Let's face it, Hollywood is full of unoriginal ideas; just look at the disproportionate variety of films depending on books, plays, Television shows and even Broadway musicals which were themselves according to movies. But once in a while, that most unoriginal of green-lit ideas, the remake of a popular or critically acclaimed movie -- like current releases 'Clash from the Titans,' 'Death at the Funeral' and the upcoming 'Nightmare on Elm Street' reload -- can yield a film that equals, or perhaps rare cases, surpasses the original.
After navigating tricky waters and narrowing down the definition of a remake with a movie clearly determined by another feature-length film (instead of, say, yet another adaptation of the classic text like a Shakespearean play or possibly a Jane Austen novel), here is our listing of the 25 best. This means you won't find adaptations like 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' shorts-based films a la '12 Monkeys,' or reinterpretations like 'Clueless' or 'Moulin Rouge.'
What you will find for this list are my highly subjective picks to find the best remakes in movie history -- a crop of films worth watching if you live completely new to the originals.
'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1999)
According to: Norman Jewison's heist thriller, 'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1968)
Pierce Brosnan, a guru of playing suave and complicated types, was an ideal choice to take part in the titular role that had belonged to Steve McQueen in 1968. Why is John McTiernan's remake much more memorable compared to the original will be the electrifying chemistry between Brosnan's art thief and co-star Rene Russo's knowing insurance investigator. They're not only worthy heist-flick adversaries, they steam the screen with their magnetic attraction.
'Dawn from the Dead' (2004) Based On: George Romero's zombie flick, 'Dawn in the Dead' (1978)
Redoing the Grandfather of Zombie's cult classic must've been a frightening task for first-time director Zack Snyder, nevertheless the unknown commercial and music-video vet were do Romero's legendary zombie film justice using a faithful (in spirit, or even in details) homage that earned him real fanboy cred. What's more, it helped that Snyder had a talented and diverse ensemble featuring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer and Jake Weber. Made it happen unseat the original? No, nevertheless it came pretty close.
'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (1988) According to: Ralph Levy's con-men comedy, 'Bedtime Story' (1964)
Conning unsuspecting rich women along the French Riviera doesn't seem to be a funny premise, but add in Steve Martin and Michael Caine as competing high-class hustlers, and Frank Oz's remake suddenly sounds potentially hilarious. Caine's suave, elegant approach versus Martin's perfect physical comedy make the object of these scheme -- Glenne Headly -- almost superfluous before surprise ending, that is a tricky delight.
'The Italian Job' (2003) Depending on: Peter Collinson's British caper, 'The Italian Job' (1969)
It's difficult to tackle the swingin' original (Michael Caine, No?l Coward, comedy genius Benny Hill, that awesome Mini Cooper chase sequence), but F. Gary Gray's go in the quintessentially English heist flick is -- it doesn't matter what your British friends say -- a bloody satisfying treat starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron and Ed Norton, and a few souped-up Minis for the mandatory car chase -- on this occasion through Chicago.
'The Champ' (1979) Depending on: King Vidor's award-winning boxing drama, 'The Champ' (1931)
Although Jon Voight didn't win an Oscar like Wallace Beery for starring in Franco Zeffirelli's tear-jerker remake, he with his fantastic adorable on-screen son Ricky Schroder made one of those emotional sports dramas that make men to cry. Critics overwhelmingly favored Vidor's poignant but harder-hitting tale over Zeffirelli's treacly re-conception, but audiences (us included) didn't mind spilling a number of tears during the comeback drama.
'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) According to: Roger Corman's horror comedy, 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1960)
Director Frank Oz's second film listed is this hilariously twisted musical comedy starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene. Between the singing, flesh-eating plant Audrey II (voiced by the lead singer of the Four Tops, Levi Stubbs), Steve Martin being a deliciously sadistic dentist, as well as the doo-wop chorus girls, this is a freaky but fun musical. We dare you to not catch yourself singing "Little shop/Little shop of horrors" after watching the quirky and campy remake.
'The Ring' (2002) Determined by: Hideo Nakata's horror flick, 'Ringu' (1998)
Gore Verbinski's gothic American take on the outrageously popular Japanese original does not have the "best of horror" credentials of 'The Exorcist' or 'The Thing,' but it is chilling enough to elicit audience-wide yelps from even genre aficionados. Without a crazy body count or masked murderers, this can be a epitome of scary without as much gore. Naomi Watts is unforgettable as a mom which will stop at nothing to uncover the seemingly unknowable mystery surrounding a killer VHS tape.
'A Star is Born' (1954) According to: William Wellman's showbiz drama, 'A Star is Born' (1937)
Director George Cukor revived a fading Judy Garland's career with all the comeback role of your life. Playing a competent rising star who falls for James Mason's controlling, alcoholic singer (James Mason), Garland gave the performance of her career and cemented the unforgettable Ira Gershwin-Harold Arlen-produced standard 'The Man That Got Away' into her repertoire. Yes, it absolutely was made specifically to support Garland, but she delivered the film equivalent of a wonderful one-woman show .
'Ocean's 11' (2001) Based On: Lewis Milestone's heist flick, 'Ocean's 11' (1960)
Steven Soderbergh's remake in the Vegas-set caper stars an infinitely more diverse band of actors compared to the A-list best friends who headlined the original, but the ensemble's collective energy can be so infectious, it is easy to believe Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Cheadle and co. really are a Hollywood reincarnation in the celebrated Rat Pack. Even villainous casino owner, played by Andy Garcia, is likable -- so much so that he, along with Ocean's entire crew, returned for two main sequels.
'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964) Based On: Akira Kurosawa's samurai drama, 'Yojimbo' (1961)
Sergio Leone's first Spaghetti Western is a lot more important for introducing the entire world to Clint Eastwood's infamous Man With No Name, than for being an unofficial Kurosawa remake. Together with his air of mystery, narrowed eyes and cool aloofness, Eastwood's lawless character am engrossing that Leone's violent retelling spawned two 'Dollar' sequels starring Eastwood's "Stranger." Not bad for a relatively unknown director along with a star looking to break free from his TV persona.
'The Fly' (1986) Depending on: Kurt Neumann's horror classic, 'The Fly' (1958)
Jeff Goldblum has starred in bigger blockbusters ('Jurassic Park,' 'Independence Day'), but to us, he'll forever be remembered for his primary performance as an eccentric scientist in David Cronenberg's excellent (and intensely different) remake. Part graphic horror, part graphic romance (it's a Cronenberg movie, in fact) co-starring Geena Davis, the movie was both an industrial and critical success that completely transcended the campy original.
'The Departed' (2006)
Based On: Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Hong Kong crime-thriller 'Infernal Affairs' (2002)
Who would've believed that Martin Scorsese would finally score Oscar gold for any story not concerning the New York City mob, nevertheless the Irish gangsters up in Boston. Scorsese's mind-blowing drama about cops, criminals and those that secretly cross the line between both worlds, is nothing lacking extraordinary. Starring a lot of the best actors in Hollywood (Nicholson, DiCaprio, Damon, Baldwin, Sheen, Wahlberg, Farmiga), it's almost Shakespearean in scope and scale.
'The Magnificent Seven' (1960) Determined by: Akira Kurosawa's epic 'The Seven Samurai' (1954)
Kurosawa's samurai films obviously spoke to American directors, and John Sturges doesn't disappoint together with his brilliant Westernization featuring seven gunmen hired to safeguard a besieged Mexican village. The seven spectacular action stars alone make this worth watching (Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn and Horst Buchholz -- all of whom really are magnificent), not forgetting the epic gunfight sequences.
'Cape Fear' (1991) According to: J. Lee Thompson's stalker thriller, 'Cape Fear' (1962)
Martin Scorsese's second remake in the top 10 is his modernization of Thompson's infamous 1962 crime thriller. Robert De Niro is frighteningly menacing and seductive as Max Cady, the ex-con out for revenge who Robert Mitchum immortalized. Nick Nolte holds his own as the attorney Cady is threatening, but it's a teenage Juliette Lewis who steals the show as the object of Cady's creepy obsession. The squeamish should stick to the excellent original, but that is one of Scorsese's best.
'The Man Well isn't Too Much' (1956) Based On: Alfred Hitchcock's first 'The Man Is not Too Much' (1934)
This can be a only entry of an director remaking his own film (although plenty of other filmmakers have done it). Hitchcock kept principle premise of his early thriller: a household on vacation stumbles upon top-secret information which leads to their child's kidnapping, but he updated the setting, shot in color and cast bonafide Hollywood sweethearts James Stewart and Doris Day inside the subsequent film. Hitchcock himself proclaimed it the highest version, and who are we to argue regarding his genius?
'Scarface' (1983) Depending on: Howard Hawks' gangland drama, 'Scarface' (1932)
Brian De Palma's remake is a cultural phenomenon -- the level of movie that nearly 3 decades later continues to be regularly referenced. The genius behind De Palma and screenwriter Oliver Stone's update is switching from the Italian mob to the Cuban cartels in Miami's cocaine-fueled drug boom. Al Pacino's machine-gun-wielding kingpin Tony Montana will be as iconic as Michael Corleone, with more quotable lines, like, "Say hello to my little friend," or "In this country, you gotta result in the money first..."
'The Thing' (1982) According to: Howard Hawks' 'The Thing' (1952)
Considering this list could've been comprised solely of horror films -- you'll find just that many remakes within the genre -- it ought to come as no real surprise that John Carpenter's horror gem isn't. 1. A known master of paranoia and suspense, Carpenter's take on a parasitic alien that may shape-shift into any thing or any body is both bloody disgusting and bloody brilliant. Never has building remote outpost seemed scarier, and not has an awesomely bearded Kurt Russell been this good.
