Movie remakes are usually met with skepticism, but there are some exciting new movies that could be even better than the originals. This is a rare feat for a remake, since only a select few manage to introduce new ideas without being overly reverent of their source material. Even then, affection for the original movie often means that fans aren’t open to the idea of those movies being tarnished. The first step to a good movie remake is choosing the right movie. It should offer some room for improvement, or the possibility that a completely new take will be welcomed.
The coming years already look like they’re about to have more sequels, reboots and remakes than ever before. This can initially look disheartening, but there are some remakes that might as well be original movies, since they’re so different from the films they’re based on. For example, Spike Lee’s new remake of Akira Kurosawa’sHigh and Lowtakes place in modern day New York City, with Denzel Washington in the lead role. Remakes like these offer hope that they could be improvements, since they have enough confidence to try new things.
8The Running Man
Glen Powell Steps Into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Shoes
Glen Powell’s star has been on the rise for a few years now, and 2025 will see him trying to one-up Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although Powell has had some great performances in action movies likeTop Gun: MaverickandTwisters,he certainly doesn’t fit into the same mold of action stars as Schwarzenegger, so it will be interesting to see if his version ofThe Running Manchanges things up. The presence of Edgar Wright as director suggests that it will be a completely new take on Stephen King’s novel, and it’s possible that Wright’s humorous style will make use of Powell’s comedy chops.
Wright has claimed that his remake ofThe Running Manwill be much closer to King’s novel than the first movie.
Wright has claimed that his remake ofThe Running Manwill be much closer to King’s novel than the first movie. One problem with the original adaptation is that Schwarzenegger is a terrible fit for the main character, so the entire story had to be changed to accommodate a musclebound action star in the role of a meek, desperate man. Powell isn’t too much closer to King’s vision, but he’s certainly a more likely candidate to play an everyman role than Schwarzenegger. WhileThe Running Manis often admired for its cheesy ’80s charms,a remake has the potential to draw out the dystopian tragedy of the novel.
7Highest 2 Lowest
Spike Lee Takes On A Kurosawa Classic
While it seems like a long shot that anyone could remake an Akira Kurosawa movie and improve on the original, Spike Lee’s upcoming remake ofHigh and Lowat least seems as though it will be different enough to avoid too many direct comparisons. With any luck,Highest 2 Lowestcould be just as good asHigh and Lowin its own way.Spike Lee and Denzel Washingtonare set to continue their long-running professional collaboration on the upcoming remake, which is reason enough to be excited. The duo always seem to bring the best out of each other, like inInside ManandMalcolm X,for example.
10 Great Movie Remakes That Should Have Been Terrible
There’s a lot of skepticism when it comes to movie remakes, especially after some big-budget disappointments, but some remakes defy the odds.
It’s not yet clear what role Denzel Washington will play inHighest 2 Lowest,but it seems likely that he will play a version of Toshiro Mifune’s character from the original. Mifune plays a business executive who plans a leveraged buyout of his company, but he has to deal with his driver’s son being kidnapped and held for ransom. It would be interesting to see Washington playing a villain role as one of the kidnappers, but there’s also a good chance that he could play one of the lead detectives on the case, given his track record for playing cops. Lee could have a few surprises up his sleeve in this unusual remake.
6The Naked Gun
Liam Neeson Could Be The Face Of A New Franchise
Liam Neeson has had a few minor roles in comedy movies, likeLove ActuallyandThe Lego Movie,as well as cameos in TV shows likeLife’s Too ShortandDerry Girls.When he gets the rare opportunity to make audiences laugh, he invariably proves that he’s a master of dry, deadpan comedy. It’s a shame that it’s taken so long for him to get a starring role in a comedy, but aremake ofThe Naked Gunseems like the perfect project for him. If anyone can follow Leslie Nielsen’s iconic comedy performances as incompetent cop Frank Drebin, Neeson is a strong candidate.
If anyone can follow Leslie Nielsen’s iconic comedy performances as incompetent cop Frank Drebin, Neeson is a strong candidate.
It will be hard to replicate the sheer number of laugh-out-loud moments inThe Naked Gun,and Neeson’s performance is just one piece of the puzzle. He will also need a script bursting with clever wordplay, and it will help if he’s surrounded by sight gags that are just as funny. Fortunately, his supporting cast is shaping up nicely. Fresh from her career-defining performance inThe Last Showgirl,Pamela Anderson is changing gears to take on a comedic role. Underrated character actor Paul Walter Hauser is also in line to play a straight man character opposite Neeson’s funny man role.
5The Chronicles Of Narnia
Greta Gerwig Is Following Barbie With Another Ambitious Adaptation
The Chronicles of Narniaby C. S. Lewis have been popular children’s books ever since their publication in the 1950s, with their most famous big-screen adaptations starting in 2005 withThe Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.Although the three movies in the franchise were all big commercial hits, their critical reputation declined with each sequel. Even the first movie, the highest-rated of the three, leaves some room for improvement. The recent news that Greta Gerwig is working on a remake for Netflix means that the books could get the adaptations they deserve.
Netflix recently announced that theNarniamovie will get an IMAX release
Off the back of her success withBarbie,Gerwig likely had her pick of projects in Hollywood, so her choice to adaptThe Chronicles of Narniasuggests that the project is close to her heart, and that she believes she can do the books justice.Gerwig’sNarniamovieremains cloaked in mystery at this point, withEnola Holmesstar Louis Partridge the only actor announced so far.Casting classic characters like Aslan, Mr. Tumnus and the White Witch will be the first big test. Netflix recently announced that theNarniamovie will get an IMAX release, showing the faith that the streaming platform has in Gerwig’s vision.
4Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos And Emma Stone Are Continuing Their Creative Partnership
AfterThe Favourite, Poor ThingsandKinds of Kindness,Emma Stone is continuing her work with Yorgos Lanthimos, and their next collaboration is already approaching.Bugoniais set to release in November, with Stone playing a powerful pharmaceutical CEO who gets kidnapped by an unhinged conspiracy theorist, played by Jesse Plemons. It’s a remake of the Korean sci-fi comedySave the Green Planet!,which is a first for Lanthimos. He has directed a book adaptation and a movie loosely based on a true story, but never a remake.
10 Great Movie Remakes That Are Nothing Like The Original
Hollywood has a penchant for remaking films, but some reimaginings are so different from the original that they stand on their own.
Save the Green Planet!is a popular comedy, but it isn’t too well-known overseas. With Stone and Lanthimos working together again, there’s every chance they’ll be able to best the original, and Lanthimos' unique style ensures that he won’t be too beholden to it.Yorgos Lanthimos' moviesare characterized by their unsettling atmospheres, which is perfect for his style of dark comedy.Bugoniahas the potential to be just as weird and hilarious asPoor ThingsorThe Lobster.It’s very early, but its release date in November could be an indication that it’s primed as an awards contender for 2026. Given Lanthimos and Stone’s track record, this wouldn’t be a surprise.
3The Wedding Banquet
Lily Gladstone’s Romantic Comedy Has A Lot Of Potential
The Wedding Banquetwas one of Ang Lee’s early hits, before he established himself in the American mainstream with movies likeBrokeback MountainandHulk.It’s a charming comedy about a Taiwanese man living in New York City who marries a Chinese woman to hide his gay relationship from his parents.The Wedding Banquetis still worth watching over 30 years later, but the upcoming remake looks as though it could be even better, as it makes a few interesting changes to the basic premise to spice things up even more.
The Wedding Banquetremake has a great cast, with Oscar-nominee Lily Gladstone andSaturday Night Livecast member Bowen Yang. They play the two spare parts as Kelly Marie Tran and Han Gi-chan’s characters get married to keep the group’s same-sex partnerships a secret from their families. The teaser trailer offers plenty to be excited about before the movie’s April release date. It will be interesting to see Gladstone in a comedic role after she showed her power as a dramatic actor inKillers of the Flower Moon,while Yang is returning to familiar territory after the queer comediesBrosandFire Island.
2Highlander
TheHighlanderfranchise has been dormant for some time now, and this is probably for the best, considering how none of the sequels managed to recapture the bombastic, cheesy fun of the original.Highlander II: The Quickeningholds a score of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the following movies aren’t much better. The first movie is really the only one that still has a following these days, so news of aHighlanderremake starring Henry Cavillis a good way to start fresh. Having shone in a similar fantasy project,The Witcher,Cavill seems like a solid choice.
IfHighlanderis as original and exciting asJohn Wick,it could easily surpass the original.
John Wickfranchise director Chad Stahelski has signed on as the director for theHighlanderremake.It will be his first directing credit beyond the world ofJohn Wick,so it will be interesting to see if Stahelski switches up his style to match his surroundings. He’s shown that he’s a master of action, butHighlanderwill require something a little different. Stahelski has also claimed that he’s working on adaptations of the video gamesGhost of TsushimaandRainbow Six,so clearly he’s ready to branch out. IfHighlanderis as original and exciting asJohn Wick,it could easily surpass the original.
1Frankenstein
Guillermo Del Toro’s Adaptation Could Be The Best Yet
Mary Shelley’sFrankensteinhas had more adaptations than pretty much any other novel, as well as countless movies that take inspiration from theFrankensteinmyth and reinterpret it in new ways.Guillermo del Toro’sFrankensteinlooks like it’s set to take things back to basics, and there could be no better director for the task. Currently, the 1931 Boris Karloff version ofFrankensteinis probably still the best and most iconic adaptation, but del Toro’s remake means this could be about to change. The horror maven has assembled an exciting cast, including Oscar Isaac as the doctor and Jacob Elordi as the monster.
10 Hollywood Remakes Of International Movies That Actually Worked
There’s a justified skepticism surrounding Hollywood remakes of international movies, though several instances prove that they can actually work.
ReadingFrankensteinreveals that most Hollywood adaptations have been misrepresenting the story for decades. The monster isn’t merely a horrifying brute. He’s actually a tender and conflicted creature in need of guidance. Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation could emphasize this side of the character, but the director could also have his own ideas about the direction of the story. As well asFrankenstein,2025 will deliver a remake of 1935’sBride of Frankenstein,with Maggie Gyllenhaal directing Christian Bale as the monster. 80 years later,Frankensteinis taking center stage in Hollywood once again.
