REMAKES THAT ARE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS
- Nick Digilio
- Apr 22
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 24
With the release of the new version of The Wedding Banquet—a remake of Ang Lee’s wonderful 1993 comedy—I got to thinking about remakes. Specifically, the rare remake that not only justifies its existence, but actually improves on the original.
It doesn’t happen often. In fact, it’s a pretty short list. But when it does happen, it’s worth celebrating. So, I decided to put together a list of 15 remakes that, in my opinion, are actually better than the original movies they were based on.
Now, let me be clear: I’m not someone who automatically trashes remakes just because they’re remakes. I prefer originality—of course I do—but I’m not going to write something off just because it’s based on a previously existing property.
There are plenty of remakes that are perfectly solid, that take the right approach, and that work. And there are different kinds of remakes—some are straightforward updates with the same title and plot.
Some are reimaginings that take the core idea and do something wildly different. Some have completely different titles, and you’d only know they were remakes by reading the credits or knowing the source material. For the sake of this list, I stuck with clear remakes—titles that are openly and definitively remakes of earlier films, not just vaguely “inspired by.”
Now, let’s be honest: most remakes are bad. They’re unnecessary, they’re lazy, and most of them feel like desperate cash grabs. There are so many examples of remakes that should never have been made.
Gus Van Sant’s Psycho remake is an unwatchable, pointless shot-for-shot embarrassment. The Wicker Man remake with Nicolas Cage? One of the worst films ever made, unless you’re watching it ironically (THE BEES!). The Poseidon Adventure remake, the Steve Martin Pink Panther,Rollerball, Swept Away, Red Dawn, Alfie, The Stepford Wives, Point Break (ugh, don’t even get me started)—these are the kinds of remakes that give the entire concept a bad name.
But—but!—sometimes, a filmmaker comes along with a strong take, a new voice, or a bold vision, and the result is something special. Horror, in particular, is the genre that seems most prone to remakes (both good and bad), and as I was putting this list together, I noticed that a lot of horror titles popped up. There’s something about the elasticity of horror premises that seems to invite fresh reinterpretation.
There are some solid remakes I really like that didn’t make the final cut of this list. I think all three King Kong films (the 1933 original, the 1976 version with Jeff Bridges, and the 2005 Peter Jackson take) are good in different ways. I liked the Fright Night remake. The 2013 Evil Dead remake is fantastic, anchored by a fearless Jane Levy performance. I like Village of the Damned, Suspiria (Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 version), and even the Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis Freaky Friday. And Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Very solid.
But for this list, I had to narrow it down to 15. These are the movies that, for me, not only stand tall on their own, but exceed the originals. Whether through better performances, stronger direction, tighter scripts, updated relevance, or just flat-out better execution—these 15 remakes are, in my opinion, better than the original films they came from.
15 Remakes That Are Better Than the Originals.
Let’s get started:
John Carpenter's version of The Thing isn't a straight remake, but rather a reimagining based on the same source material: John W. Campbell's novella Who Goes There?. The 1951 original, The Thing from Another World, is a beloved sci-fi classic in its own right, but what Carpenter and screenwriter Bill Lancaster did in 1982 takes the material to a whole new level.
The Thing is a landmark of horror cinema—a terrifying tale of paranoia, isolation, and body horror. It features a brilliant cast led by Kurt Russell and showcases some of the most astonishing practical effects in the history of film.
When it was released, it flopped both critically and commercially, largely due to the timing of its release (just weeks after E.T.). But over the years, it's become rightly regarded as a masterpiece. Visceral, unsettling, and utterly unforgettable, The Thing is not just a better version of the original story—it's one of the best horror films ever made, period.
Technically a remake of The Front Page, Howard Hawks' His Girl Friday takes a classic play and injects it with a jolt of energy, humor, and a groundbreaking gender twist. By changing the male reporter character to a woman and adding a romantic tension, Hawks transformed it from a great newsroom drama into one of the sharpest and fastest screwball comedies of all time.
With Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell firing on all cylinders, this is one of the best comedies ever made. The dialogue is rapid-fire brilliance, the pacing is unmatched, and it remains a masterclass in comedic timing and chemistry. His Girl Friday isn't just a remake—it's a redefinition of what the story could be.
David Cronenberg's The Fly takes the 1958 sci-fi shocker and turns it into a tragic, horrifying love story. The original is fun and campy with Vincent Price, but Cronenberg's version is a visceral, deeply emotional, and incredibly disturbing film about transformation, obsession, and the deterioration of the body and mind.
With Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis delivering powerhouse performances, and Cronenberg's signature body horror style in full swing, The Fly is one of the most devastating and intelligent horror films ever made. It blows the original out of the water.
Frank Oz's musical remake of Roger Corman's 1960 cult classic is a total delight. While the original was an impressive feat of low-budget ingenuity, the 1986 film adaptation of the stage musical is a glorious, colorful, catchy, and darkly funny movie that became an instant favorite.
Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene are perfect, Steve Martin is hilarious, and the songs are absolute earworms. It balances dark comedy with heartfelt emotion and features some incredible puppetry and effects. This is my favorite movie musical of all time, and it's an improvement in every way.
Brian De Palma and Oliver Stone took the 1932 gangster classic and turned it into a neon-lit, cocaine-fueled opera of excess. Al Pacino's performance as Tony Montana is insane, over-the-top, and unforgettable. Everything about this film is huge—the violence, the language, the runtime, and the ambition.
Critics hated it when it was released, but audiences embraced it, especially within hip-hop culture. Now it's a cultural phenomenon. It's Brian De Palma at his most gloriously unhinged, and it's a remake that totally outdoes the original in scope, style, and impact.
Of the four versions of this story, the 1978 one is the best. Philip Kaufman's chilling remake of Don Siegel's 1956 classic taps into the paranoia and cultural anxieties of the late '70s. Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy deliver great performances.
It’s darker, weirder, and scarier than the original, and the effects are stunning. It resonates with themes of conformity and loss of individuality and still terrifies. All four versions are good, but this one's the best.
This is a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (not the earlier film Heaven Can Wait), and it’s a romantic comedy that improves on the original in every way. Warren Beatty and Buck Henry co-direct and star, and Elaine May's script brings heart, intelligence, and a modern (for the '70s) charm to the story.
It has a fantastic cast—Charles Grodin, Jack Warden, Dyan Cannon—and mixes laughs with sincere emotion. It’s a charming, whimsical film about second chances, sports, and love. A true gem.
The original True Grit is a one-note vehicle for John Wayne, who won an Oscar mostly for being himself. The Coen Brothers' version, starring Jeff Bridges, is a true adaptation of the source material, and it's vastly superior.
With incredible performances (especially by Hailee Steinfeld), rich storytelling, and the Coens' signature attention to detail, this is a real film—gritty, complex, and moving. It far surpasses the 1969 original in every way.
Alfred Hitchcock remade his own 1934 film and improved on it in every way. With James Stewart and Doris Day, this version is tighter, more suspenseful, and more emotionally engaging.
It has the big set pieces, the tension, the espionage thrills, and of course, the iconic "Que Sera, Sera." It’s a rare case of a director getting a second chance and making his own work better.
Yep, I said it. I prefer Tim Burton’s version to the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The original is nostalgic but flawed, with bad songs and uneven tone. Roald Dahl hated it.
Burton's film is darker, stranger, and more faithful to Dahl's book. Johnny Depp is divisive, sure, but this version has a clearer message, better visuals, and a tone that fits the author’s sensibilities. Sorry, childhoods.
James Mangold's remake of the 1957 Western improves on nearly every level. With Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the leads, this version is grittier, tenser, and more emotionally resonant.
It explores morality, desperation, and masculinity with modern sensibilities. It’s thrilling, gorgeously shot, and one of the best modern Westerns. Way better than the original.
Spielberg took the 1953 version and crafted a post-9/11 allegory that was scary, suspenseful, and emotionally powerful. Tom Cruise is excellent, and the set pieces are some of the best Spielberg has ever directed.
It’s bleak, intense, and terrifying. Morgan Freeman’s narration and Dakota Fanning’s performance add depth. It resonates more than the original and is one of Spielberg’s best modern works.
The 1958 Blob is fun but silly. Chuck Russell’s 1988 remake is gooey, gory, and genuinely scary. It’s packed with great practical effects and a smart, funny script.
It’s one of the best horror remakes of the '80s and turns a campy original into a shockingly effective and entertaining movie.
There are four versions of this story, and Bradley Cooper’s is the best. The Judy Garland version is over-the-top, the 1937 original is good but dated, and the 1976 Streisand version is a mess (though I still love the soundtrack).
But Cooper and Lady Gaga tell the story with raw emotion, modern relevance, and great music. It’s beautifully acted and devastating. Gaga has never come close to this performance since. This version is the most grounded, powerful, and authentic.
The 1960 rat pack version is cool and iconic but not a great movie. It’s an excuse for Frank, Dino, and Sammy to hang out on screen. Soderbergh’s version is a slick, smart, sharply made heist film.
With George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and a killer supporting cast, it’s pure fun and executed with style. It’s the modern version of what the original aspired to be, and it delivers in every way.
So there you have it—15 remakes that, in my opinion, are actually better than the originals. And look, I know some of you out there will disagree. Maybe you're a purist. Maybe you grew up on the originals and you’ve got that nostalgic connection that no remake could ever touch. I get that.
But at the end of the day, a good movie is a good movie. And sometimes, when the right filmmaker comes along with the right cast and the right vision, lightning strikes twice—or even harder than it did the first time.
Now again, let’s be clear: most remakes are garbage. Most of them are uninspired, unnecessary cash grabs made by people who either don’t understand or don’t respect what made the original great in the first place.
But every once in a while, somebody takes an old story, blows off the dust, digs deeper, brings something new to the table, and ends up creating something that stands completely on its own—something even better. That’s what this list is about.
So if you’re one of those people who automatically groans every time you hear that a remake is in the works—maybe pause for a second. Because as this list shows, sometimes they get it right. Sometimes they get it really right. And when they do, we all win.
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