by William Shakespeare‘s Romeo and Juliet, Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins‘ West Side Story (1961) made its way to a whopping 10 Academy Award wins, including Best Picture. The mere thought of remaking such a quintessential classic sounded wild going into the 2020s, but a remake helmed by Steven Spielberg, who had never directed a musical before? Now that was an interesting prospect.
Spielberg’s West Side Story, starring an incredible Rachel Zegler and featuring supporting performances as electrifying as Ariana DeBose‘s (who won an Oscar for her role), makes it feel like the director had been making musicals his whole life. His understanding of the genre seems so perfect that this version might even be better than its predecessor. From its cheesiness to the fact that some of its actors perform in brownface, the original definitely has elements that haven’t aged particularly well, whereas Spielberg’s version is a banger from start to finish.
2
‘Sorcerer’ (1977)
Henri-Georges Clouzot‘s The Wages of Fear is one of the greatest thrillers of all time, an incredibly tense masterpiece that won the Palme d’Or at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival. When it comes to movie remakes, everyone knows that you’re not supposed to touch masterpieces, but William Friedkin was at the top of his game and feeling bold in the ’70s. Thus, he made Sorcerer, a Hollywood version of Wages of Fear, which, shockingly enough, is almost just as legendary.
Just like Wages of Fear is one of the most intense films of the ’50s, so too is Sorcerer one of the most intense of the ’70s, boosted by Friedkin’s sharp direction and a bleak evocation of the darkest pits of human nature. It’s a truly special remake that understands everything that made the original work as well as it did, and builds upon those elements with full originality and refreshing amounts of creativity. It’s not easy to get through, but it’s worth every second.
1
‘A Fistful of Dollars’ (1964)
When talking about the directors who have defined the Western genre, the conversation could never be complete without talking about Sergio Leone. The father of Spaghetti Westerns made some incredible films over his illustrious career, three of the best being each installment of his Dollars Trilogy. It starts with A Fistful of Dollars, which happens to be an unofficial remake of one of the greatest samurai flicks ever made: Akira Kurosawa‘s Yojimbo.
Kurosawa, praised by some as nothing short of the greatest filmmaker in history, has had an influence on an immeasurable number of filmmakers, Leone being one of the most notorious. Fistful of Dollars may have been pretty unnecessary as a remake. But, in the end of the day, both Kurosawa and Leone are two of the greatest filmmakers who have ever lived; and, as such, it’s no surprise that where Yojimbo is one of the most entertaining samurai films ever, Fistful of Dollars is one of the most entertaining Westerns ever.