Hollywood is well known for remaking older movies, and our multiplexes are filled with them year after year. This is especially true in the horror genre, as studios often resurrect older titles to scare new generations of moviegoers. Sometimes, this goes well, as was the case with the John Carpenter-directed remake of The Thing and David Cronenberg's The Fly. But then there are those remakes that are, quite frankly, terrible, with the recent Grudge remake being one notable example.
Some classic horror films need to remain untouched, of course. The Lost Boys and The Exorcist are just two of the horror films that don't need a remake, as their brilliance might never be surpassed. Then there are those that deserve a remake, especially when there is potential for something better. Taking a look at our list below, you might question the need to remake some of them. However, there are also a few films listed that might also warrant a remake. Will they be any good? Only time will tell.
Train To Busan
Train To Busan was one of the best foreign zombie films in recent years, and an American remake is on the way courtesy of Annabelle Comes Home director, Gary Dauberman. The original was an action-packed zombie movie set on a train, but in its father-daughter antagonists, it did have an emotional core.
In an interview with SlashFilm, Dauberman has promised he won't ruin the experience of the original, so this shouldn't be a mindless version of the Korean film. There's no release date for the movie yet and casting hasn't been announced, so let's hope the movie isn't derailed in the production process.
Wrong Turn
Cannibals in the woods horror movie Wrong Turn did well enough to spawn several sequels, although none of the follow-ups were as successful as the original. A new entry in the franchise has now finished shooting, although there is no news of a release date yet.
The new film is titled Wrong Turn: Foundation, and will once again see a group of friends encounter the less-than-friendly inhabitants of Harpers Valley in West Virginia. Formerly presumed to be a sequel, it has been confirmed that the new film is in fact a remake/reboot with The Domestics director, Mike P. Nelson at the helm.
Arachnophobia
There are some films you shouldn't watch if insects bug you out, and the 1990 movie Arachnophobia is one of them. The film centered on a small American town and an invasion of the Arachnid kind, and was a massive hit with movie audiences.
The remake was announced in 2018, although there is no news yet on when the movie will enter the production process. According to Variety, the original director, Frank Marshall will act as executive producer, and the film will be a product of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. To date, no further information has been released, but it is assumed the film is still going ahead. Arachnophobes beware!
Candyman
90s horror movie Candyman has become something of a cult classic, and a remake is on the way in 2021. The film should have been released in 2020, but despite repeating the movie's title in front of a mirror 5 times, it still failed to materialize.
Delays aside, the film should be a good one. Acclaimed director Nia DeCosta is at the helm and Jordan Peele has written the screenplay, so the movie is in safe hands. Of course, not everybody will be in safe hands, and that is the victims of the hook-handed killer. Tony Todd is set to reprise his role, and the horrific action will take place in the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood of the original film.
Firestarter
The world isn't short of Stephen King adaptations, and Firestarter is just one of many slated for release in the next couple of years. The new film hasn't gone before the cameras yet, but it has been announced that Zac Efron will be joining the cast as the father of Charlie, the little girl with psychokinetic powers. Drew Barrymore played the role of the young firestarter in 1984, but there is currently no news on who will be playing the character in the new film.
The original film was one of the better Stephen King adaptations, so there's hope that the new movie's director, Keith Thomas, will set the screen alight with the remake. He only has one other film under his belt, 2019's The Vigil, but as that was a decent effort, fans of the novel can have the peace of the mind that the new film should be a good one.
The Wolfman
There are some classic horror movies that never go out of fashion, and the fur-coated The Wolfman is certainly one of them. Since the monster's hair-raising debut in 1941, we have seen many sequels/remakes over the years, most recently in 2010 with Benicio Del Toro in the title role of the man-beast.
News has emerged that a new remake is on the way with Ryan Gosling in the lead, although a release date hasn't been announced yet. After The Invisible Man, this will be another attempt by Universal to resurrect one of their earlier horror franchises, alongside the other classic movie monster listed below.
Bride Of Frankenstein
The remake of Bride Of Frankenstein is alive and well, but there is still no news on a release date, or on who will be directing the new film. Legendary screenwriter David Koepp has a script in place, however, and as confirmed by Den of Geek, his version of the story will be set in the present day.
After the misstep that was 2017's The Mummy, Universal's first attempt at a franchise of films within the Dark Universe, it is apparent that they are taking a different approach with their new titles. The Invisible Man was a classic story retold with the modern theme of gaslighting, and it might be that the Bride of Frankenstein will offer another interpretation of themes relevant to modern society.
Little Shop Of Horrors
The 1960 horror-musical The Little Shop Of Horrors has already seen one remake, of course. Frank Oz directed Steve Martin in the updated version of Roger Corman's classic film, but it has now been announced that another version of the film is on the way.
Chris Evans is in line to play the role of Orin Scrivello, the dastardly dentist who comes to face to face with man-eating plant Audrey, but there is no news yet on who will be playing wimpy plant store clerk, Seymour. There is no news of a release date either, but expect more information to be fed to you soon.
Children Of The Corn
He who walks behind the rows is set to stalk you again! Stephen King's Children Of The Corn has already seen one televised remake of the 1984 original, but as that wasn't very good, it can only be hoped that the new film is better.
Despite its low budget, the first film was a scary one. Telling the tale of a young couple coming face to face with an army of possessed children, it was yet another film that showed creepy kids in horror films can be far scarier than any CGI-realized monster. The Kurt-Wimmer directed remake has now finished shooting, and a 2021 release date is expected.
The Changeling
The original was one of the most terrifying haunted house movies of the 80s, so it is hoped that the remake will follow suit. Hanna director Anders Engström will be directing the new film, and according to an article at The Things, it will be a reimagining of the classic 1980 movie, with layers of new ideas incorporated into it.
The first film starred George C. Scott as the new inhabitant of a mansion haunted by the ghost of a murdered boy, but there is no news of casting for the remake yet. There is no release date either, but if you were traumatized (in a good way) by the eerie original, you will be glad to hear that pre-production work on the film has begun.