When it comes to movies, people tend to complain, “Why don’t they make original movies anymore?” It’s true, too, that all movies seem to be remakes, or based on TV shows and books. However, even some of the more beloved movies are actually remakes. Some you might know, some you might not, and some you might not know just how many times. Here’s a categorical list of ten remakes that might surprise you, or might not depending on how in the know you are, but it proves that a remake isn’t always a bad thing.
3 Movies Remade Multiple Times
Hollywood got the idea that they could remake a movie because it works. In fact, these movies prove it’s worked more than once:
And Then There Were None (1945) – This movie’s been remade so many times, it’s easier to list the original movie. This movie itself was of course based on the play of the same name, which was also based on the book of the same name. Both the play and the book were penned by Agatha Christie. It has four remakes, all of which named Ten Little Indians, released in 1959, 1965, 1974, and 1989. It also has other movies based upon it.
Freaky Friday (2003) – Many know this movie as Lindsay Lohan’s return to acting, and most people knew that it was a remake of the 1976 Jodie Foster film. What you might not know is that it’s closer to the 1995 made-for-TV Freaky Friday that starred Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman. Yes, the 2003 film was the second remake of the 1976 film, and all versions are owned by Disney. The more savvy might know that the original movie was based on the book by the same name, and while it has its differences, the original is definitely the closest to the source material.
The Shaggy Dog (2006) – Probably inspired by Freaky Friday, Disney again decided to remake a movie they already made twice. Okay, I might be the only one who likes the version with Tim Allen and Spencer Breslin. However, there was a 1994 made-for-TV remake of the original 1959 film, staring Ed Begley, Jr. and Scott Weinger.
6 Remakes You Don’t Complain About
Without remakes, some of the better films past 25 years could not have been made.
The Bourne Identity (2002) – Yes, the movie franchise starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is based on a book. However, the movie itself had been done before, as a 1988 made-for-TV movie with the same name.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Most people know this was based on the stage musical. However, the stage musical was based on 1960 Roger Corman film The Little Shop of Horrors. The movie, however, does incorporate something from the movie that the stage play did not – Bill Murray’s character of the masochist patient was based on Jack Nicholson’s character from the original film. Yes, that Jack Nicholson – The Little Shop of Horrors was his very first film.
She’s All That(1999) – This is one of the high school movies of the 1990s that understood high school life, and made Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook household names. It’s also very similar to My Fair Lady, don’t you think? Well, why not? They’re both based on the play Pygmalion.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) – Another 90s movie that reflected high school pretty well, and the movie that made Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles stars. But of course, it’s just another Kiss Me, Kate, which was of course, based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.
Death at a Funeral (2010) – This remake is just odd. I mean, the movie is great, but the original was remade is odd. First of all, the original film was only made three years ago, in England. The original was directed by Frank Oz, who directed the aforementioned Little Shop of Horrors, and if you don’t know him from what he’s directed, you definitely know him if you grew up with Muppets or you watched the original Star Wars trilogy. Actor Peter Dinklage was even in both versions of the film.
Father of the Bride (1991) – Inclusion of this film may once again be personal preference, but I happen to love the Steve Martin movie. Of course, it had already been done before, in 1950, as a movie with the same name.
1 Movie Included Just Because of Length of Time Between Remakes
Reefer Madness(2005) – This movie is a remake of a movie that came out 69 years before this one. It is a remake of the 1936 movie of the same name. The original movie also goes by the name Tell Your Children.
Were Movies Ever Original?
Who knows if movies were ever original; after all, there’s nothing new under the sun. However, there’s definitely a quality issue. A remake can be fresh and new, but it makes it no less a remake. The question we should be asking Hollywood is not, “Why can’t you guys make anything original anymore?” The question we should be asking is, “If you insist upon doing remakes, why can’t you do it well?”
All information in this article comes from personal knowledge and IMDB.
