The Worst Movie Remakes Ever Made
Remakes often get a bad reputation in the world of cinema, but sometimes it is well deserved. Remakes present a certain challenge because they have to appeal to fans of the original film while impressing a whole new crop of critics and drawing in fans who may be unfamiliar with the original. Sometimes, attempting to make a decent film better can result in nothing but a box office flop. Hollywood has done remakes from just about the moment movies were invented, and studios seem more willing to take a chance and spend money on a remake than on a whole new idea.
Get Carter (2000)
The original film Get Carter was released in 1971 and was set in London. The 2000 remake starred Sylvester Stallone and was set in America. It wasn't a bright spot in Stallone's acting career because many thought that the plot seemed rather formulaic and contrived in comparison to the original.
"Carter, who goes to Seattle to hunt down his brother's killer, may have entered a labyrinth of evil. But his response to it, revenge shorn of all vulnerability or nuance, is as hollow as it is monolithic." ------ Owen Gleiberman. The movie bombed at the box office, and the critical reaction was negative.
The Women (2008)
The original 1939 film The Women features an all-female cast, and even all of their pets are female. However, the 2008 remake of the film left much to be desired and wasn't up to the same artistic standard as the original.
Many said it wasn't as charming or witty even with the talented actresses Carrie Fisher and Meg Ryan starring in it. The remake received a negative response, but it did have moderate box office success. It grossed more than fifty million worldwide.
The Fog (2005)
John Carpenter's 1980 classic The Fog is about a mysterious fog that covers a California town and brings the ghosts of dead sailors that terrorize the residents. The film's slow build to scary moments kept audiences hooked.
Carpenter also produced the 2005 remake, but it wasn't a hit with critics. Critics stated that it isn't genuinely scary and is boring and muddled. In fact, critic Matt Singer stated that it is one of the worst movies ever made.
The Stepfather (2009)
The Stepfather was released in 1987 and is a slasher that's scary enough to make you feel a bit unsure of any kind of stranger you meet. The story is about a murderer who kills his family, changes his identity, and then marries into another family so that he can do it all over again. The stepdaughter tries to prove who he is and save her family.
The 2009 remake didn't achieve the same success because it doesn't have the same tension, the plot holes are distracting, and the film's climax ties up everything a little too neatly. It received negative reviews and grossed $31.2 million worldwide.
Psycho (1998)
The original film Psycho in 1960 was chilling and is considered one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films. At the time, it grossed fifty million. The remake did not fair as well because it is a shot-for-shot copy of the original.
It didn't deviate much from the source material, with the script and musical score being extremely similar as well. In addition, the remake received three Golden Raspberry Awards, including for Worst Remake and Worst Director.
Around The World In 80 Days (2004)
The original film Around the World in 80 Days was released in 1956 and is an epic adventure based on the novel of the same name by Jules Verne. The original won five Academy Awards, including for Best Picture.
It is about Phileas Fogg, who makes a bet that he can get around the world in eighty days. However, the remake in 2004 wasn't as exciting for audiences. It barely followed the plot of Verne's novel and won the Worst Remake at the Razzies.
Total Recall (2012)
Total Recall was released in 1990 and is a science fiction film that follows construction worker Douglas Quaid as he experiences disturbing dreams about life on Mars. He gets a memory chip implanted to give him a virtual reality experience, but his line between fact and fiction becomes blurred.
The 2012 remake wasn't even set on Mars, and it fell flat with audiences. "Whilst the action is grand in scope and certainly high in production values. It somehow lacks any tangible sense of tension or drama." ----- Joseph Walsh.
Point Break (2015)
The original 1991 film Point Break features Keanu Reeves as an undercover FBI agent that is investigating and infiltrating a group of bank robbers. What made the film a cult favorite was the fact that nothing about the film really should have worked together.
The 2015 remake had some great visually stunning action scenes, but that is about it. "Point Break comes across as a string of admittedly amazing action sequences and sports feats with the rest of the film haphazardly built up around it." ---Reagan Gavin Rasquinha.
Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
The original 1999 Bangkok Dangerous is a crime thriller about a gunman who can't hear or speak. He works as an assassin for hire that meets a tragic ending. The film is intense and is packed with emotional and action scenes.
However, the remake starring Nicolas Cage doesn't hold a candle to the original. There are several key details that are changed, and the cinematography is visually confusing at times. Critic Scott Nash stated that the concept is old and tired.
Village Of The Damned (1995)
Village of the Damned was released in 1960 as a British horror film and is about how every young woman in a small town wakes up pregnant, and they all give birth to very intelligent and powerful children. It was praised for its genuinely suspenseful atmosphere.
Sadly, the 1995 remake of the movie came across as silly and flimsy rather than scary. Critics stated that the pacing is disjointed and incoherent at times and has a lack of real tension.
Ben-Hur (2016)
The Ben-Hur film was released in 1959 and is a historical drama that won eleven Academy Awards. It was actually a remake of the 1925 silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The remake was definitely an improvement on the original.
However, Paramount tried to remake Ben-Hur again, but it ended up being a box office flop. There was very little about the film that stood out and proves that some classic films should just be left alone.
The Invasion (2007)
The original 1956 film The Invasion of the Body Snatchers is regarded as a classic. It is a horror movie where alien spores grow into seed pods that can produce physical replacements of human beings without human emotions.
There was a successful remake in 1978 and another retelling, titled Body Snatchers in 1993. However, they tried to remake The Invasion again in 2007 by taking it in a different direction and making it more contemporary and political. Unfortunately, the movie was criticized for an inconsistent narrative and was a box office flop.
The Haunting (1999)
The original 1963 movie The Haunting was based on the 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House. It is about a group of people that go to a haunted house with a paranormal investigator, where they realize that the house is actually haunted.
However, the 1999 remake starring Catherine Zeta-Zones, Owen Wilson, and Liam Neeson didn't measure up. In the remake, the people are lured to the house thinking they are taking part in an insomnia study. Several moments that are meant to be dramatic and frightening come across as unintentionally funny.
House Of Wax (2005)
In 1953, House of Wax was released, a 3-D horror hit. In the movie, a sculptor stocks his wax museum by killing people and coating their corpses with wax. It was actually a remake of the 1933 film titled Mystery of the Wax Museum and it did well at the box office.
However, they tried to remake House of Wax again in 2005, and it was more of a predictable, shrill teen slasher. The remake was shallow and reliant on cheap scares, and its lead actress, Paris Hilton, didn't help.
Day Of The Dead (2008)
Day of the Dead was released in 1985 and is a zombie film that follows a group of scientists and soldiers that live in a bunker after a zombie invasion. It is a bloody film that balances the violence with a genuinely thoughtful critique of society and the breakdown of human communication in the modern era.
However, the remake in 2008 didn't impress audiences. The special effects look cheap, and the zombies are too intelligent. "Like infected zombie areas put under quarantine, I would lock this film away in a box and leave it there for good." ---- Jordan Snowden.
Mr. Deeds (2002)
In 1936, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town was released and is about Longfellow Deeds, who makes a living by juggling odd jobs during the Great Depression when he suddenly inherits twenty million from his late uncle. The 2002 remake titled Mr. Deeds stars Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder.
The plot is similar, but the jokes aren't great, and the characters are bland and irritating. Critics also stated that the entire narrative is dumbed down to the point where it's practically insulting to the audience.
Rollerball (2002)
In 1975, the original Rollerball film was released and centers on star rollerball player Jonathan where his success is used against him. However, the 2002 remake doesn't deliver in terms of relevant social commentary.
The story takes place in the present instead of the future and is too focused on action sequences. Critics stated that the narrative is choppy, the characters are underdeveloped in favor of spotlighting violent Rollerball games, and the dialogue isn't exactly riveting.
Pulse (2006)
The original Pulse film was released in 1988, but it was called Kairo. In the film, spirits manage to find their way into our world through the internet, which causes strange and horrifying events to occur.
The 2006 remake was similar, but everything that made the original a cult favorite in Japan was missing. Instead, it used grotesque imagery to get its points across. The film received negative reviews and only grossed eight million on its opening weekend.
Fame (2009)
The original Fame film was released in 1980 and follows a group of high school students after they gain acceptance to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts in New York City. The students face difficult obstacles in the classroom, on stage, and in their personal lives.
The characters are relatable, and the musical numbers were a hit. However, the 2009 remake just doesn't have the same atmosphere and lacks the original's gritty edge, seeming to take cues from High School Musical and Glee instead. Critic Roger Ebert gave the remake only two stars.
The Wicker Man (2006)
The Wicker Man was originally released in 1973 and is a British horror film. A devout Christian police sergeant Neil Howie investigates an isolated island cult. The 2006 remake featuring Nicolas Cage fell short of the eerie expectations set by the original.
Several moments that were supposed to be harrowing are instead so absurd that they come across as sunny. The remake was a box office flop and received negative reviews.
One Missed Call (2008)
One Missed Call was originally released in 2003 as a Japanese film. In it, people receive voicemails from their future selves dying. Producers thought they could improve the film, but it completely missed the mark. The 2008 remake just wasn't scary enough, and the plot was rather boring.
The original is in Japanese, and you have to read subtitles, but many still prefer the original over the remake. The remake is one of the few films that scored a whopping zero percent on the Tomatometer.
Swept Away (2002)
The 1974 Italian film Swept Away is a well-made film about a rich woman who ends up stuck on a desert island with a crew member of her yacht and the two end up falling madly in love. Sadly, in the remake of this foreign film, the story got butchered.
The leads don't have much chemistry, and the film received a five percent on Rotten Tomatoes. "Even camp status eludes this tepid and misguided picture. The movie is not just a weak effort, but a big, fat mistake." ---- Mick LaSalle.
The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
The original film The Heartbreak Kid was released in 1972 and follows self-absorbed Lenny, who is married to clingy Lila. He ends up divorcing Lila and proposing to Kelly, but this dark comedy ends on a depressing note.
The 2007 remake stars Ben Stiller, and it didn't push the boundaries like the first film. Critics stated that the characters were nasty, unsympathetic, and practically unredeemable. Rolling Stone called it the worst remake of the year.
The Wolfman (2010)
The Wolfman was released in 1941 and is a horror classic and tragic drama. It features Lawrence Talbot as the wolfman, an unwilling victim-turned-monster. The original film has substance and style. However, the 2010 remake stars Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro and doesn't quite measure up.
The remake won an Academy Award for make-up effects, but the script was heavily criticized for lacking suspense. The president of Universal Studios called it one of the worst movies they ever made.
Bewitched (2005)
The original Bewitched TV Series is a beloved classic 1960s sitcom. It is about a sorceress that marries a mortal man and chooses to be a suburban housewife instead of using her witchcraft.
However, the 2005 movie adaptation of the series featuring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell was a box office bomb and was littered with negative reviews from moviegoers and critics. The movie was just a bit too meta for audiences who just wanted to see a straightforward adaptation of the original series.
The Longest Yard (2005)
The original movie The Longest Yard was released in 1974, and it features a good amount of commentary about the poor treatment of prisoners. It stars Burt Reynolds as a football player in charge of recruiting and training his fellow prisoners for a game against the guards.
The remake of The Longest Yard was released in 2005 and stars Adam Sandler. However, the remake replaced the subtext with Sandler's humor and not much else. The film received mixed reviews from the critics and audiences, but it did well at the box office.
Red Dawn (2012)
The original Red Dawn film was released in 1984 and is about the hostile takeover of the United States by Russia during the height of the Cold War. The original was seen as 1980s-era propaganda.
However, the 2012 remake is about an ill-advised North Korean invasion. It is a lazier carbon copy that stepped on more political landmines than intended. The bad acting and bad effects prevented the movie from finding a modern audience.
Ghostbusters (2016)
The original Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and is one of the most iconic films of the 1980s. However, the 2016 remake was not as successful. The 2016 Ghostbusters remake features an all-female cast, and it stirred controversy before a single trailer was even released.
The film has a talented cast and crew with successful comedians, but its lengthy runtime and gigantic budget prevented it from becoming a success like the 1984 version. Critics stated that the biggest issues were that the characters felt like overly-wacky comedy relief and that it felt like a typical studio movie featuring the third act with nothing but sloppy CGI fights.
Carrie (2013)
The original Carrie film was released in 1976 and is a timeless horror staple. Sissy Spacek plays the role of Carrie and gives one of the most chilling on-screen performances of all time. The original was also nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
The 2013 remake doesn't capture the thrill of Stephen King's original tale of revenge. The film features Chloe Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore as Carrie and her mother, but it just didn't have the touches that the original Carrie had.
The Lion King (2019)
The extremely popular movie The Lion King was released in 1994 by Disney. The original was full of colorful energy and is one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time. Disney has been remaking several of their animated classics, but the worst offender of the bunch has to be The Lion King.
In the 2019 remake, the visual effects are impressive, but it doesn't live up to the beloved original in terms of heart. The remake was a box office success but received mixed reviews from critics.
The Mummy (2017)
The 1999 version of The Mummy was a box office smash and holds ninety-three percent on Rotten Tomatoes. In addition, it was a financial success, grossing more than four hundred million worldwide. Sadly, the 2017 remake was a travesty, even with starring Tom Cruise.
It received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it's estimated to have lost the studio as much as ninety-five million. "The film has some nice moments but is basically a mess. The plot sags like an eons-old decaying limb, a humble of ideas and scenes from what looks like different screenplay drafts. It's a ragbag of action scenes which needed to be bandaged more tightly." ----- Peter Bradshaw.
Robocop (2014)
The 1987 film Robocop is an action-packed story about a superhuman cyborg police officer and a revealing commentary on American culture. However, the 2014 remake explores some of the same topics as the original, but it comes off as pseudo-intellectual.
Critics stated that even with the fantastic cast, there is no heart to be found. The remake was much less entertaining than the original and felt way too safe. When the movie was released, it received mostly negative reviews and was a decent box office success.
Poltergeist (2015)
The original Poltergeist was released in 1982 and features creepy clown dolls. Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg worked closely together in developing the ghost story. The film was a massive success and even spawned two sequels in the 1980s.
However, the 2015 remake of Poltergeist was not a hit, and it received negative reviews. Critics stated that the film was unnecessary and forgettable and criticized its excessive use of jump scares, writing, and CGI.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)
A Nightmare on Elm Street was released in 1984 and was met with rave reviews. The film was so popular that it inspired an expansive franchise of seven sequels. The film stands out as one of the best movies in the slasher genre.
However, the 2010 remake lacked the creative twists of the original and didn't manage to make audiences jump. Even though it received mostly negative reviews, it was still a box office success.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
The original 1956 movie The Lone Ranger is a Western film that was based on The Lone Ranger television series. It was a success and grossed over one and a half million. However, the 2013 remake featuring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer didn't do as well.
Before the film was even released, it was hit with budget problems, and the film was almost canceled. It ended up losing roughly one hundred and seventy-five million after a box office bomb and an expensive marketing campaign.
The Ladykillers (2004)
The original movie The Ladykillers was released in 1955 and stars Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award and is considered one of the greatest comedies ever made. However, they decided to do a remake in 2004, and it stars Tom Hanks.
Unfortunately, the film failed to capture the magic of the first in just about every way and was a swing and miss. The remake received mixed reviews, and critics consider it one of the Coen brothers' weaker efforts.
Planet Of The Apes (2001)
In 1968, the original Planet of the Apes blew the minds of audiences and won an honorary Oscar. It is a story of an astronaut named Taylor that ends up on a planet where apes have evolved speech and intelligence while humans are hunted and treated like animals.
The makeup was extremely impressive, and it is a science fiction classic. However, the 2001 remake by Tim Burton and starring Mark Wahlberg didn't live up to the standard of the original. The remake mainly received mixed reviews but was a box office hit.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Tobe Hooper released The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in 1974, and it took the world by storm. It is considered to be one of the most violent and terrifying movies ever made. Hooper was able to create a raw, visceral movie that film lovers came to love. In 2003, the remake, starring Jessica Biel, was much less of a hit than the original. It was a commercial hit, but the reviews were brutal.
"I was in a cinema, and there were about ten single men sitting around, and I just thought, I don't have to see this. So yes, I did walk out. I choose to embrace movies, but there is a lot of average movies out there. You just have to try and look at the good things in them." ---- Margaret Pomeranz.
Godzilla (1998)
The original Godzilla was released in 1954 and follows the aftermath of a French nuclear test that mutated a lizard nest. Years later, a giant mutant lizard came to New York City. It even spawned a multimedia franchise and was recognized as the longest-running film franchise in history.
In addition, it is known as one of the best monster films ever made. However, the 1998 remake was heavily criticized by critics. Critics stated the film lacked compelling characters and heart. It was considered a box office disappointment and received negative reviews.
The Pink Panther (2006)
The original Pink Panther movie was released in 1963 and was a popular hit. In addition, it was listed as number twenty in the American Film Institute's '100 Years of Film Scores' list.
However, the 2006 remake received mostly negative reviews and received Razzie and Stinker Award nominations. The film stars Steve Martin and was the highest-grossing film in the Pink Panther franchise but was not loved like the original.
Footloose (2011)
The 1984 Footloose is a classic for its era and tells the story of a teenager who tries to overturn the ban on dancing in a small town. It was a box office hit and became the seventh highest-grossing film of 1984.
The 2011 remake stars Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough, and it received mixed reviews. Critics stated that the film fails to distinguish itself from the original and lacks the emotional impact of the original.
Stepford Wives (2004)
Stepford Wives was released in 1975 and is a sci-fi horror movie. It is set in the picturesque town of Stepford, Connecticut, where the husbands replace their wives with slavish fembots that act as the perfect suburban spouse.
It was a successful movie and received positive reviews. However, the 2004 remake received negative reviews and was a box office failure. "The remake is, in fact, marooned in a swamp of camp, inconsequentiality. The movie never lives up to its satiric potential, collapsing at the end into incoherence and wishy-washy, have-it-all sentimentality." ----- Pete Travers.
Straw Dogs (2011)
The original Straw Dogs was released in 1971 and is known as one of the most notoriously nasty and politically incorrect movies ever made. The story involves James Marsden, who has to save himself and his wife from a bunch of goons.
Some critics considered it to be one of Peckinpah's greatest films. The 2011 remake starring James Marsden and Kate Bosworth received mixed reviews. The film grossed roughly fifteen million against its budget of twenty-five million.
City Of Angels (1998)
Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire film was released in 1987 and is about invisible angels in Berlin who listen to the thoughts of its human inhabitants and comfort the distressed. The film won multiple awards and received great reviews.
However, the 1998 remake titled City of Angels received mixed reviews, and some critics judged it to be a mawkish adaptation. They also stated that it lost much of the atmosphere of the original. It did have some financial success at the box office but was not one of Nicolas Cage's best films.
Bad News Bears (2005)
The original Bad News Bears in 1976 is about a Southern California Little League team of the worst players around. It is a raucous classic of geek misbehavior. However, the 2005 remake is the oddest movie of Richard Linklater's career because it had no point of view.
Critics stated that the counterculture spirit is gone, and the jokes are some of the worst of all time. The remake received mixed reviews and was a box office bomb, grossing just thirty-four million against its thirty-five million dollar budget.
Martyrs (2016)
The original Martyrs film was released in 2008 and scored a respectable sixty-four percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It was written and directed by Pascal Laugier and received polarizing reviews from critics. The 2016 remake stars Troian Bellisario and follows Lucie, who tries to track down the family who imprisoned and tortured her as a child.
The critics weren't impressed and stated, "Martyrs flays off everything that gave the original its icy horrific beauty, leaving us an empty, pointless remake." The remake only scored nine percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Yours, Mine & Ours (2005)
The original Yours, Mine & Ours was released in 1968 and stars Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. The original was directed by Melville Shavelson and was a massive commercial success. In fact, the film's success was partially responsible for the network approving the television series The Brady Bunch.
The 2005 remake was not received as well and doesn't hold a candle to the original comedy classic. The critics stated that the plotting is predictable and stale, the initial set-up is unbelievable, and the comedy depends on repetitive pratfalls that soon get old.
Flatliners (2017)
The original Flatliners movie was released in 1990 and was directed by Joel Schumacher. It received positive reviews and has become a cult film. Critics called it "a heart-stopping, breathtakingly sumptuous haunted house of a movie."
The 2017 remake stars Ellen Page, Nina Dobrev, Diego Luna, and James Norton. However, the remake doesn't live up to its potential and falls flat as a horror movie. It fails to improve on its source material and received negative reviews.
Arthur (2011)
The original Arthur movie was released in 1981 and was the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1981. The film received positive reviews and is considered as one of the best films of 1981, winning multiple awards.
The 2011 remake starring Russell Brand showed the world why Russell Brand was not meant to be a movie star. The movie doesn't impress and was a box office disappointment. It also received negative reviews and was nominated for Raspberry Awards.