Not all movie remakes are doomed to fail. Depending on who directs and writes the script, a modern remake presents an opportunity to put a fresh spin on things. Sometimes, these never-shinier versions of the same film even surpass the quality of the original and become bigger pop culture phenomena. Many forget they’re even remakes at all. John Carpenter’s The Thing and Brian De Palma‘s Scarface are prime examples.
Of course, for every impressive second attempt at telling the same story, there is a cash grab out there, merely trying to bank on nostalgia or fandom. These unwanted remakes don’t have anything new to add or interesting to share. They more or less regurgitate every beat of the masterpiece of a movie that inspired them, and as a result, totally destroy its legacy. The worst part is they are remakes that fans definitely didn’t ask to see. It all begs the ongoing debate in the world of cinema these days – are there any new stories to tell?
The Crow Remake Was Thought to Be in Poor Taste
Released 2024
- Director: Rupert Sanders
- Genre: Crime/Action
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 22%
The Crow is a beloved Gothic romance, and the remake attempts to capture that same magic. Bill Skarsgård stars as Eric, an addict who falls in love with a musician named Shelley (FKA Twigs) who has similar issues. They both get mixed up with a crime lord who’s made a pact with the devil.
Adapted from the comic book series of the same name, the original The Crow has a fervent fandom that almost borders on religious. Actor Brandon Lee was tragically killed on set when a prop gun went wrong, and the fact that he poured his heart and soul into the film makes his loss all the more devastating. Bill Skarsgård is good, but Lee’s brooding performance is what turned the titular antihero into an icon. The original should have remained untouched.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Was Not What Dreams Are Made of
Released 2010
- Director: Samuel Bayer
- Genre: Horror
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 14%
Nine, ten, Freddy’s back again! This time it’s in a remake of the classic slasher, A Nightmare on Elm Street. A new crop of teenagers is being hunted down by the evil dream-dweller in Springwood, Ohio.
There is a lot to dislike about the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. From awful special effects to the bored, phoned-in performance of the usually great Rooney Mara, the movie was a disaster from start to finish. It doesn’t help that the script completely strips Freddy Krueger of any likability. Granted, it’s odd to be critical of not liking a malicious spirit that kills teenagers in their dreams, but Robert Englund managed to make it happen.
RoboCop Is a Soulless Recreation of the Original
Released 2014
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- Director: José Padilha
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
Detroit is overrun by murder, theft, and other illicit activity in RoboCop. To combat the rising crime rates, a company called OmniCorp creates peacekeeping cyborgs to work as law enforcement officers. Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) is one of the first test subjects for this new technology after he’s left for dead by a crime boss.
Sci-fi fans were outraged by the remake of RoboCop. The newer, shinier cyborg created by OmniCorp lacked the same charm as the prototype worn by Alex Murphy in 1987. It was obvious in the original version that the Detroit cop’s soul was still buried inside the suit. The remake trades that heart and soul for loud, exciting production value. As a result, it ends up falling short.
The Live-Action Snow White Was an Epic Fail for Disney
Released 2025
- Director: Marc Webb
- Genre: Family/Fantasy
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 39%
The live-action Snow White, for the most part, follows the beats of the original. A beautiful princess named Snow (Rachel Zegler) is sentenced to death by her evil stepmother. She flees from the huntsman through the woods and stumbles upon a cottage inhabited by seven hard-working dwarfs.
Snow White was doomed from the very beginning. Rachel Zegler, who stars as the princess, earned negative press on the publicity tour when she bashed the original film. She then doubled down by sharing her political opinions on social media. Add to that outrage over the dwarfs in the film, and unfortunately, Snow White didn’t end up breaking the curse of bad Disney live-action movies.
The Karate Kid Was Nothing More Than a Nepotism Project
Released 2010
- Director: Harald Zwart
- Genre: Martial Arts
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
The Karate Kid (2010) gives audiences a new hero in the form of 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith). He and his widowed mother move from Detroit to Beijing. The transition isn’t easy, but luckily, Dre has kung fu master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to help him learn how to stand up for himself.
Following the infamous Academy Awards slap, Will Smith has experienced an epic fall from grace. Unfortunately, his children have been on the same trajectory for a while. To be fair, an adorable Jaden Smith got many glowing reviews for his performance in the remake of The Karate Kid. However, cynics are now accusing everything he’s done of being nepotism in action. As a result, the remake tarnishes the shine of the original.
The Remake of Psycho Doesn’t Offer Anything New and Original
Released 1998
- Director: Gus Van Sant
- Genre: Horror
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
Marion Crane, Norman Bates, and Mother are all back for the Psycho remake. The story is the same as the original – Marion Crane (Anne Heche) steals money and flees to the Bates Motel to be with her boyfriend. The only problem is the motel is run by the murderous Norman Bates (Vince Vaughan).
What is the point of remaking a movie if it’s going to follow the original beat for beat? That was the problem with 1998’s Psycho, starring Vince Vaughan as the sinister Norman Bates. No one can do Hitchcock better than Hitchcock, so this remake is a major flop. Aside from the original, it made any other movie in the franchise look bad, which is why so many are still missing out on the surprisingly good sequel.
Released 2011
- Director: Craig Brewer
- Genre: Romance/Comedy
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%
Dancing is a way of life for some people, which is why it’s so devastating when it’s deemed illegal. Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) and his new love interest Ariel (Julianne Hough) work together to bring the art of dance back to Bomont, Utah.
Footloose is one of those movies that everyone knows. It tells a story that could only exist in the movies – dancing is banned in a small town. The remake just didn’t need to be made. Kenny Wormald is charming, but he and Julianna Hough lack chemistry. Overall, the entire production tries too hard to have the same feel-good vibes as the original, but it ends up falling flat.
The Omen Remake Was Lazy and Lifeless
Released 2006
- Director: John Moore
- Genre: Horror
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%
Damien is one of the creepiest kids in horror history. Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick takes on the role in the 2006 remake of The Omen. In the film, he’s adopted by a nice couple named Robert (Liev Schreiber) and Katherine (Julia Stiles). Disturbing events occur after his arrival, and they have to admit there’s something not quite right with Damien.
Some remakes are made simply to capitalize on the success and name recognition of the original. The Omen, released in 2006, was one of those films. From the script to the performances, it’s clear that nobody is putting in 100% of their best effort. Luckily, The First Omen broke the curse and proved that not all new additions to a franchise are bad.
The Mummy Wasn’t Able to Kick Off a Franchise
Released 2017
- Director: Alex Kurtzman
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 15%
Ancient Egyptian princesses prefer not to be awakened. Once they do, they bring malevolence and terror upon everyone. U.S. Army Sergeant Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) has to do damage control to stop the curse from spreading.
The remake of The Mummy was supposed to kick off a new franchise. Instead, it completely failed to live up to expectations. The poor box office return lost Universal Pictures somewhere between $60 and $95 million. Meanwhile, Tom Cruise was slammed for basically doing a badly realized version of a Tom Cruise character. This remake was better left off in its tomb.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Was Weird for the Sake of Weirdness
Released 2005
- Director: Tim Burton
- Genre: Family/Fantasy
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Tim Burton got the golden ticket to do his own oddball version of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stars Johnny Depp as Wonka, the proprietor of a magical chocolate factory. He invites Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) and four other lucky winners to tour his wondrous factory and meet the Oompa-Loompas.
Nobody necessarily wanted a Tim Burton-ified version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but it happened anyway in 2005. There’s a level of uncanny valley that exists throughout the remake in everything from Johnny Depp’s kooky performance to the strange songs. It may have a great Rotten Tomatoes Score, but the film is void of the sweet wholesomeness found in the original and in Roald Dahl’s book.
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