Special Report
Best (and Worst) Movie Remakes of All Time
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In their perpetual pursuit of profits, movie studios often remake films rather than take a risk on something completely new. These safe bets often pan out, as audiences flock to the theater to see the new version of a familiar title. In some instances — such as Steven Soderbergh’s remake “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001) — moviegoers prefer the remake over the original.
The likelihood of a remake being great largely depends on the reasons behind its production. When films are remade to cash in on the original’s success, they frequently fail to recapture the magic. This often happens with genre movies, such as with horror director John Carpenter’s cult classic “The Fog.” The 2005 remake was not only a subpar, critically panned horror flick, but one of the worst movies of all time.
When a movie is remade because the filmmakers see ways to reinterpret or improve on the telling of the story, the films are often excellent. The recent retelling of “A Star Is Born,” aided by the talent of modern-day music industry powerhouse Lady Gaga, is one such example.
24/7 Tempo determined the best and worst movie remakes of all time by creating an index based on user ratings from the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes.
Even when a remake is great, it’s not always better than the first movie. This is often true when movies are remade for different markets or updated after long periods of time. The American horror film “Let Me In” and the original Swedish “Let the Right One In” are both considered to be good movies – one version was simply made with the English-speaking market in mind.
A terrible remake, however, is generally worse than its predecessor.
Click here to see the best movie remakes of all time.
Click here to see the worst movie remakes of all time.
To determine the best and worst movie remakes, 24/7 Tempo created an index using each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and Internet Movie Database average user rating. To be considered, each film had to have at least 10,000 total user ratings between IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes and 10 approved Tomatometer critic reviews.
We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating.
All of the films included are labeled “remake” on IMDb. For our list, we included re-imaginings in addition to strict remakes. We excluded films based on television series. Internationally produced films in which English was not the primary language were also removed from consideration.
The best movie remakes:
40. High Society (1956)
> Directed by: Charles Walters
> Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra
> Original film: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
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39. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
> Directed by: Frank Oz, Rocky Morton
> Starring: Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly
> Original film: Bedtime Story (1964)
38. Anastasia (1997)
> Directed by: Don Bluth
> Starring: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd
> Original film: Anastasia (1956)
37. Les Misérables (2012)
> Directed by: Tom Hooper
> Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
> Original film: Les Misérables (1935)
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36. Let Me In (2010)
> Directed by: Matt Reeves
> Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins
> Original film: Let the Right One In (2008)
35. The Quiet American (2002)
> Directed by: Phillip Noyce
> Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Thi Hai Yen Do
> Original film: The Quiet American (1958)
34. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
> Directed by: Frank Oz
> Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia
> Original film: Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
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33. Enchanted April (1991)
> Directed by: Mike Newell
> Starring: Alfred Molina, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson
> Original film: Enchanted April (1935)
32. Insomnia (2002)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
> Starring: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank
> Original film: Insomnia (1997)
31. Phantom of the Opera (1943)
> Directed by: Arthur Lubin
> Starring: Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, Claude Rains
> Original film: Phantom of the Opera (1925)
30. Scrooge (1970)
> Directed by: Ronald Neame
> Starring: Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans
> Original film: A Christmas Carol (1938)
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29. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
> Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
> Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie
> Original film: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
28. Sorcerer (1977)
> Directed by: William Friedkin
> Starring: Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal
> Original film: The Wages of Fear (1953)
27. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
> Directed by: James Mangold
> Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster
> Original film: 3:10 to Yuma (1957)
26. The Jungle Book (2016)
> Directed by: Jon Favreau
> Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley
> Original film: The Jungle Book (1967)
25. Scent of a Woman (1992)
> Directed by: Martin Brest
> Starring: Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, James Rebhorn
> Original film: Scent of a Woman (1974)
24. A Star Is Born (1976)
> Directed by: Frank Pierson
> Starring: Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey
> Original film: A Star Is Born (1937)
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23. The Jungle Book (1994)
> Directed by: Stephen Sommers
> Starring: Jason Scott Lee, Cary Elwes, Lena Headey
> Original film: The Jungle Book (1942)
22. Dumbo (2019)
> Directed by: Tim Burton
> Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito
> Original film: Dumbo (1941)
21. Destry Rides Again (1939)
> Directed by: George Marshall
> Starring: Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Mischa Auer
> Original film: Destry Rides Again (1932)
20. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
> Directed by: Terry Gilliam
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt
> Original film: La Jetée (1962)
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19. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
> Directed by: Philip Kaufman, Buck Henry
> Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum
> Original film: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
18. Gaslight (1944)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten
> Original film: Gaslight (1940)
17. Hairspray (2007)
> Directed by: Adam Shankman
> Starring: John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky
> Original film: Hairspray (1988)
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16. The Thing (1982)
> Directed by: John Carpenter
> Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David
> Original film: The Thing from Another World (1951)
15. Shadowlands (1993)
> Directed by: Richard Attenborough
> Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, Julian Fellowes
> Original film: Shadowlands (1985)
14. The Ten Commandments (1956)
> Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
> Starring: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter
> Original film: The Ten Commandments (1923)
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13. The Fly (1986)
> Directed by: David Cronenberg
> Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
> Original film: The Fly (1958)
12. Imitation of Life (1959)
> Directed by: Douglas Sirk
> Starring: Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee
> Original film: Imitation of Life (1934)
11. Victor Victoria (1982)
> Directed by: Blake Edwards
> Starring: Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston
> Original film: Viktor und Viktoria (1933)
10. The Awful Truth (1937)
> Directed by: Leo McCarey
> Starring: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy
> Original film: The Awful Truth (1929)
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9. A Star Is Born (2018)
> Directed by: Bradley Cooper
> Starring: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
> Original film: A Star Is Born (1937)
8. A Star Is Born (1954)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Carson
> Original film: A Star Is Born (1937)
7. True Grit (2010)
> Directed by: Ethan Coen
> Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld
> Original film: True Grit (1969)
6. Scarface (1983)
> Directed by: Brian De Palma
> Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer
> Original film: Scarface (1932)
5. Heat (1995)
> Directed by: Michael Mann
> Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
> Original film: L.A. Takedown (1989)
4. Aladdin (2019)
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie
> Starring: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott
> Original film: Aladdin (1992)
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3. The Departed (2006)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
> Original film: Infernal Affairs (1992)
2. Holiday (1938)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan
> Original film: Holiday (1930)
1. His Girl Friday (1940)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
> Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
> Original film: The Front Page (1931)
The worst movie remakes:
40. Yours, Mine & Ours (2005)
> Directed by: Raja Gosnell
> Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Jerry O’Connell
> Original film: Yours, Mine & Ours (1968)
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39. The Loft (2014)
> Directed by: Erik Van Looy
> Starring: Karl Urban, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller
> Original film: Loft (2008)
38. Poltergeist (2015)
> Directed by: Gil Kenan
> Starring: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements
> Original film: Poltergeist (1982)
37. Double Take (2001)
> Directed by: George Gallo
> Starring: Orlando Jones, Eddie Griffin, Gary Grubbs
> Original film: Across the Bridge (1957)
36. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
> Directed by: Samuel Bayer
> Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner
> Original film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
35. Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
> Directed by: Steve Beck
> Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Shannon Elizabeth, Embeth Davidtz
> Original film: 13 Ghosts (1960)
34. Conan the Barbarian (2011)
> Directed by: Marcus Nispel, Thomas Guard
> Starring: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan
> Original film: Conan the Barbarian (1982)
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33. Village of the Damned (1995)
> Directed by: John Carpenter
> Starring: Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, Linda Kozlowski
> Original film: Village of the Damned (1960)
32. Diabolique (1996)
> Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
> Starring: Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri
> Original film: Les Diaboliques (1955)
31. Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)
> Directed by: John Pasquin
> Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, JoBeth Williams
> Original film: Little Indian, Big City (1994)
30. Fathers’ Day (1997)
> Directed by: Ivan Reitman
> Starring: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
> Original film: The ComDads (1983)
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29. The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
> Directed by: Scott Derrickson
> Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates
> Original film: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
28. The Women (2008)
> Directed by: Diane English
> Starring: Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening
> Original film: The Women (1939)
27. The Blue Lagoon (1980)
> Directed by: Randal Kleiser
> Starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins, Leo McKern
> Original film: The Blue Lagoon (1949)
26. Sorority Row (2009)
> Directed by: Stewart Hendler
> Starring: Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Carrie Fisher
> Original film: The House on Sorority Row (1983)
25. Intersection (1994)
> Directed by: Mark Rydell
> Starring: Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Lolita Davidovich
> Original film: The Things of Life (1970)
24. Flubber (1997)
> Directed by: Les Mayfield
> Starring: Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald
> Original film: The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
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23. Point Break (2015)
> Directed by: Ericson Core
> Starring: Edgar Ramírez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone
> Original film: Point Break (1991)
22. Flatliners (2017)
> Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
> Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, John Goodman
> Original film: Flatliners (1990)
21. Night of the Demons (2009)
> Directed by: Adam Gierasch
> Starring: Tatyana Kanavka, Michael Arata, Shannon Elizabeth
> Original film: Night of the Demons (1988)
20. Blame It on Rio (1984)
> Directed by: Stanley Donen
> Starring: Michael Caine, Michelle Johnson, Demi Moore
> Original film: In a Wild Moment (1977)
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19. Taxi (2004)
> Directed by: Tim Story
> Starring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Gisele Bündchen
> Original film: Taxi (1998)
18. The Stepfather (2009)
> Directed by: Nelson McCormick, Oxide Chun Pang
> Starring: Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward
> Original film: The Stepfather (1987)
17. Mixed Nuts (1994)
> Directed by: Nora Ephron
> Starring: Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Robert Klein
> Original film: Santa Claus Is a Stinker (1982)
16. The Big Wedding (2013)
> Directed by: Justin Zackham
> Starring: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl
> Original film: My Brother is Getting Married (2006)
15. When a Stranger Calls (2006)
> Directed by: Simon West
> Starring: Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Katie Cassidy
> Original film: When a Stranger Calls (1979)
14. Get Carter (2000)
> Directed by: Stephen Kay, Terry O. Morse
> Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson
> Original film: Get Carter (1971)
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13. The Bachelor (1999)
> Directed by: Gary Sinyor
> Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Artie Lange
> Original film: Seven Chances (1925)
12. The Haunting (1999)
> Directed by: Jan de Bont
> Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson
> Original film: The Haunting (1963)
11. Black Christmas (2006)
> Directed by: Glen Morgan
> Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert
> Original film: Black Christmas (1974)
10. Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
> Directed by: Danny Pang
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Charlie Yeung, Shahkrit Yamnarm
> Original film: Bangkok Dangerous (1999)
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9. Eye of the Beholder (1999)
> Directed by: Stephan Elliott
> Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd, Patrick Bergin
> Original film: Deadly Circuit (1983)
8. Pulse (2006)
> Directed by: Jim Sonzero
> Starring: Kristen Bell, Rick Gonzalez, Christina Milian
> Original film: Kairo (2001)
7. Prom Night (2008)
> Directed by: Nelson McCormick
> Starring: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup
> Original film: Prom Night (1980)
6. Are We Done Yet? (2007)
> Directed by: Steve Carr
> Starring: Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley
> Original film: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
5. Fantastic Four (2015)
> Directed by: Josh Trank
> Starring: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan
> Original film: Fantastic Four (2005)
4. The Wicker Man (2006)
> Directed by: Neil LaBute
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski
> Original film: The Wicker Man (1973)
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3. Swept Away (2002)
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie
> Starring: Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Bruce Greenwood
> Original film: Swept Away (1974)
2. The Fog (2005)
> Directed by: Rupert Wainwright
> Starring: Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair
> Original film: The Fog (1980)
1. Left Behind (2014)
> Directed by: Vic Armstrong
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson
> Original film: Left Behind: The Movie (2000)
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