People are always wary ofremakes, whether they’re video gamesormovies. Just the act of someone taking something they love and creating a new version of it concerns people. As such, upon release, they’re more heavily scrutinized than any original creation.
It doesn’t help that they’re automatically compared to the movie or game they’re based on, which is typically a classic, as bad ones don’t usually get remade. Therefore, most remakes aren’t considered to be very good. Yet, when it comes to movies, there are several ones that manage to release to either critical or audience acclaim. Here are some of the standouts.
These movies have been chosen because of their quality, not by how they compare to the originals they’re based on.
8A Star Is Born (2018)
Four versions of A Star Is Born have been released since the 1930s. The 2018 version stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Cooper plays a famous, drunken musician named Jack, who discovers and falls in love with a young singer called Ally, played by Gaga.
It’s a romance drama containing some wonderful musical performances. In fact, the song Shallow became famous, and even people who had never seen the movie knew the lyrics. However, it is the darker scenes where Jack struggles with his addictions and fledgling career where the movie truly shines.
The original 1978 Dawn of the Dead movie is widely considered to be one of the greatest zombie movies of all time. So, Zack Synder’s 2004 remake had a hefty task to live up to it, but it’s a good film in its own right.
It has the classic zombie movie setup, as it revolves around a group of people trapped amid a zombie apocalypse. Their only goal is to survive the dangerous ordeal. For its time, the visual effects are really good, which allows the zombies to look convincing and scary. Plus, the acting is solid, and there are a bunch of well-executed tense moments.
6Dune (2021)
It’s debatable whether a movie like Dune should really be considered a remake because it’s more of a second attempt to adapt Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel into a film. But it’s close enough to count as one. It’s certainly an excellent film set in the distant future on a desert planet named Arrakis. You follow Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, as the young man is thrust into a war over the planet.
While it comes from the same source material,the 2021 film is very different from the 1984 one in various ways. The production value of this one is certainly higher because the movie both looks and sounds incredible due to the beautiful cinematography and brilliant soundtrack.
5Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
It’s rare for a remake to launch an entire series, but that is exactly what has happened with Ocean’s Eleven. The first of the series is based on the 1960 film of the same name. Like the original flick, Ocean’s Eleven features an ensemble cast.
This ensemble contains the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and more. In the movie, several of them come together to plan a spectacular heist. It’s a very fun and sometimes comical movie, and in classic heist film fashion, it features plenty of twists and turns.
4Heat (1995)
Rarely does someone get a chance to remake their own work. Yet, that is exactly what Michael Mann did with Heat. The original idea was to be used as a TV show pilot, which was later reworked into the TV movie L.A. Takedown. Several years later, Mann reworked the original script to make it a feature film, which would become Heat.
It’s a crime movie about two men. One of them is a dedicated LAPD detective, played by Al Pacino, while the other is a career criminal, portrayed by Robert De Niro. The relationship between the two characters is very compelling, mainly due to the performances of the two acting legends.
3Scarface (1983)
Scarface is one of those films that people either forget or don’t know is a remake. It’s based on the 1932 movie of the same name but has certainly built its own legacy. The crime drama revolves around Tony Montana, who arrives in Miami with nothing to his name. Yet, the man has big dreams and manages to make his way up in the criminal world.
Montana is played by Al Pacino, who delivers one of the most memorable performances in cinema history. He is incredibly compelling throughout the movie. In fact, if the movie only featured him talking to people for two hours, it would still be great. Thankfully, though, there are also plenty of well-constructed and violent action scenes. Plus, some other good characters feature, too.
2Little Women (2019)
There had already been a bunch of Little Women movies prior to the 2019 version, and they are all based on the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. The 2019 version comes from the mind of Greta Gerwig. The story is set in the 1860s and revolves around the lives of a group of sisters. It’s a coming-of-age tale for all of them.
The cast is very impressive. Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen play the sisters. Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, and Meryl Streep also feature in important roles. All of them deliver wonderful performances. Yet, they’re helped by Gerwig’s excellent screenplay that makes a classic story even more emotional and profound.
1The Departed (2006)
For those who don’t know, Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is a remake of 2002’s Internal Affairs. Scorsese’s film features Leonardo DiCaprio playing a state trooper who goes undercover in the mob; simultaneously, the mob has their own guy undercover in the police, played by Matt Damon. It’s an interesting premise that is delivered on brilliantly by Scorsese and his all-star cast. Many scenes are captivating and intense as you wait to see if the two moles discover each other and who does so first.
The movie won Best Picture at the 79th Academy Awards. Admittedly, the Academy hasn’t always got it right when handing out Oscars, asplenty of fantastic movies have missed out over the years, but this film was a deserved winner.
