17 Movie Remakes to Stream That Are Better Than the Original

Roger Corman’s 1960 “The Little Shop of Horrors” is a cult-classic B-movie that’s best-known for its (very) black comedy and the presence of a young Jack Nicholson in the cast. It grew in popularity thanks to late-night TV broadcasts throughout the ’60s and ’70s, which led to it being turned into an Off-Broadway musical in 1982 – and, in 1986, into the classic film we know and love today. With music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (before they became Disney legends), thoughtful direction from Frank Oz, and star turns from Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, the surprisingly affecting film is a must-watch.

The original “Ocean’s 11” is remembered for being a perfect vessel for the Rat Pack to chum it up while planning a massive Las Vegas heist, but the film itself is actually pretty contrived, thinly plotted with little to no characterization, and oddly merry. The 2001 Steven Soderbergh-helmed remake, on the other hand, is an excellent and hugely influential ensemble piece starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and many more A-listers. It’s fast-paced and witty, a whole lot of fun, and a perfect popcorn film.

The original “3:10 to Yuma” is a classic western that stars Van Heflin as a struggling, impoverished rancher who’s tasked with transporting a dangerous outlaw (Glenn Ford) to justice. The suspenseful, expertly shot film was a critical hit upon its release. The 2007 James Mangold remake, with Christian Bale as the rancher and Russell Crowe as the outlaw, was regarded as an improvement on the 1957 version, however, with more greed-driven corruption, stronger lead performances, deeper exploration of morality, and more wit and tension.

The animated 1967 version of “The Jungle Book” is a Disney classic, still popular among children for its iconic characters including feral child Mowgli, Baloo the jolly bear, Bagheera the panther, and evil tiger Shere Khan as well as classic songs like “Bear Necessities.” Jon Favreau’s 2016 live action/CGI remake also received critical acclaim for its faithfulness to the original storyline, stunning visual effects, sincerity, and heart.

John Wayne won his only Oscar for his performance in 1969’s “True Grit” as Rooster Cogburn, an aging U.S. marshal tasked by a young girl with tracking down the man who murdered his father. He plays a classic antihero, and the film went down as a classic, if unassuming, western. The Coen brothers’ 2010 remake focused more on the character of the young girl, Mattie (a star turn for Hailee Steinfeld), and was extremely well-reviewed thanks to its great cinematography, pacing, and performance by Jeff Bridges as Cogburn.