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 rendition of a familiar title. In some instances, moviegoers find that the remake has accomplished the uncommon feat of surpassing the original flick in quality.
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. When a movie is remade because the filmmakers see ways to reinterpret or improve on the telling of the story, they are often excellent.
24/7 Wall St. 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.
Click here to see the best movie remakes of all time.
Click here to see the worst movie remakes of all time.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
The best movie remakes:
Source: Courtesy of Tribeca Film
50. Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)
> Directed by: Takashi Miike
> Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Munetaka Aoki, Naoto Takenaka
> Domestic box office: $0.06 million
> Original film: Harakiri (1962)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
49. Man of Steel (2013)
> Directed by: Zack Snyder
> Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
> Domestic box office: $291.05 million
> Original film: Superman (1978)
Source: Courtesy of National General Pictures
48. Scrooge (1970)
> Directed by: Ronald Neame
> Starring: Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: A Christmas Carol (1938)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
47. The Quiet American (2002)
> Directed by: Phillip Noyce
> Starring: Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Thi Hai Yen Do
> Domestic box office: $12.99 million
> Original film: The Quiet American (1958)
24/7 Wall St.
46. High Society (1956)
> Directed by: Charles Walters
> Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra
> Domestic box office: $13.00 million
> Original film: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
45. Cinderella (2015)
> Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
> Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden
> Domestic box office: $201.15 million
> Original film: Cinderella (1950)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
44. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
> Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
> Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts
> Domestic box office: $183.42 million
> Original film: Ocean’s 11 (1960)
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
43. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
> Directed by: Philip Kaufman
> Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum
> Domestic box office: $24.95 million
> Original film: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Source: Courtesy of Overture Films
42. Let Me In (2010)
> Directed by: Matt Reeves
> Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins
> Domestic box office: $12.13 million
> Original film: Let the Right One In (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
41. The Fly (1986)
> Directed by: David Cronenberg
> Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
> Domestic box office: $40.46 million
> Original film: The Fly (1958)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
40. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
> Directed by: Bill Condon
> Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
> Domestic box office: $504.01 million
> Original film: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
39. Hairspray (2007)
> Directed by: Adam Shankman
> Starring: John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky
> Domestic box office: $118.87 million
> Original film: Hairspray (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
38. Enchanted April (1991)
> Directed by: Mike Newell
> Starring: Alfred Molina, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson
> Domestic box office: $13.20 million
> Original film: Enchanted April (1935)
Source: Courtesy of Wellspring Media
37. The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)
> Directed by: Jacques Audiard
> Starring: Romain Duris, Aure Atika, Emmanuelle Devos
> Domestic box office: $1.02 million
> Original film: Fingers (1978)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
36. The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
> Directed by: Albert Lewin
> Starring: George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: The Picture of Dorian Grey (1915)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
35. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
> Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
> Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie
> Domestic box office: $10.25 million
> Original film: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions
34. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
> Directed by: Lasse Hallström
> Starring: Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Hachi-ko (1987)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
33. Destry Rides Again (1939)
> Directed by: George Marshall
> Starring: Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Mischa Auer
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Destry Rides Again (1932)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
32. The Ten Commandments (1956)
> Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
> Starring: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter
> Domestic box office: $93.74 million
> Original film: The Ten Commandments (1923)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
31. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
> Directed by: Terry Gilliam
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt
> Domestic box office: $57.14 million
> Original film: La Jetée (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
30. Les Misérables (2012)
> Directed by: Tom Hooper
> Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
> Domestic box office: $148.81 million
> Original film: Les Misérables (1998)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
29. Scent of a Woman (1992)
> Directed by: Martin Brest
> Starring: Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, James Rebhorn
> Domestic box office: $63.90 million
> Original film: Profumo di donna (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
28. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
> Directed by: James Mangold
> Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster
> Domestic box office: $53.61 million
> Original film: 3:10 to Yuma (1957)
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
27. 12 Angry Men (1997)
> Directed by: William Friedkin
> Starring: Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, Hume Cronyn
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: 12 Angry Men (1957)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Franco Nero
26. Django (1966)
> Directed by: Sergio Corbucci
> Starring: Franco Nero, José Canalejas, José Bódalo
> Domestic box office: $0.03 million
> Original film: Yojimbo (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
25. Victor Victoria (1982)
> Directed by: Blake Edwards
> Starring: Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston
> Domestic box office: $21.93 million
> Original film: Viktor und Viktoria (1933)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics
24. Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
> Directed by: Jean-Paul Rappeneau
> Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez
> Domestic box office: $15.14 million
> Original film: Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
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Source: Courtesy of Miramax
23. The Chorus (2004)
> Directed by: Christophe Barratier
> Starring: Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier
> Domestic box office: $3.64 million
> Original film: La cage aux rossignols (1945)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
22. Fist of Legend (1994)
> Directed by: Gordon Chan
> Starring: Jet Li, Shinobu Nakayama, Siu-Ho Chin
> Domestic box office: . million
> Original film: Jing wu men (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
21. Sorcerer (1977)
> Directed by: William Friedkin
> Starring: Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Le salaire de la peur (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
20. A Star Is Born (1954)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Carson
> Domestic box office: $14.93 million
> Original film: A Star Is Born (1937)
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Source: Courtesy of Savoy Pictures
19. Shadowlands
> Directed by: Richard Attenborough
> Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, Julian Fellowes
> Domestic box office: $25.84 million
> Original film: Shadowlands (1985)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
18. My Fair Lady (1964)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway
> Domestic box office: $72.00 million
> Original film: Pygmalion (1938)
Source: Courtesy of British Film Institute
17. Mother India (1957)
> Directed by: Mehboob Khan
> Starring: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar
> Domestic box office: . million
> Original film: Aurat (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
16. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
> Directed by: Werner Herzog
> Starring: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
15. The Thing (1982)
> Directed by: John Carpenter
> Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David
> Domestic box office: $13.78 million
> Original film: The Thing from Another World (1951)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
14. The Jungle Book (2016)
> Directed by: Jon Favreau
> Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley
> Domestic box office: $364.00 million
> Original film: The Jungle Book (1967)
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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
13. Gaslight (1944)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Gaslight (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
> Directed by: David Fincher
> Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
> Domestic box office: $102.52 million
> Original film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
11. Heat (1995)
> Directed by: Michael Mann
> Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
> Domestic box office: $67.44 million
> Original film: L.A. Takedown (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
10. True Grit (2010)
> Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
> Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld
> Domestic box office: $171.24 million
> Original film: True Grit (1969)
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Source: Courtesy of Magnet Releasing
9. 13 Assassins (2010)
> Directed by: Takashi Miike
> Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya
> Domestic box office: $0.80 million
> Original film: Jûsan-nin no shikaku (1963)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
8. Fistful of Dollars (1964)
> Directed by: Sergio Leone
> Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volontè, Marianne Koch
> Domestic box office: $14.50 million
> Original film: Yojimbo (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
7. Il Postino (1994)
> Directed by: Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi
> Starring: Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret, Maria Grazia Cucinotta
> Domestic box office: $21.85 million
> Original film: Ardiente paciencia (1983)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
6. Scarface (1983)
> Directed by: Brian De Palma
> Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer
> Domestic box office: $45.60 million
> Original film: Scarface (1932)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
5. Imitation of Life (1959)
> Directed by: Douglas Sirk
> Starring: Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee
> Domestic box office: $13.99 million
> Original film: Imitation of Life (1934)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Corporation
4. His Girl Friday (1940)
> Directed by: Howard Hawks
> Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: The Front Page (1931)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
3. The Departed (2006)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
> Domestic box office: $132.38 million
> Original film: Mou gaan dou (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
2. Holiday (1938)
> Directed by: George Cukor
> Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Holiday (1930)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Classics
1. Manon of the Spring (1986)
> Directed by: Claude Berri
> Starring: Yves Montand, Emmanuelle Béart, Daniel Auteuil
> Domestic box office: $3.94 million
> Original film: Manon des sources (1952)
The worst movie remakes:
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
50. The Out-of-Towners (1999)
> Directed by: Sam Weisman
> Starring: Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, John Cleese
> Domestic box office: $28.54 million
> Original film: The Out of Towners (1970)
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
49. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
> Directed by: Samuel Bayer
> Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner
> Domestic box office: $63.08 million
> Original film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
48. Love Don’t Cost a Thing (2003)
> Directed by: Troy Byer
> Starring: Nick Cannon, Christina Milian, Jordan Burg
> Domestic box office: $21.90 million
> Original film: Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
47. Flipper (1996)
> Directed by: Alan Shapiro
> Starring: Paul Hogan, Elijah Wood, Jonathan Banks
> Domestic box office: $20.05 million
> Original film: Flipper (1963)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Picturehouse
46. The Women (2008)
> Directed by: Diane English
> Starring: Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening
> Domestic box office: $26.90 million
> Original film: The Women (1939)
Source: Courtesy of After Dark Films
45. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
> Directed by: Peter Hyams
> Starring: Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Douglas
> Domestic box office: $0.03 million
> Original film: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films
44. Blood: The Last Vampire (2009)
> Directed by: Chris Nahon
> Starring: Ji-hyun Jun, Allison Miller, Liam Cunningham
> Domestic box office: $0.26 million
> Original film: Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
43. The Stepford Wives (2004)
> Directed by: Frank Oz
> Starring: Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick
> Domestic box office: $59.48 million
> Original film: The Stepford Wives (1975)
42. Gambit (2012)
> Directed by: Michael Hoffman
> Starring: Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Gambit (1966)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
41. The Big Wedding (2013)
> Directed by: Justin Zackham
> Starring: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl
> Domestic box office: $21.78 million
> Original film: Mon frère se marie (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
40. Village of the Damned (1995)
> Directed by: John Carpenter
> Starring: Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, Linda Kozlowski
> Domestic box office: $9.42 million
> Original film: Village of the Damned (1960)
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39. My Father the Hero (1994)
> Directed by: Steve Miner
> Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Katherine Heigl, Dalton James
> Domestic box office: $25.48 million
> Original film: Mon Pere Ce Heros (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
38. Shutter (2008)
> Directed by: Masayuki Ochiai
> Starring: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, James Kyson
> Domestic box office: $25.93 million
> Original film: Shutter (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
37. Flubber (1997)
> Directed by: Les Mayfield
> Starring: Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald
> Domestic box office: $92.98 million
> Original film: The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
36. The Blue Lagoon (1980)
> Directed by: Randal Kleiser
> Starring: Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins, Leo McKern
> Domestic box office: $58.85 million
> Original film: The Blue Lagoon (1949)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
35. The Shaggy Dog (2006)
> Directed by: Brian Robbins
> Starring: Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Craig Kilborn
> Domestic box office: $61.12 million
> Original film: The Shaggy Dog (1959)
Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
34. When a Stranger Calls (2006)
> Directed by: Simon West
> Starring: Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Katie Cassidy
> Domestic box office: $47.86 million
> Original film: When a Stranger Calls (1979)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
33. Diabolique (1996)
> Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik
> Starring: Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri
> Domestic box office: $17.00 million
> Original film: Diabolique (1955)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
32. Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
> Directed by: Danny Pang, Oxide Chun Pang
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Charlie Yeung, Shahkrit Yamnarm
> Domestic box office: $15.28 million
> Original film: Bangkok Dangerous (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
31. The Truth About Charlie (2002)
> Directed by: Jonathan Demme
> Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Thandie Newton, Tim Robbins
> Domestic box office: $5.35 million
> Original film: Shoot the Piano Player (1960)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
30. Intersection (1994)
> Directed by: Mark Rydell
> Starring: Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Lolita Davidovich
> Domestic box office: $20.93 million
> Original film: Les choses de la vie (1970)
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
29. Blame It on Rio (1984)
> Directed by: Stanley Donen
> Starring: Michael Caine, Michelle Johnson, Demi Moore
> Domestic box office: $18.64 million
> Original film: Un moment d’égarement (1977)
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
28. Poltergeist (2015)
> Directed by: Gil Kenan
> Starring: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements
> Domestic box office: $47.43 million
> Original film: Poltergeist (1982)
27. Mixed Nuts (1994)
> Directed by: Nora Ephron
> Starring: Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Robert Klein
> Domestic box office: $6.80 million
> Original film: Le père Noël est une ordure (1982)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
26. Are We Done Yet? (2007)
> Directed by: Steve Carr
> Starring: Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley
> Domestic box office: $49.63 million
> Original film: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
25. Flatliners (2017)
> Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
> Starring: Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev
> Domestic box office: $16.87 million
> Original film: Flatliners (1990)
Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
24. The Stepfather (2009)
> Directed by: Nelson McCormick
> Starring: Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward
> Domestic box office: $29.06 million
> Original film: The Stepfather (1987)
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Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
23. Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)
> Directed by: John Pasquin
> Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, JoBeth Williams
> Domestic box office: $59.93 million
> Original film: Little Indian, Big City (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Premiere
22. Knock Knock (2015)
> Directed by: Eli Roth
> Starring: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas
> Domestic box office: $0.04 million
> Original film: Death Game (1977)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
21. Godzilla (1998)
> Directed by: Roland Emmerich
> Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo
> Domestic box office: $136.31 million
> Original film: Godzilla (1954)
20. Fathers’ Day (1997)
> Directed by: Ivan Reitman
> Starring: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
> Domestic box office: $28.66 million
> Original film: The ComDads (1983)
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Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
19. Point Break (2015)
> Directed by: Ericson Core
> Starring: Edgar Ramírez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone
> Domestic box office: $28.78 million
> Original film: Point Break (1991)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
18. The Haunting (1999)
> Directed by: Jan de Bont
> Starring: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson
> Domestic box office: $91.41 million
> Original film: The Haunting (1963)
Source: Courtesy of Seven Arts Pictures
17. Night of the Demons (2009)
> Directed by: Adam Gierasch
> Starring: Tatyana Kanavka, Michael Arata, Shannon Elizabeth
> Domestic box office: N/A
> Original film: Night of the Demons (1988)
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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
16. Black Christmas (2006)
> Directed by: Glen Morgan
> Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert
> Domestic box office: $16.24 million
> Original film: Black Christmas (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films
15. Pulse (2006)
> Directed by: Jim Sonzero
> Starring: Kristen Bell, Rick Gonzalez, Christina Milian
> Domestic box office: $20.26 million
> Original film: Pulse (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
14. Get Carter (2000)
> Directed by: Stephen Kay
> Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson
> Domestic box office: $14.97 million
> Original film: Get Carter (1971)
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
13. Taxi (2004)
> Directed by: Tim Story
> Starring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Gisele Bündchen
> Domestic box office: $36.61 million
> Original film: Taxi (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Destination Film Distribution Corp.
12. Eye of the Beholder (1999)
> Directed by: Stephan Elliott
> Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd, Patrick Bergin
> Domestic box office: $16.46 million
> Original film: Deadly Circuit (1983)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
11. The Bachelor (1999)
> Directed by: Gary Sinyor
> Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Artie Lange
> Domestic box office: $21.73 million
> Original film: The House on Sorority Row (1983)
Source: Courtesy of Summit Distribution
10. Sorority Row (2009)
> Directed by: Stewart Hendler
> Starring: Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Carrie Fisher
> Domestic box office: $11.96 million
> Original film: The House on Sorority Row (1983)
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Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
9. Prom Night (2008)
> Directed by: Nelson McCormick
> Starring: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup
> Domestic box office: $43.87 million
> Original film: Prom Night (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
8. One Missed Call (2008)
> Directed by: Eric Valette
> Starring: Edward Burns, Shannyn Sossamon, Ana Claudia Talancón
> Domestic box office: $26.88 million
> Original film: One Missed Call (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
7. Fantastic Four (2015)
> Directed by: Josh Trank
> Starring: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan
> Domestic box office: $56.12 million
> Original film: Fantastic Four (2005)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
6. The Wicker Man (2006)
> Directed by: Neil LaBute
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski
> Domestic box office: $23.64 million
> Original film: The Wicker Man (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
5. The Fog (2005)
> Directed by: Rupert Wainwright
> Starring: Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair
> Domestic box office: $29.51 million
> Original film: The Fog (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Entertainment One
4. Left Behind (2014)
> Directed by: Vic Armstrong
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson
> Domestic box office: $14.00 million
> Original film: Left Behind: The Movie (2000)
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Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems
3. Swept Away (2002)
> Directed by: Guy Ritchie
> Starring: Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Bruce Greenwood
> Domestic box office: $0.01 million
> Original film: Swept Away (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
2. Cool as Ice (1991)
> Directed by: David Kellogg
> Starring: Vanilla Ice, Kristin Minter, Naomi Campbell
> Domestic box office: $1.19 million
> Original film: The Wild One (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1. Rollerball (2002)
> Directed by: John McTiernan
> Starring: Chris Klein, Jean Reno, LL Cool J
> Domestic box office: $18.99 million
> Original film: Rollerball (1975)
Detailed findings and methodology:
An exceptional remake will often eclipse the original film. For example, Alfred Hitchcock remade his own “The Man Who Knew Too Much” in 1956. In an interview with filmmaker François Truffaut, Hitchcock said, “The first version is the work of a talented amateur and the second was made by a professional.”
Even when a remake is great it is 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. William Friedkin’s 1997 remake of “12 Angry Men” is also one of the better remakes, yet few would say it surpasses the 1957 original. The 40-year gap between the releases ensure enough differences for each to be strong in its own right.
Despite the many high quality remakes in the world, the phrase continues to be associated with studio cash grabs. It’s not uncommon for a successful movie to be followed years down the line by a subpar remake intended to draw out fans of the original. This is especially common in the horror genre, which is known for its dedicated fanbase. At least 18 of the films on our list of 50 worst remakes belong to the horror genre.
To determine the best and worst movie remakes, 24/7 Wall St. 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. Box office data comes from IMDb and is not adjusted for inflation.
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 that were based on television series.
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