Movie remakes are far too common in Hollywood today, but sometimes they have their place.
It’s a chance to retell a story for modern audiences. Sometimes, a remake enhances the original release thanks to improved effects. Other times, a remake of an overseas movie can successfully adapt a movie for domestic audiences.
These films prove that not all remakes are bad.
The Departed
A remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, The Departed was the movie to finally win Martin Scorcese the Oscar for Best Director.
It draws inspiration from the case of Whitey Bulger, a Boston-based organized crime boss who doubles as an FBI informant.
Ocean’s Eleven
Did we need a remake of the original 1960? No, but honestly, I’m glad it exists.
The Steven Soderbergh film is plenty fun, and the star studded cast featuring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon is the closest we’ll ever get to the original Rat Pack.
True Lies
Based on the 1991 French film La Totale!, True Lies takes a more action centric approach.
James Cameron’s touch, combined with the acting prowess of Arnold and Jamie Lee Curtis, offers the right balance of humor and high stakes action.
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12 Monkeys
Speaking of French films, director Terry Gilliam based his innovative sci-fi mystery on the short film La Jetee.
12 Monkeys is one of Pitt’s best performances and is a master class of storytelling from Gilliam.
Scarface
Yes, the Al Pacino classic is based on a 1932 film of the same name.
Brian de Palma’s masterpiece is a perfect example of what good remakes can do: take a good story and make it even better.
Heat
Sometimes, a director decides to remake their own film.
That’s what Michael Mann does here, updating his 1989 TV movie LA Takedown into the classic crime movie Heat.
A Fistful of Dollars
The classic Clint Eastwood is based on the Akira Kurosawa film Yojimbo.
It started a trilogy of spaghetti westerns where Eastwood portrays the iconic Man With No Name.
3:10 to Yuma
While you wouldn’t necessarily think 2007 was a golden age for Westerns, the 3:10 to Yuma remake didn’t get the memo.
Before James Mangold became a household name for directing Logan, he delivered an impressive update of the 1957 original
The Thing
John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic is actually based on the 1951 film The Thing From Another World.
Carpenter’s touch elevates the source material to the horror classic we know and love today.
A Star Is Born
I swear, someone made a deal with Hollywood to remake this movie every so often.
The latest installment is the award-winning 2018 version starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Based on the 1956 film of the same name, 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers is an excellent improvement on the original, which is saying something because the 1956 version is also excellent.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers rises above the original film thanks partly to its stellar writing and all-star cast.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The classic comedy, starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, is based on the 1964 film Bedtime Story.
One big reason is the strength of its main characters. Martin and Caine have incredible chemistry together, acting as a far better leading duo than Marlon Brando and David Niven.
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