10 Movies You Had No Idea They Remade
These remakes all flew totally under the radar.
Many lament the perceived lack of originality in Hollywood, and though that's usually in reference to endless sequels, prequels, and spin-offs to hit movies, it also extends to studios' relentless desire to just remake their prior hits.
Remakes aren't inherently bad or a sign of creative bankruptcy, even if many of them are clearly made to wring a quick buck out of a name IP, but what's more puzzling is when a remake comes and goes without audiences en masse ever really hearing about them. And that's certainly the case with the following ten remakes, each of which was announced, shot, and released with bafflingly little fanfare.
The reasons for this are varied and complex. Perhaps the original was itself a niche cult film, enough that a remake barely even seems worth it. Elsewhere, the remake might've been developed internationally, far away from the corridors of Hollywood, or maybe it ended up being unceremoniously dumped on a streaming platform as a forgettable sliver of Content.
Whatever the reason, you probably have no idea that these movies, ranging from quirky '90s comedies to wild horror movies and even Best Picture-winning masterworks, ever got remade...
10. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
1991's coming-of-age black comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead may have been a critical and commercial bust upon initial release, but it won itself something of a cult following throughout the '90s due to VHS and TV airings, even if it's hardly discussed much today.
As such, it was a surprise to hear that a remake was quietly developed and filmed last year, with Tyra Banks producing this new take which focuses on a family of Black siblings - rather than white, as in the original - dealing with the sudden death of their babysitter.
The film's minimal marketing presence ensured that few even knew it was coming out this past April, where it released to mixed reviews not unlike its predecessor. With Joanna Cassidy, Keith Coogan, and Danielle Harris from the original film making cameos, it's shocking that this remake ended up flying so far under the radar for most moviegoers.