1. The Departed
It's another one that divides people, but this is the only remake on this list that is bestowed with the honour of having won the Academy Award for Best Picture (as well the much-belated Best Director gong for Martin Scorsese). Though the original Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs is a near-masterpiece of crime cinema whatever way you look at it, Scorsese's film improves upon it in a small but crucial number of ways, enhancing the stakes and also suffusing its film with a wealth of black humour. It really is William Monaghan's exceptional script that drives this one home, giving the outstanding cast - namely Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg - plenty to work with, and of course, Scorsese's direction is as great as it has ever been (even if he should won the award long ago). One point we shall concede is that the original has a stronger, more downbeat ending, but the overall heft and confidence of Scorsese's film, more keen to develop its characters, and not steeped in the same self-seriousness as the original, has a lot more fun with its concept, and is therefore more enjoyable and thrilling as a result. Are there any you feel are stronger remakes? Or do you disagree with us? Let us know in the comments below.