10 Remakes That Totally Outshone The Original

A common opinion is that remakes, much like sequels, never live up to the standard set by their predecessors. But it's the exceptions that prove the rule and obviously, there have been several pertinent points to the contrary over the years. And there are some remakes that have been so good, many people seem to not even realize that there had been another version to begin with.

That's even the case when the originals are perfectly fine or bette, which is one of Hollywood's greatest ironies, really. Finished products that are awful tend to be left behind and left to be forgotten, even if another attempt could result in something special, but if something was done well the first time, studios wants to do it all over again in a few years.

Inevitably - and cynically - the reason for this is the likely big profits new versions can bring in, but there can be other genuine reasons behind remakes. Among them is the curiosity to find out how a story turns out with newer technology or simply what the vision for the story is from the point of view of a new group of talent. This can be especially true if it involves an adaptation from another medium. Of course, this can all magnificently backfire if a new vision is not to the liking of a long-established fanbase.

Whatever the justifications behind so many remakes, cynical or not, the fact is no matter how well the first go round went, there genuinely can be room for improvement...

Based on the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers, the first Freaky Friday movie was released in 1976 and starred Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster as a mother-daughter pair who, after having frequently been at odds with each other, switch bodies for a day and learn to appreciate the difficulties in each other's lives.

A big hit, it snagged both Harris and Foster Golden Globe nominations to go along with a third for Best Original Song.

A little-known made-for-TV movie version was released in 1995 starring Shelley Long and Gabby Hoffmann, but it's the 2003 version that really made its mark.

The update starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back before her name became synonymous with 'cautionary tale'. Despite the praise for Harris and Foster, the remake's cast is generally viewed to have done better. Curtis also received a Golden Globe nod and her being left out of the Oscar nominations has widely been considered a snub. The supporting cast includes Mark Harmon and Chad Michael Murray.

In 2017, it was announced that a fourth movie would go into production. This one is intended to be a musical version to air on the Disney Channel.