There have been dozens, or maybe even millions, of movie, television, and video game remakes that people have seen and played over the past years. These remakes would have positive or negative reviews from critics since some prefer the original rather than the remake, but some prefer the remake better than the original.
In this article, we’re going to talk about what a remake is, where they can be found, and which remakes are better than the original.
What is a remake?
A video game, movie, TV show, or song that tells the same plot as an earlier production in the same medium is called a remake. It may make use of new technology and has casts, themes, and settings that are different. Reimagining describes a movie that breaks away more from its original work.
Remakes in film
An old film serves as the primary inspiration for a remake, which often alters the character, story, genre, and theme significantly. Ocean’s Eleven, Batman, and Psycho are a few examples. The same director can lead multiple remakes, including Michael Haneke’s Funny Games U.S., Martin Campbell’s Edge of Darkness, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2, Yasujirō Ozu’s A Story of Floating Weeds, and Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much.
Remakes are rarely sequels to the original movie, and not all of them go by the same title as the version that was first released. A couple of examples are the Shaft movie from 2000 and the Evil Dead movie from 2013. Perfect Strangers, an Italian film, has been remade eighteen times, making it the most remade film in movie history. Though they are rarely sequels to the original movie, remakes usually have significant plot and storyline elements that suggest the two movies are set in the same universe.
Remakes in television
The early 21st century has seen some exceptions to the television industry’s preference for “reviving” shows over remaking them, including Battlestar Galactica, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, La Femme Nikita, V, Hawaii Five-0, and Charlie’s Angels.
Remaking American television series for the UK or British television series for the US is not uncommon; examples include The Office, Three’s Company, All in the Family, and The Killing. These programs frequently feature original stories and spin-offs, demonstrating how television can be tailored to a variety of viewerships.
Remakes in video games
Remakes are modernizations of games, often retaining the original code but incorporating new models and environments. Notable remakes like Resident Evil 2 and Final Fantasy VII challenge strict notions of originality, allowing for a broader perspective. Remakes can be created by the original developer or copyright holder, or by the fan community, contributing to the retrogaming phenomenon.
Remakes that are “better” than the original
Everybody has a different take on which movie remakes work better than others. You are therefore welcome to disagree with our list of remakes, which we have selected because we think they are superior to the original.
The Mummy
(1932) (1999)
Karl Freund’s 1932 American supernatural horror film The Mummy stars Boris Karloff as Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian mummy who poses as Ardath Bey in modern times to find Anck-es-en-Amon. Even though The Mummy wasn’t as profitable as Frankenstein and Dracula, it was still a critical and commercial success, inspiring many reimaginings and sequels.
On May 7, 1999, the remake was released. Stephen Sommers directed this American action-adventure horror comedy, which starred Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, and Brendan Fraser. The movie centers on librarian Rick O’Connell and her brother, who unintentionally awaken Imhotep, a high priest who is cursed. Years were spent filming in Morocco and the UK, with visual effects provided by Industrial Light & Magic. With a global box office total of over $416.4 million, the movie inspired two prequels and two sequels.
Although a 2017 version was made, it was unrelated to the 1999 The Mummy.
You can also check out Spin Genie’s Best Movie Remakes.
The Karate Kid trilogy (1984-1989) and Cobra Kai (2018-present)
Directed by John G. Avildsen, The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film featuring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, and William Zabka. The movie centers on teenager Daniel LaRusso, an Italian-American, and his mother, a widow, as they relocate to Los Angeles. His former boyfriend Johnny Lawrence is one of his new bullies, and he is harassed by him. LaRusso receives karate instruction from Mr. Miyagi, a handyman and former soldier. The movie was well-received by critics and brought in over $130 million in revenue globally, placing it among the highest-grossing movies of 1984 and the biggest sleeper hit in Hollywood history.
The film’s sequel is titled The Karate Kid Part II. The movie centers on karate student Daniel LaRusso as he meets an ex-friend who is now his rival. Some reviews praised Morita’s performance and the new location, while others had mixed feelings about the movie. With a global box office receipt of $130 million, it ranks among the highest-grossing movies of 1986. The Karate Kid Part III, a follow-up, was published in 1989.
The Karate Kid Part III, which follows John Kreese and Terry Silver as they seek retribution against Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, is a follow-up to The Karate Kid Part II and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Robyn Lively, and Thomas Ian Griffith. Though Griffith’s performance was praised, the film received negative reviews despite its moderate box-office success.
Cobra Kai is a follow-up to the original Karate Kid movies. The show, which was created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, respectively. Before moving to Netflix in 2021, the series debuted in 2018 and 2019 on YouTube Red/Premium. The show takes a fresh look at the “Miyagi-verse” story from Johnny’s point of view, emphasizing his choice to revive the Cobra Kai karate dojo and rekindle his long-standing rivalry with Daniel. High viewership and multiple accolades have been bestowed upon the series, which was nominated for an Outstanding Comedy Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Resident Evil 4
Capcom’s 2023 survival horror game Resident Evil 4 is a reimagining of the 2005 original. Utilizing Leon S. Kennedy, a US agent, players can rescue Ashley Graham from the Los Illuminados cult. By March 2024, the game had sold 7 million copies and garnered critical acclaim, making it the fastest-selling entry in the series.
The game was remade with updated graphics and an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter gameplay style. With the help of an attaché case, the player can arrange their inventory using one of six control schemes and a crafting system. A brand-new parrying technique is also included in the game, giving Leon the ability to kill, deflect, and block enemies. The Merchant and additional side missions are also included in the game. The player has access to a variety of knives with different features.
Remakes are still happening in films, TV series, and video games. Although a lot of people are happy that there’s going to be a remake for these, at the same time they are skeptical about how everything is going to be developed and how the result is going to be.
