10 Movie Remakes Nobody Wanted (That Were Actually Pretty Good)
Telling the same great stories for a new generation...
Hollywood movie remakes are generally welcomed with a roll of the eyes, or an unimpressed groan. They run the risk of becoming box-office bombs because audiences would rather have something new and original than retreads of the same old story. What's worse is that these remakes could also be critical failures and tarnish the legacy of the originals.
Remakes such as Total Recall (2012), Robocop (2014), and Rebecca (2020) are all examples of disastrous attempts of remaking much beloved classics. But Hollywood will always continue to bring back old, assured hits in the hope that nostalgia prevails and they attract enough fans.
On the other hand, films such as Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017) are great examples of Hollywood successfully giving franchises soft reboots rather than the direct remake treatment. These franchises were already hugely popular, so continuing the story is a smarter decision than replicating the original.
Yet, some older films do not hold up today and benefit from modern remakes. Dated effects may need updated, or international films and classic animations need translated to fit into contemporary society. So let's take a look at the movie remakes that got it right.
10. Let Me In (2010)
American remakes of international hits are always controversial, but Let Me In, a remake of 2008 Swedish horror Let the Right One In, can stand proudly alongside its influence.
The film follows young protagonist Owen, who is badly bullied at school and spends most of his time hiding at home and spying on his neighbors in the apartment block. Yet, Owen strikes up an unlikely friendship with Abby, a young girl that only comes out at night. Abby soon reveals herself to be a vampire, and Owen becomes strongly infatuated by her.
On the surface, Let Me In is an unnerving horror movie that makes you question the activity of strangers. However, the film actually ends up being a poignant love story about the strong bond between two neglected children.
Let Me In is highly praised for being a faithful remake of an international feature - a rare occurrence. The film sits at an impressive 88% critic score on review site Rotten Tomatoes, which is not far behind the Swedish original at 98%. Let Me In proves that remaking international features can be successful when crafted with the utmost respect for the original.