Hollywood’s obsession with revisiting classic tales and iconic films goes back several decades. Yet, for every well-made reboot or remake that really does recreate the magic, many, many movies fell painfully short, making viewers yearn for a rewatch of the original instead. Either there were misguided creative decisions, poorly executed visions or excessive interference by the studio — whatever the case, they manage to turn beloved stories into cinematic disappointments. Here are some of the worst movie remakes we have had the misfortune of watching.
In 2024 itself, we have seen many remakes, including Dune: Part Two (a two-part remake of David Lynch’s 1984 movie, Dune), which is one of the highest-grossing movies of the year so far and Road House (a remake of the 1989 movie of the same name), while movies like the upcoming vampire flick Nosferatu (a remake of the 1922 horror movie) are yet to arrive.
What movies made it to the list?
The list of the worst remakes includes Peter Pan (2003), a live-action fantasy movie based on the classic fairy tale character created by J. M. Barrie in the early 20th century. It was, thus, a remake of the Disney animated classic Peter Pan (1953), which completely failed to recapture the whimsical charm that made the original so good.
Also on the list is Carrie (2013), a remake of Brian De Palma’s 1976 horror classic based on Stephen King’s iconic 1974 novel. The lead actress, Chloë Grace Moretz, gives the film her all but sadly, the movie itself does not have the same psychological depth and suspense that made the original so terrifying. The modernised elements also seem forced.
The movie list is courtesy of a study by Spin Genie.
Hollywood’s hall of shame: Top worst movie remakes in cinematic history
Peter Pan (2003)
Original movie: Peter Pan (1953)
IMDb rating: 6.8
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 77 per cent
Directed by: P. J. Hogan
Cast: Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Olivia Williams
Movie duration: 1 hour 53 minutes
Synopsis: A live-action adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s beloved tales is about the adventures of a boy called Peter Pan (Sumpter) who never grows up and spends his time on a mythical island called Neverland. He leads Wendy Darling (Hurd-Wood) and her brother to the place and they encounter the mischievous Lost Boys, the evil Captain Hook (Isaacs) and the fairy Tinker Bell.
Why it was unsuccessful: There is clearly some visual flair here and a definite vision, but it is sadly quite muddled in its execution. The poor CGI quality does not help either.
Carrie (2013)
Original movie: Carrie (1976)
IMDb rating: 5.8
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 50 per cent
Directed by: Kimberly Peirce
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Gabriella Wilde, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday
Movie duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Synopsis: A modernised adaptation of one of Stephen King’s finest horror novels, Carrie (1974), this movie follows the story of Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz). A shy and submissive high school girl, Carrie has telekinetic powers. She is relentlessly bullied by her classmates and her powers is seen as satanic by her extremely religious mother, Margaret (Moore). After a cruel prank is played on her by the most committed of her bullies, Chris Hargensen (Doubleday), Carrie loses control and unleashes her terrifying powers on not only her tormentors but anyone who comes across her.
Why it was unsuccessful: Although well-acted, this movie did not communicate the depth of Carrie’s character which was the hallmark of the original movie starring Sissy Spacek. It also does not have the emotional intensity that made us relate to the character despite her distant, destructive nature.
House of Wax (2005)
Original movie: House of Wax (1953)
IMDb rating: 5.5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 28 per cent
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Van Holt, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki
Movie duration: 1 hour 53 minutes
Synopsis: Again a modern reimagining of the 1953 classic (which, itself, was a remake of the 1933 movie, Mystery of the Wax Museum), this movie follows a group of people, Carly Jones (Cuthbert), her brother Nick (Murray), her boyfriend Wade (Padalecki) and other friends who are on a road trip. They encounter a mysterious museum of wax where the figures appear to be disturbingly lifelike. Soon enough, they are fighting for their lives. Will they survive or add to the museum’s ever-increasing number of exhibits?
Why it was unsuccessful: The movie has some impressive set design and a couple of genuinely creepy moments. But all the good stuff therein is vastly overshadowed by overreliance on gore. Also, the characters are not developed enough for us to care about them even as they die one by one.
Christopher Robin (2018)
Original movies: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) and Winnie the Pooh (2011)
IMDb rating: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 72 per cent
Directed by: Marc Forster
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Jim Cummings, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss
Movie duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
Synopsis: In a sort of sequel to the original Winnie the Pooh stories, Christopher Robin (McGregor), the human friend of Pooh and other inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood is all grown up. And thanks to the pressures that come with adulthood like work, he has forgotten his childhood link to the place. When his old friend, Pooh (Cummings) turns up in London, Christopher goes on a journey back to Hundred Acre Wood to reconnect with his past and reacquire the imagination he had as a kid.
Why it was unsuccessful: Despite impressive CGI and some truly heartfelt moments, this movie feels like a cash grab. Additionally, it does not have the decency to be fun and buoyant. It is too melancholic for some strange reason. It is more sombre and enchanting, totally missing the poignancy-laden joyous tone of the original movies and stories.
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Original movie: Planet of the Apes (1968)
IMDb rating: 5.7
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 43 per cent
Directed by: Tim Burton
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth, Michael Clarke Duncan
Movie duration: 2 hours
Synopsis: One of the most visually inventive filmmakers, Tim Burton reimagines of the 1968 sci-fi classic. It follows astronaut Leo Davidson (Wahlberg), who crash-lands on a strange planet ruled by what seem to be intelligent apes. He finds allies in a sympathetic chimpanzee named Ari (Carter) and a group of enslaved humans. Together, they have to fight for survival and challenge the ape dominion. Leo’s wish to return home is now intertwined with the struggle for humanity’s freedom on this frankly quite bizarre planet. The film then throws in a twist ending that recontextualises everything you thought you knew.
Why it was unsuccessful: Burton wanted to put a fresh spin on the original story, but it resulted in a convoluted plot due to a poorly structured plot and a toothless script. Watch the original movies or the new trilogy starring Andy Serkis instead.
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The Amityville Horror (2005)
Original movie: The Amityville Horror (1979)
IMDb rating: 5.9
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 24 per cent
Directed by: Andrew Douglas
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, Jesse James, Jimmy Bennett, Chloë Grace Moretz
Movie duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Synopsis: This remake of the 1979 horror film is allegedly based on a true story. It follows a newly married couple, George (Reynolds) and Kathy Lutz (George), who score a dream house on Long Island for a suspiciously low price. They move in with their kids. But then, they begin to experience terrifying supernatural events. Strange occurrences plague the Lutzes — creepy voices, ghostly apparitions and unsettling behaviour in their children. To add to the nightmare, the house holds a dark secret: a year prior, the DeFeo family was brutally murdered there. As the hauntings escalate, they discover a connection to a demonic presence tied to the home’s history.
Why it was unsuccessful: The story had potential (even if you are not convinced of the veracity of the events), but it is simply a poorly directed movie. Predictable jump scares abound. All in all, a forgettable horror movie. The claim that it is one of those horror movies that are based on true stories turns out to be just a marketing gimmick.
Death Race (2008)
Original movie: Death Race 2000 (1975)
IMDb rating: 6.4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 41 per cent
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Cast: Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Joan Allen
Movie duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Synopsis: A remake of the 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000, the setting is 2012 United States. The economy has collapsed, and due to ever-increasing crime, prison system in the country has been privatised. One such prison, Terminal Island Penitentiary, organises the ‘Death Race’, a vehicular combat series which is broadcast over the internet for millions. The race sees heavily armoured vehicles outfitted with weapons tear through a track, with inmates fighting to the death for a chance at freedom. An ex-con Jensen Ames (Statham) is seemingly framed for the murder of his wife and finds himself in Terminal Island Penitentiary. He, like other inmates, is forced to compete in the ‘Death Race’. His aim is also to uncover the truth behind his wife’s murder.
Why it was unsuccessful: While the original was a darkly satirical take on the relationship between violence and entertainment, the remake opts for a straightforward action approach. It is because of this that it loses much of the original’s satirical edge. The action is there, and Statham is as always very watchable. However, the remake lacks social commentary and the gallows humour that made the original a cult favourite.
The Jackal (1997)
Original movie: The Day of the Jackal (1973)
IMDb rating: 6.4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 24 per cent
Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones
Cast: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora
Movie duration: 2 hours 4 minutes
Synopsis: This movie is quite a loose remake of the iconic 1973 thriller The Day of the Jackal, which was an adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel of the same name. The story is about an anonymous assassin known only as The Jackal (Willis). He is hired to kill a high-profile target, possibly, though not certainly, the FBI Director. Since time is running out, FBI Deputy Director Carter Preston (Poitier) has to hire the services of an imprisoned ex-IRA operative Declan Mulqueen (Gere), who may be the only one with a lead on the Jackal’s identity. They team up to stop the assassin before it’s too late. A game of cat and mouse ensues as the FBI and the Jackal race against time.
Why it was unsuccessful: Despite a great cast, the film is unable to capture the tension of the original. The plot with its modernised elements and high-tech gadgetry feels out of place with the movie’s mostly old-school look and feel. It is a lacklustre thriller that pales in comparison to its predecessor (which is still very watchable).
The Parent Trap (1998)
Original movie: The Parent Trap (1961)
IMDb rating: 6.7
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 87 per cent
Directed by: Nancy Meyers
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix
Movie duration: 2 hours 8 minutes
Synopsis: This movie was the remake of the 1961 Disney classic of the same name. The original movie was an adaptation of an adaptation of the 1949 German novel Lisa and Lottie by Erich Kästner. The story follows identical twins Annie and Hallie (both played by Lohan) who are separated at birth and meet for the first time at summer camp. They concoct a plan to switch places in order to reunite their estranged parents.
Why it was unsuccessful: The movie features an excellent performance (or shall we say performances?), by the debutante Lohan and is actually not that bad at all. It does lack the timeless charm and wit of the original.
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
Original movie: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
IMDb rating: 6.4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 51 per cent
Directed by: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, John Turturro, James Gandolfini
Movie duration: 1 hour 46 minutes
Synopsis: This movie is a remake of the 1974 thriller, titled The Taking of Pelham One Two Three — which was an adaptation of a 1973 novel of the same name by Morton Freedgood. The novel also got a TV movie adaptation in 1998. A New York City subway dispatcher, Walter Garber (Washington), finds himself in the middle of a hostage situation when a group of armed men led by Ryder (Travolta) hijack a train. Garber becomes the authorities’ only connection to the situation. As he negotiates with Ryder, he must outwit the criminals and use his knowledge of the subway system to save the passengers.
Why it was unsuccessful: Despite powerful performances by Washington and Travolta, the film’s flashy direction and over-the-top action sequences couldn’t capture the gritty, grounded realism of the original. This approach resulted in a disjointed remake.
(Hero image: Courtesy of Michael Gibson – © 2012 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc/ Sony Pictures/ IMDb; featured image: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox/ IMDb)
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore
