A common complaint among moviegoers is the prevalence of shoddy remakes that seem to be merely trying to cash in on nostalgia. On rare occasions, however, movie remakes can exceed the original in both critical acclaim and casual appeal. Users on Reddit have chimed in what movies they believe make the cut, suggesting everything from thrilling heist films to sci-fi classics.
There doesn't appear to be any single essential element that makes a remake better than the original, as commenters have given a variety of justifications for their choices. But f0r cinephiles who want to see which movies broke the mold, these are some of the most popular suggestions.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
One Reddit user, techcritt3r, felt that Ocean's Eleven was clearly better than the original: "I definitely prefer the remake of Ocean's 11. Don't get me wrong I love Frank and the boys, but the 2001 version is more fun."
One of the most important aspects of a great heist movie is its ability to make every little step along the way interesting to viewers. This star-studded cast is overflowing with charisma, and the high stakes are intimately felt by the audience as compelling characters flirt with disaster, and occasionally each other.
True Grit (2010)
Redditor DreadLordNate suggests that the remake of True Grit is better than the original. They say, "True Grit for sure. The original is pretty humdrum John Wayne whatnot - the Coen brothers, in turn, showed what it was supposed to be, and damn was that awesome..."
Being written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen is certainly a great start for any movie, and the pair deliver again on an awesome old-school revenge tale. The film also featured the breakthrough performance of Hailee Steinfeld with one of the most brilliant performances by child actors ever.
Scarface (1983)
One Reddit user, Kyloz, acknowledged that "Scarface from 1983 with Al Pacino is widely considered better than the original 1932 Scarface."
Perhaps they felt no further explanation was needed, as Scarface is widely regarded as an all-time great gangster film, despite initially releasing to a mixed critical reception. Pacino is perfect as the self-proclaimed "bad guy," and is equal parts compelling and abhorrent throughout the film's nearly three-hour runtime.
Heat (1995)
For PatrickKane4LiFE, they felt that the remake of Heat was "The best movie ever made, in my opinion. I mean come on. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, 1990’s Los Angeles, it’s a cops and robbers classic. Not to mention that police shootout scene. I just love the dark tone of the movie."
Watching De Niro and Pacino go toe-to-toe with each other in this intense, moody crime drama is simply an unforgettable experience. While it may or may not be the best movie ever made, there's certainly a good case for it being number one among the best heist movies ever made.
The Departed (2006)
For Redditor slingoo, The Departed edges out the terrific original: "I know some prefer Infernal Affairs, but I just felt everything about The Departed was stellar and top-notch, whereas Infernal Affairs lulled at times."
Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio are caught up in a tireless game of cat-and-mouse that, by the end, turns lethal in Shakespearan fashion. Legendary director Martin Scorsese is in his finest form, as is the stellar cast that also includes Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin.
3:10 To Yuma (2007)
One Reddit user loved the remake of 3:10 To Yuma: "It's one of Bale's best roles in my opinion. Candid, sublime, and rich with subtle details."
While there's fierce competition among Christian Bale's greatest roles, it's certainly a great performance nonetheless. Russell Crowe manages to be a prototypical merciless outlaw without coming off as cheesy or generic. Watching Bale try to deliver Crowe to the law's justice is an extremely entertaining affair, and it's easily one of the greatest Westerns of the last couple of decades.
Evil Dead (2013)
For Redditor outbound_flight, the recent Evil Dead remake surpassed the greatness of the original: "I think the new one having a genuine through-line, creepy visuals, with a hint of that Raimi craziness put it over the top for me."
While the original trilogy is definitely worthy of its cult-classic status, the remake did those films justice with its gory splendor. Many viewers were satisfied with the visceral, terrifying experience on offer, and the 2013 version eschewed much of the original's humor in order to deliver more frightening moments.
The Fly (1986)
MondoUnderground loved watching Jeff Goldblum turn into a giant fly. "Even though I think the original The Fly is superb, I would have to say that I still prefer Cronenberg's version. It's so tragic and so unbelievably well-made."
This film helped expose people to Goldblum's ability to turn his eccentricity into overdrive for an acting role, and his performance was one of the main reasons for the film's enduring success. The horror of witnessing a loved one suffer an incurable condition is explored to its fullest depths, and that horror is expressed through Geena Davis' performance as Goldblum's distraught lover with honest brutality. Fans of the movie should definitely check out the behind-the-scenes facts about The Fly, as it's truly a sci-fi horror masterpiece.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Marcelowit thought the remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was even better than the original: "Being a fan of the original movies I was quite skeptical about the remake and was quite surprised to find it to be a darker and smarter version of the story. There are still some things I like better in the Swedish films but overall Fincher's version is now my favorite."
Rooney Mara was excellent in the role of the brilliant, though unusual hacker/detective Lisbeth Salander, earning her a nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars. David Fincher, the mind behind such box-office blockbusters as The Social Network, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, and Gone Girl, delivers perhaps his finest directorial work in this neo-noir thriller.
The Thing (1982)
For one user, they felt that The Thing was much more interesting the second time around: "The original is good, but Carpenter just took it and ran." Another Redditor, sillycheesesteak, chimed in, saying, "I'm inclined to agree. The music, the special effects, the acting, the pacing, the FLAAAAMETHROWERS! It's one of my favorite movies in general."
While it may have initially received poor reviews, this sci-fi horror film has aged wonderfully, and its influence can be seen in many horror movies released since. Kurt Russell is his usual excellent self as pilot R.J. MacReady, and the relatable fear of being unable to trust anyone is demonstrated to be even more terrifying than the alien invader. It's indubitably one of the best claustrophobic horror movies ever made.