The great world of cinema has been around since the 19th century. It’s only natural that some ideas may be recycled or rehashed in the film industry. With film technology constantly advancing, it only makes sense that some old films be remade using new technological advancements to do what couldn’t be done at the time the original was made.
While there are no set rules for creating a remake, the expectations of a remake are drastically different than that of any original film. A recent example would be the Mortal Kombat remake that came out in 2021. The story for the film was different from the original, but the film did remarkably better than the original as the technology to create the powers of the characters is more than just green screen. Here are the best modern remakes of classic movies ranked.
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10 Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is a remake of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Taking up Gene Wilder’s role as Willy Wonka, Johnny Depp brings out the same eccentricities Willy Wonka is known for, making him just as odd while adding his own unique flare to the character. There were many changes from the original to the remake, including giving Willy Wonka a backstory and giving the Oompa Loompas better musical numbers and dance routines. Not to mention the process of making the candy was done with CGI, giving it a more unique effect with technology that was not available when the original came out.
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9 Ocean’s Eleven
A remake of the original 1960 Ocean’s Eleven starring great stars like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. who would later be referred to as the “rat pack”, the remake of Ocean’s Eleven is one of the best ever done. There are slight differences in small details to the film, like how in the original the group hits three separate casinos but in the remake it’s one vault, but the money comes from three casinos, and the overall plot sticks the landing. With just as many modern stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Bernie Mac and even Carl Reiner, the remake emanates the same atmosphere of pulling off a heist in a smooth manner.
8 True Grit
The original True Grit (1969) starring John Wayne was a huge success during its time, following the journey of Rooster Cogburn hired by 14-year old Mattie to hunt down and kill Tom Chaney, the man who murdered her father. While the John Wayne classic will forever live in the hearts of audiences, the remake gives the original a run for its money. Directed by the Coen Brothers, the 2010 remake of True Grit was bound for success with its ensemble cast of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. True Grit is highly praised, some even suggesting that the Coen Brother remake is better than the original, getting nominated for ten Academy Awards.
7 The Magnificent Seven
Another Western to make the remake list is The Magnificent Seven. When the residents of Rose Creek find themselves under the control of industrialist Bogue, they seek the help of the bounty hunter Sam Chisolm who gathers his group of worthy adversaries to take back the town. The remake of the 1960 classic stars Denzel Washington, Christ Pratt, and Ethan Hawke along with many other stars with chemistry that only the magnificent seven could have. Both films were adaptations of Seven Samurai, a Japanese film with a similar premise with The Magnificent Seven changing the Samuraii to a diverse group of warriors with different backgrounds, including a Korean assassin who favours blades to guns.
6 A Star is Born
Warner Bros
The remake with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the main roles as Ally and Jackson. Ally is a shy artist, tempted to give up on her dream of being a singer until Jackson swoops in and kicks her into the spotlight while falling in love with her. While their musical careers are blooming, their relationship is tested by their individual successes, sending Jackson into a downward spiral. A modern remake of the 1937 original and the 1976 remake, A Star is Born pulls together the passion for love and music, making a tear-jerking story about how complicated love can be. Lady Gaga’s performance was praised despite the skeptical opinion of 1976 A Star is Born star Barbara Steisand.
5 Scarface
This may come as a shocker to some, but Al Pacino’s famously fantastic performance in Scarface was indeed a remake of the 1932 original. Following the life of Tony Montana as he arrives in Florida from Cuba, ready to live the “American Dream”. Soon enough Tony takes his chance and becomes one of the biggest gangsters in the country, but trouble is not far around the corner as Tony is never out of danger’s reach. While there is a good 50 year difference between the films, they both show the dark side of the criminal underworld with gratuitous violence and swearing.
4 The Mummy
The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser is a remake of the 1932 original film of the same name. Not to be confused with The Mummy which came out in 2017, changing too much of the plot to really be called a remake. The Mummy follows a group of explorers who seek to find the treasure buried in the hidden city Hamunaptra but they accidentally wake Imhotep, the mummified high priest. The remake of the movie showed off the technological advances of cinema like how they were able to create a completely mummified Imhotep using computer technology, which would not have been available in 1932.
3 Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Francis Ford Coppola is known for his masterpieces like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now and Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of them. The film follows lawyer Jonathan Harker who is sent to Dracula’s castle to close a land deal, Dracula sees a picture of Harker’s fiancée Mina and traps Harker in his castle to go and seduce Mina. This classic starring Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman as Dracula and Winona Ryder, is a remake of the 1931 original Dracula. While many films have been made based on the original story of Dracula, none are as highly-praised as Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
2 The Fly
The Fly follows scientist Seth Brundle, played by Jeff Goldbum, when his use of a teleportation device goes horribly wrong when a housefly finds its way into the device. Suddenly, Brundle discovers that his DNA and the flys have merged and he is slowly becoming more and more fly-like. A remake of the 1958 original, The Fly is considered one of the best horror sci-fi films of all time. The Fly was praised for the special effects, which won it an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
1 The Thing
The Thing is a classic horror film set in Antarctica following a group of scientists after an unknown creature is thawed from the ice, the creature shifts into the form of anything it comes in contact with after assimilating into it. This puts the scientists’ trust to the test as they question who the real enemy is. The 1982 version of The Thing featuring Kurt Russel is a remake of the 1951 original The Thing from Another World. John Carpenter’s The Thing was not well-received at the time of its release but eventually gained enough acclaim to make the list as one of the best sci-fi horror films of all time.
