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Hollywood just can't stop raiding the archives! Join us as we count down the most unnecessary reboots and remakes ever greenlit — films that were doomed from the moment they were announced and somehow still managed to disappoint. From tone-deaf comic book reboots to shot-for-shot disasters, these do-overs prove that not every classic deserves a second chance on the silver screen.
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00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at reboots and remakes of cinematic classics
00:12that were deemed unnecessary from the moment they were announced,
00:15and didn't exceed those low expectations either.
00:25Number 30. The Stepford Wives
00:27The 1975 adaptation of Ira Levin's novel has a cult following,
00:32but that doesn't mean anyone was desperate for a big-budget remake.
00:36Add it up. All the women around here are perfect sex kitten bimbos.
00:42All the men are drooling nerds. Doesn't that seem strange?
00:46Not to me.
00:47Why not? I work in television.
00:50Still, with an all-star cast and director Frank Oz's knack for dark comedies,
00:55we thought maybe the 2004 version could surprise us.
00:58Unfortunately, it was kind of worse than anticipated.
01:01I'm happy, and I'm healthy, because I understand what's important in life.
01:06Yes, your new book.
01:08That's right, that's what's important. My new cookbook, and my husband, and my family, and making a perfect home.
01:14The 1975 film knew what it was, a psychological thriller with a satirical edge.
01:19It could be creepy and funny simultaneously.
01:22The remake can't decide on a consistent tone, lacking the original film's horror factor, while the satire falls flat.
01:29Half of the time, the film doesn't even seem entirely focused on what it's satirizing.
01:35If the original is the genuine artifact, the remake is the sanitized Stepford version.
01:40So, Joanna, are you enjoying Stepford?
01:44Oh, yes. The town is so splendid.
01:47Number 29. Always.
01:49We all remember 1943's A Guy Named Joe.
01:53What's that? You don't?
01:54Well, Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss bonded over the ghostly romance while making Jaws, wanting to do a remake.
02:01Do you think I like being afraid that you're never going to come back?
02:04Okay. Okay.
02:08Look, I, uh...
02:12I have an idea.
02:14While Spielberg and Dreyfuss might have been passionate about the source material, it feels like Always was made for two
02:20people.
02:21We'd like to say that Always is a misunderstood gem, but no.
02:25It's definitely one of Spielberg's weaker efforts.
02:28The fire's on fire! Can you believe that?
02:31This is largely due to the love triangle between Holly Hunter's Dorinda, Brad Johnson's Ted, and Dreyfuss's Pete, the latter
02:39of whom perished in an aerial accident.
02:41Hunter and Johnson have no chemistry, while Dreyfuss's character is mostly unfazed about the whole being dead thing.
02:48If he's not invested in his death, why should we?
02:52I'm dead.
02:54That's right.
02:58I'm dead.
03:00Right.
03:02Number 28. Clash of the Titans.
03:05We dare you to quote one line from this 2010 remake that isn't Release the Kraken, which you only remember
03:11because it was in the trailer.
03:14Release the Kraken!
03:17Other than that, it's a complete blur.
03:19Fittingly enough, much of the film is shot like a flashback sequence, sucking out the colors.
03:25Clash of the Titans only looked worse if you saw it in 3D, a format that it clearly wasn't meant
03:30to be presented in.
03:31If I do this, I do it as a man.
03:37But you are not just a man.
03:39But hey, Avatar was a box office Goliath, and this has that Sam Worthington guy too.
03:45So let's milk this fad.
03:47Just as the 3D craze died out though, this CGI heavy remake was quickly forgotten.
03:52Whereas the 1981 classic is still fondly remembered for its handcrafted magic.
04:04Number 27. Fame.
04:06While we remember 1980's fame for its electrifying soundtrack, it was also a gritty exploration of high school and the
04:13pursuit of stardom, earning its R rating.
04:16Look, don't lecture me.
04:18All right, Sir Lawrence.
04:20Look, all anyone ever promised you was seven classes a day and a hot lunch.
04:24The rest is up to you, Ralph.
04:25The 2009 remake couldn't even go for a PG-13 rating.
04:30The filmmakers neutered it down to a PG.
04:33You know, uh, you can really dance.
04:37Thanks for the news class.
04:38We suppose that's because this came out on the heels of High School Musical,
04:42and they wanted to draw in the Disney Channel crowd.
04:44They not only failed to attract that demographic, but also alienated old school fans.
04:50And though your interpretation may be entertaining, it is of no value in my class.
04:55With the original film and TV series coming out in the 80s,
04:59setting the remake in modern day proved to be another misfire.
05:02We think Roger Ebert had the best singer.
05:05This one ain't gonna live forever.
05:08I'll take it to me.
05:13Number 26.
05:15Charlie's Angels.
05:17Were the previous two Charlie's Angels movies good?
05:19It depends on how nostalgic you are for the early aughts.
05:23Who's up for crashing a party?
05:27That said, 2000's Charlie's Angels and 2003's Full Throttle had a style that mirrored when they were made.
05:34The same can be said about the original TV series, which is a 70s time capsule.
05:402019's Charlie's Angels came out at the tail end of a decade that lacked a distinct personality.
05:46Charlie bailed me out.
05:47And if it wasn't for Charlie, I'd probably be dead or back in prison.
05:54So I feel you.
05:54The only thing that defined cinema in the 2010s was Hollywood's over-reliance on recycling nostalgic IP.
06:00You're a terrible employee.
06:02Yeah, and who cares if people die, right?
06:04As long as the investors are happy.
06:05In that sense, we guess the 2019 version is a reflection of the times, but not in a fun way.
06:11Let's just be glad this didn't get a sequel, freeing the three actresses to pursue other opportunities.
06:17But either way, I am down to get wild.
06:20Number 25.
06:21The Avengers.
06:22You wouldn't believe how excited Marvel fans were when they found out that Hollywood was making an Avengers movie in
06:281998.
06:29Do you always be ordered?
06:31Always.
06:32Except when I don't.
06:34Then they realized it wasn't that Avengers.
06:36It was based on the British spy series that aired during the 60s.
06:41While the show had a cult following, the fan base wasn't massive by the time this film came out.
06:46That said, fans of the original show vocally criticized everything from the casting to the tone.
06:54Now is the winter of your discontent.
06:58Newcomers, meanwhile, had no idea what they were watching.
07:00This wasn't just due to their unfamiliarity with the source material.
07:04Because of the terrible test screenings, the studio edited it to the point that the plot became incomprehensible.
07:11The film bombed so hard that no revival could avenge it.
07:14Time to die.
07:16Not just yet.
07:18Number 24.
07:19Doolittle.
07:20Seriously, who was 2020's Doolittle for?
07:23Make way, boys.
07:25Flip down.
07:26Don't stop.
07:27Don't stop.
07:28We get that Hollywood will regurgitate any IP, but did they really think there were enough Dr. Doolittle fans to
07:34justify a budget close to $200 million?
07:37While the 1967 version was inexplicably nominated for Best Picture, it was also a notorious commercial failure.
07:45The Eddie Murphy movies were more profitable, although they aren't held in the highest regard either.
07:50You do this, I promise you'd be the most famous bear in all the world.
07:54Bigger than Pooh.
07:56Are you kidding me?
07:56You pull this off, they'll be saying Winnie the Who.
08:00Of course, they're master strokes compared to this tonally confused cesspool of wasted celebrity voice talent.
08:06Jokes that feel like they were written for another movie and dragon colonoscopies.
08:12Give us a deep breath.
08:14Hold it.
08:15Word of warning.
08:16What's up, Doc?
08:17We're removing the blockage.
08:18Yeah, that happens.
08:19And we feel like it was around the time Robert Downey Jr. pulled out the bagpipes that he realized leaving
08:25the MCU wasn't a great plan.
08:39Number 23.
08:40Snow White.
08:41There are a lot of live-action Disney remakes that nobody asked for.
08:452025 Snow White didn't just feel unnecessary, however.
08:50It felt like a betrayal.
08:51Tell me.
08:53Are you against me too?
08:57Are you?
08:58The 1937 masterpiece was held in such high regard that Disney hesitated releasing it on home video, reserving it for
09:05the silver screen.
09:09Someday my prince will come.
09:15Someday we'll meet again.
09:19Even after Snow White got a home media release, Disney never cheapened it with a straight-to-video sequel.
09:24No, Happily Ever After wasn't Disney.
09:27Alas, the fairest one of all couldn't dodge a remake that misses what made the original special.
09:33It seems to me that everyone here could do a much better job at listening to one another.
09:37Even the attempts at updating elements that modern audiences might deem problematic come off as disingenuous, misguided, and ironically outdated
09:45on arrival.
09:46All of this for a cash grab that couldn't grab any cash.
09:50Let her try.
09:55Number 22.
09:57The Crow.
09:58Okay, we understand that pretty much every comic book movie gets rebooted at some point.
10:03However, 1994's The Crow is so closely tied to Brandon Lee's legacy and untimely death that asking anyone to fill
10:11his shoes came off as tone-deaf.
10:13I see you have made your decision.
10:16Now let's see you enforce it.
10:18Poor Bill Skarsgård was given an impossible task.
10:22Even if audiences were open to another actor taking on the mantle, the script and direction couldn't breathe new life
10:28into the 2024 film.
10:30Even if you save her, you will never be with her again.
10:36I know.
10:41Now let me do this.
10:43On top of all that, The Crow isn't Batman, where the name alone is enough to pack theaters.
10:48The source material has a smaller yet loyal fan base.
10:52That loyalty extends to Brandon Lee, however.
10:55This movie was never going to be a huge hit, but they made it anyway for no reason.
11:00I thought I'd lost you.
11:02It's okay, baby.
11:04It's over.
11:06Number 21, War of the Worlds.
11:101953's The War of the Worlds is a sci-fi classic, and the 2005 version was a timely take on
11:16the source material.
11:182025's War of the Worlds was also timely.
11:21By that, we mean it was obviously made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
11:26You see that Tesla in front of you?
11:29I need you to get to it.
11:30Dad, I can't drive like this.
11:32Don't worry.
11:34Got you.
11:34Even if there was someone who wanted another War of the Worlds adaptation, we guarantee that Ice Cube sitting at
11:39a computer screen isn't what they had in mind.
11:42No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
11:46As far as Alien movies go, this War of the Worlds may have more in common with Mac and Me,
11:52as both prioritize shameless product placement above all else.
11:56Honestly, Amazon, the fact that we watched this means we have Prime membership.
12:00You don't need to advertise something we're already overpaying for.
12:03Put it on the thumb drive.
12:05I don't have a thumb drive.
12:07What do you mean you don't have a thumb drive?
12:09Even I have a thumb drive.
12:11Boy, this is a top-secret military installation.
12:14They don't let thumb drives in the building.
12:16Number 20.
12:17The Mummy
12:17This is actually the fourth iteration of The Mummy series, and by 2017, people were tired.
12:25It's like the story itself.
12:27Universal went into the tomb, unearthed a dormant franchise, and suffered catastrophic consequences as a result.
12:34She's got plans for you, Nick.
12:37Plans?
12:38You can't run.
12:40You can't escape.
12:42Of course, the 2017 version couldn't just be any old project.
12:46In the age of the MCU, it seems like every movie needs to be part of some extended universe.
12:52The Mummy was meant to launch the so-called Dark Universe franchise, but it was such a monumental flop that
12:58all plans were cancelled.
13:01When one is dealing with the salvation of humanity, certain sacrifices must be made.
13:07Yet everyone loved Lee Whannell's The Invisible Man so much that more monster flicks are now on the way.
13:13We'll let it slide as long as The Mummy stays respectfully wrapped and buried.
13:19Number 19.
13:20The Wicker Man
13:21One of the most celebrated horror films of the 70s, the original Wicker Man works on so many levels.
13:27It contains an enticing mystery, as a police sergeant looks for a missing girl on a secluded island.
13:33You know her?
13:35Her name is Rowan Morrison.
13:38The photo was in this letter, posted here on Summer Isle.
13:41But it's also a very religious movie in that it uses paganism and the abandonment of Christianity as a source
13:47of unease.
13:48This theme worked much better in the more religious culture of 1973 than it did in 2006.
14:04The gendered element that was added also didn't accomplish much.
14:08The Wicker Man is a movie of its time, and it needed to stay there.
14:12Worst of all, the remake doesn't even work as a good mystery.
14:15They should probably put it in The Wicker Man and burn it.
14:27Number 18.
14:28Robocop
14:29Speaking of movies of their time, this one belongs in the 1980s.
14:33What are your prime directives?
14:36Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law.
14:40Co-writer Michael Miner has called the movie, quote,
14:43comic relief for a cynical time, referencing Ronald Reagan's presidency.
14:47Many view Robocop as a lambasting of his policies and the corporate power that was unleashed under his tenure.
14:54But all that aside, the movie is still a great watch now.
14:58You are under arrest.
15:00Oh, on what charge?
15:02Aiding and abetting a known felon.
15:05Sounds like I'm in a lot of trouble.
15:09You better take me in.
15:11I will.
15:12The gore is grotesque, the action sequences exciting, and the Oscar-winning sound editing packs a punch.
15:19The 2014 remake was neutered, lacking the exciting,
15:23I shouldn't be watching this nerve of the original.
15:25And its satire wasn't nearly as strong or subversive.
15:29It was just another action movie.
15:37Number 17.
15:39Arthur
15:39The original Arthur struck upon something in 1981.
15:43Maybe its themes resounded at the time.
15:45Maybe it was the presence of beloved late English actor Dudley Moore.
15:49Maybe it was the sharpened, hilarious script from Steve Gordon.
15:52Would you care to wait in the library?
15:54Yes, I would.
15:55The bathroom is out of the question.
16:03Either way, the movie earned critical acclaim and became one of the highest grossing films of the year.
16:09And then there's the 2011 remake, which is the complete opposite of all of that.
16:14Good evening, officers. What seems to be the problem?
16:17You're drunk again, Arthur.
16:20No, I have remained drunk since our last encounter.
16:25Its themes were overlooked in favor of traditional romantic comedy trappings.
16:29Plus, Russell Brand's not nearly as popular as Dudley Moore.
16:33Simply put, it contained none of the intelligence or bite of the original.
16:37Even Brand has acknowledged that it didn't deliver, reportedly calling it a, quote, mistake.
16:43Well, hopefully others can learn from the error.
16:46Number 16. Carrie.
16:48Sure, maybe Carrie is getting a little long in the tooth, but it's still one of those horror movies you
16:53don't mess with.
16:54It's widely regarded as one of the scariest movies of all time.
16:57And the wonderful acting was recognized with two Oscar nominations.
17:01After the first time before we were married, Ralph promised never again.
17:08He promised, and I believed him.
17:15But Sue never dies.
17:17The 70s was a golden decade for horror, and Carrie is a shining product.
17:21The 2013 movie, on the other hand, gave us nothing.
17:25The script also wasn't a new or exciting take on the material.
17:28It was basically the same movie, only worse.
17:31They laughed at me, mommy.
17:34They all laughed at me.
17:36I knew they'd hurt my little girl.
17:38The filmmaking was less unique, the performances were not as memorable,
17:42and the climactic sequence didn't hit as hard.
17:45It was a watered-down version of a story worthy of pig blood thickness.
17:50Number 15. Ben-Hur.
17:51At this point, Ben-Hur is as historic as its Roman setting.
17:55We've seen Romans before.
17:58Yes.
17:59And we will see them again.
18:02The epic to end all epics, it can't be touched.
18:05An extraordinary amount of work went into the 1959 film at every level,
18:10from the sets and costumes to the extras and horses.
18:14It also had an astronomical budget.
18:17It won an astounding 11 Academy Awards,
18:20proving that the time and effort was worth it.
18:22In other words, this wasn't a movie to be remade.
18:25But in came the 2016 version,
18:28which felt cheap and didn't pack the emotional or thematic heft of the original.
18:32You should have stayed away.
18:35You should have killed me.
18:38I will.
18:39It was too corporate, full of CGI,
18:42overly reliant on action,
18:44and streamlined at approximately 125 minutes.
18:47We wanted to root for it,
18:49but there was no way to.
18:52Number 14.
18:53Robin Hood.
18:54If there's one thing the world doesn't need,
18:56it's more Robin Hood movies.
18:58It's been done what feels like 10,000 times.
19:01This war.
19:02All wars.
19:04And everything happened in here.
19:06It's as old as time.
19:07At this point,
19:08we don't know if there's any more originality to be spun into the tale.
19:12This movie attempted to be inventive with its plot
19:14and unique but somewhat inaccurate costume design.
19:18Still, it didn't work.
19:19It failed to embrace the theme as much as it could have,
19:22and the result was another generic popcorn flick.
19:25All your thievery has done is drive the sheriff to declare war on us.
19:30You have no voice here.
19:32Then I'll show you my face.
19:35Everyone knows the story of Robin Hood.
19:37Everyone loves the classics like Errol Flynn's The Adventures of Robin Hood
19:41and Disney's cartoon.
19:42Making another Robin Hood is like stealing from the poor.
19:45You should not do it.
19:47Number 13.
19:48The Omen.
19:49This is another shining example of 70s horror.
19:52A huge success,
19:54The Omen wowed audiences with its shocking use of gore
19:57and terrifying story rooted around the Antichrist.
20:01This is not a human child.
20:05Make no mistake.
20:08It was creepy and suspenseful with a hardened and subversive edge.
20:13It goes without saying,
20:14but scores of people were buying tickets to see it.
20:17And like The Wicker Man,
20:19its religious themes seem to resonate with 70s audiences.
20:22Six is the sign of the devil.
20:24But why three of them?
20:26We believe it signifies the diabolical trinity.
20:29In other words,
20:30it didn't need to be revisited.
20:31The only fun thing about the 2006 remake was its release date,
20:356-6-0-6.
20:37Otherwise,
20:38it was essentially an identical redo of the original,
20:41only its violence was now less shocking
20:43and its themes less impactful.
20:46Number 12.
20:47Swept Away.
20:47A huge stain on Guy Ritchie's filmography,
20:51the 2002 iteration of Swept Away had no redeeming qualities.
20:55The laws of capitalism are,
20:57proprietor of goods can set any price that he or she sees fit
21:00and shall not be at the mercy of any moral or ethical issues.
21:06Who's quote is that?
21:07Barely anyone saw it,
21:09and those that did viciously criticized the lead performance given by Madonna.
21:13Yes, that Madonna.
21:14It's a horrible movie,
21:16and the fact that it's a remake of a beloved foreign film makes it even worse.
21:20An Italian production,
21:22the original Swept Away isn't just a romantic comedy.
21:25It's also a movie with rich political themes,
21:27as the main characters debate and embody traits of capitalism and communism.
21:41The remake drops the thematic depth of the original.
21:44Instead, it focuses on the shallow, lovey-dovey stuff
21:47and hopes that Madonna's mere presence will allow it to get by.
21:51But, spoiler alert,
21:52it does not.
21:54Number 11.
21:55The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
21:56When will we learn to stop remaking 70s horror flicks?
22:00Something like this comes along,
22:02makes folks realize how crazy the world is out there.
22:06While not a terrible film,
22:08this 2003 version is not only entirely pointless,
22:11but it also goes against the core essence of the original film.
22:14If this movie's goal was to get butts in seats,
22:17well, it did that.
22:18Considering the budget of approximately $9.5 million,
22:21that's certainly an accomplishment.
22:24I just need to get away.
22:27What?
22:28Got to get away.
22:30From who?
22:31I want to go home.
22:34Okay, we can't live around here like this.
22:35But as a result,
22:37it lost the griminess and visceral atmosphere of the original.
22:41Tobey Hooper's 1974 film is a landmark in horror cinema,
22:45and to this day,
22:46it looks and feels like something you shouldn't be watching.
22:48It's intensely uneasy,
22:50and remains one of the scariest films ever made.
22:53The remake simply doesn't hold a candle to it.
22:56Number 10.
22:57Point Break
22:58Admit it,
22:59you forgot this remake even exists.
23:01The original Point Break is far more than its extreme sports.
23:06Catherine Bigelow is a great director, after all.
23:08There are the complex character interactions,
23:11especially between Bodhi and Johnny.
23:13This is an insurance policy.
23:16It will sting a bit,
23:18but it's for your own growth, brah.
23:20There's the unique 90s charm and beautiful setting.
23:23And of course,
23:24there's the sparkling dynamic between Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.
23:28It's a 90s cult classic,
23:30and nobody was demanding a remake.
23:32Warner Brothers released one anyway in 2015,
23:34and it was nothing more than a glorified,
23:37but well-shot,
23:38stunt compilation.
23:40Gone were the interesting character dynamics
23:42and absorbing acting,
23:43replaced by bland characters and actors
23:46with no chemistry to speak of.
23:48You're gonna steal it.
23:49No.
23:52We're going to liberate it.
23:54It misunderstood what makes the original endlessly endearing,
23:57and failed to impress.
23:59Number 9.
24:00Old Boy
24:01Widely considered one of the worst movies of Spike Lee's career,
24:05it was obvious that no one was clamoring for an American old boy.
24:08This is essentially the exact same movie as the Korean original,
24:12only in English and starring prominent actors like Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen.
24:17I believe that you've been locked up for a long time.
24:22I believe you want to be a father to your daughter.
24:25Don't touch me.
24:26But it didn't seem new or different.
24:28Why remake a movie if you're not going to make it feel fresh?
24:31Doesn't that betray the purpose?
24:33Not only that,
24:34but the American old boy did everything worse.
24:37Like, it was diluting the visceral madness of the original.
24:50According to the Los Angeles Times,
24:52Lee's original cut was far longer.
24:54Who knows if that version would have been worth seeing,
24:57but the finished product we got has no reason for being.
25:01Number 8.
25:02Red Dawn
25:02Very few movies reflect their historical moment quite like Red Dawn did in 1984.
25:08The first PG-13 movie to hit theaters,
25:11it tells the tale of Jed and many high school students
25:14battling invading forces of the Soviet Union.
25:22It's one of the ultimate Cold War movies,
25:24released at a time when tensions were still high.
25:27The 2012 remake seemingly foresees the trouble
25:30of transplanting a Cold War story into the 21st century,
25:33changing the invaders to North Korea.
25:35North Korea's like a spoiled child.
25:37North Korea is a danger to the world.
25:39What would North Korea possibly hope to gain?
25:42What will be the next step?
25:42What is it that they want?
25:44What are they preparing for?
25:48But still, it falls flat.
25:50Not only does North Korea seem like less of an immediate threat,
25:53but the plot is full of gaping holes.
25:56No one asked for this, and pretty much no one liked it.
25:59Number 7.
26:00Total Recall
26:01Like Point Break, the 2012 Total Recall remake
26:04took the wrong lessons from the iconic 1990 original.
26:08That movie was far more than Arnold Schwarzenegger
26:10and some fun action sequences.
26:12It featured a unique Martian setting
26:14and wonderful production design.
26:16The Oscar-winning practical effects were top-notch, too.
26:20Plus, the razor-sharp screenplay contained an intricate story
26:23and interesting themes.
26:36In other words, it's a sci-fi treasure.
26:39The 2012 version lost all the edge and intelligence of the original,
26:43becoming another bland sci-fi action blockbuster in the process.
26:47The original is beloved to this day,
26:49and the remake has long been forgotten,
26:51which tells you everything you need to know.
26:53The past is a construct of the mind.
26:58It blinds us, it fools us into believing it.
27:02But the heart wants to live in the present.
27:06Number 6.
27:07Footloose
27:08Unlike many remakes or reboots,
27:11the 2011 Footloose film was actually relatively well-received.
27:15Many praised the movie's sense of energy and its smart screenplay,
27:18which stayed true to the story while also making it work for 21st-century audiences.
27:24Nah, public dance is against the law if you're under 18 in Beaumont.
27:26Shut up.
27:30Wait, wait, wait, wait.
27:31Jump back.
27:32Are you kidding me?
27:33This is what a remake should do.
27:35But with that said,
27:36it was still a fully unnecessary undertaking.
27:39The original movie is in a class of its own,
27:42and remains fun to this day.
27:43Kenny Loggins' Footloose is an unbeatable track,
27:47and Kevin Bacon makes for a timeless leading man.
27:50Get loose, footloose
27:52Kick off some best shoes
27:55Go we
27:56Murray
27:57Shake, shake, oh we
28:00And despite some fun new ideas,
28:03the remake doesn't make a good argument for its own existence.
28:06After all,
28:07why would anyone watch the 2011 Footloose when the 1984 one exists?
28:12Number 5.
28:13Poltergeist
28:14This is another one of those remakes that you look at and think,
28:17oh yeah, that happened.
28:18The 1982 flick is an undeniable horror must-watch.
28:22I get my strongest feeling.
28:24The point of origin is in the child's closet upstairs.
28:29Featuring strong names behind it like director Tobey Hooper
28:32and co-writer Steven Spielberg,
28:35Poltergeist was a hit both critically and commercially.
28:38The movie was both smart and wickedly terrifying,
28:41with many of its scenes becoming ingrained within pop culture,
28:44including Carol Ann's fantastically eerie,
28:47They're here.
28:49The remake, however, is a basic jump-scare fest
28:52that lacks both the intelligence and charm
28:54that Spielberg's writing brought to the original.
28:56Furthermore, it was largely the same film,
28:59so unfavorable comparisons to the iconic original
29:02couldn't help but be made.
29:04Maddie, what's going on?
29:07They're coming.
29:10Who is?
29:11Who is coming?
29:16Number 4.
29:17Hellboy
29:18The problem with rebooting Guillermo del Toro
29:21is that no other filmmaker is like Guillermo del Toro.
29:24Hellboy.
29:26He's real.
29:27Yeah, 60 years old by our count.
29:29The famous Mexican director imbued the original Hellboy
29:32with his typical imaginative touch,
29:34and it featured absolutely stellar costumes
29:36and production design.
29:38Ron Perlman also did a great job
29:40portraying the title character,
29:42and the script was packed with clever moments.
29:44Most people who saw it tended to love it,
29:47and it should have been left alone,
29:48especially because del Toro's technical craft
29:51is so timeless.
29:53Somehow, everything looks worse in the 2019 reboot.
29:56It appears cheaper, less polished,
29:58more digital, and far less intimate.
30:01Hardly a scratch left.
30:03You heal fast.
30:04Where am I?
30:05Bacon, eggs, and black pudding, do ya?
30:07You look like you could use a proper English breakfast.
30:10This was a reboot that seemed like it was designed by committee,
30:13and it failed in spectacular fashion.
30:17Number 3.
30:17A Nightmare on Elm Street
30:19A Freddy Krueger movie doesn't make sense
30:22without the involvement of actor Robert Englund.
30:25No!
30:27Come on, Freddy.
30:28It can't be catchy.
30:32I'm gonna split you in the show.
30:36Englund is Krueger,
30:38and try as he might,
30:40Jackie Earl Haley does not measure up.
30:42Unlike many other slashers,
30:44the 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street
30:46stands the test of time.
30:47It's incredibly frightening.
30:49England is fantastic as Krueger,
30:51and the movie's gory effects
30:53have the power to astound and disgust.
30:55It's every bit as effective today as it was back then.
30:58The 2010 movie was not only useless,
31:01but it was also largely unwanted.
31:03This whole heart
31:05is one
31:08little
31:09bit.
31:10Those who were excited likely realized
31:12that they shouldn't have been.
31:14Unsurprisingly,
31:15it was a huge disappointment,
31:17failing to measure up to its iconic predecessor
31:19in virtually every capacity.
31:21Number 2.
31:22Planet of the Apes
31:23This remake saw the light of day
31:25over three decades after the original was released.
31:28But if you ask us,
31:29that was not enough time.
31:31Planet of the Apes is an all-time classic.
31:34Like Ben-Hur,
31:35it's one of those golden movies
31:37that shouldn't be touched.
31:38Everything about it is iconic,
31:40especially its twist ending
31:41involving a half-buried statue of liberty.
31:44God damn you all to hell!
31:58Tim Burton certainly tried,
32:00and while his remake was a visual delight,
32:02it couldn't measure up in the least.
32:04Take your stinking hands off me,
32:08you damn dirty human!
32:11Perhaps the worst part was the new twist ending,
32:13which didn't make a lick of sense
32:15or carry the emotional gut punch
32:17of the awe-inspiring original.
32:19You know what they say,
32:20if it ain't broke,
32:21don't fix it.
32:23Before we continue,
32:25be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.
32:27All of your favorite videos in one place,
32:2924-7.
32:31Always on,
32:32always live.
32:33Are you not entertained?
32:35Number 1.
32:36Psycho
32:37There were so many reasons
32:39not to go near Psycho.
32:40And despite all of them,
32:42Universal Pictures and Gus Van Sant
32:44decided to make what was predominantly
32:46a shot-for-shot remake.
32:48And it was a flabbergastingly bad decision.
32:51We all go a little mad sometimes.
32:56For one thing,
32:57the story lost all of its shock factor
32:58because everyone already knew the famous twists.
33:01Marion's death doesn't hit nearly as hard
33:03when we see it coming.
33:04Plus,
33:05Vince Vaughn
33:06was an astoundingly odd choice
33:08for Norman Bates.
33:09She just
33:11goes a little mad sometimes.
33:13We all go a little mad sometimes.
33:15And Van Sant's direction
33:17paled in comparison to Hitchcock's.
33:19If anything,
33:20Psycho proves that
33:21even with a nearly identical script
33:23and shot composition,
33:25one director can work circles around another.
33:28It certainly gives one an appreciation
33:29for the talent
33:30that goes into making a great movie.
33:32If remakes were meals,
33:34which would you send back to the kitchen?
33:36Let us know in the comments.
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