All Quiet On The Western Front has been released on Netflix to huge critical acclaim. It currently sits at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a very good modern adaptation of a classic WW1 book. However, despite this acclaim, it still sits behind the original 1930 film, which sits at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Many great remakes have failed to hit their predecessor's heights, including 2021's West Side Story. However, sometimes a film can be remade so well, it is more well-received than the original film. This has happened throughout cinematic history.

Footloose

1984: 52%

2011: 68%

Two side by side images from the 1984 and 2011 Footloose movies of the two couples

An iconic piece of '80s pop culture, Footloose is renowned for its plot about a small town that has banned dancing and its attempts to overturn it. Featuring an iconic cast and soundtrack, the film was remade in 2011, and it actually was more well-received by critics, sitting at 68% compared to the original's 52%.

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While critics were more favorable toward the remake, audiences showed a clear preference for the original. The remake follows the story very closely, which shows that the original is more well-liked today as well. It was simply a film that critics did not like at the time that is well-liked now.

True Grit

1969: 89%

2010: 95%

1969 and 2010

1969's True Grit is a John Wayne movie that follows the basic points of a typical John Wayne movie. However, it did differentiate as it was one of the few times Wayne did something other than his usual lawman type, playing a character that was dirtier. It worked out, earning him his only Oscar. Over 40 years later, Jeff Bridges would get nominated for the same role in the 2010 remake that says its own title in the film.

The 2010 remake sits at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the original 89%. The 2010 version is considered more faithful to the source material, bringing more attention to Mattie Ross, while the original rides on audiences liking John Wayne movies. Both have earned spots in popular culture history.

Pete's Dragon

1977: 56%

2016: 88%

1977 and 2016

Disney has an interesting track record with its live-action remakes, but sometimes they absolutely strike gold. In 2017, they remade Pete's Dragon, a '70s musical film that was praised for its animation but criticized for its overlong story. The remake reimagined the film, trimming its length and making it a straight-up drama rather than a musical. The result was a film that was much more warmly received.

While the original film currently sits at 56%, the remake sits at 88%. Critics noted that the film was able to retain the original charm without making it as long. Unlike other Disney remakes, this film took a lesser-known film in its catalog and gave it a modern makeover, creating a better film in the process.

The Great Gatsby

1949: 33%

1974: 39%

2013: 48%

1949, 1974 and 2013

The first Great Gatsby film was made in the 1920s but has been lost for years, leaving three theatrical releases. The most recent one was the Leonardo DiCaprio version, a film praised for its style but criticized for its story and currently holds 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. Earlier versions starring Alan Ladd and Robert Redford sit at 33% and 39%, many also seeing them as poor adaptations.

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Adapting one of the great American novels is a hard task to pull off and all three of these films gave a valiant effort. However, the Baz Luhrmann version was the most visually pleasing, even if it did take away from the story's heart. Perhaps one day there will be a great film based on The Great Gatsby, but these versions can be entertaining, regardless.

[Judge] Dredd

1995: 22%

2012: 79%

1995 and 2012

When Judge Dredd was released in 1995, both critics and audiences hated it, calling it a failed and unfaithful adaptation of the source material and one of the worst films of Sylvester Stallone's career. Luckily for Dredd fans, a remake in 2012 came out that, in addition to being one of the best non-Marvel/DC comic book films, was much more faithful to the source material and was more well-received. as well.

While the original film sits at 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2012 film sits at 79%. Neither was very successful at the box office, as Dredd is a more niche comic book, but the 2012 version has become a cult classic over the years. There have been talks about having Karl Urban reprise his role sometime, and fans of the film would really like that.

Freaky Friday

1976: 70%

2003: 88%

1976 and 2003

The original Freaky Friday was a well-received and charming film with a great early performance by Jodie Foster. However, some saw it as to safe for its own good, and it ended up scoring a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. While Disney did revisit the plot for TV, the official theatrical remake in 2003 was incredibly well received, with a well-matched duo of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

The 2003 version is currently at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, a lot of that coming down to the chemistry between the leads. The remake took more risk as well, as shown by its PG rating. Lohan and Curtis have both said they would like to do a sequel, and they are not the only ones that would like a follow-up.

The Ten Commandments

1923: 83%

1956: 84%

1923 and 1956

Sometimes, a filmmaker will revisit their work when better technology is available. This is what happened with Cecil B. Demille when he remade his 1923 silent black-and-white epic The Ten Commandments as a full-fledged technicolor spectacle in 1956. Starring Charlton Heston, the film is considered one of the best biblical epics and is still shown around Easter to this day.

The remake currently sits at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, one point higher than the original. Both films are incredibly impressive, with the parting of the Red Sea being a highlight in both. The silent one is shorter, but also has an unrelated "modern" storyline that is completely removed from the remake. Both films are worth watching.

Oceans 11

1960: 48%

2001: 83%

1960 and 2001

A prime example of a film universally considered better than the original, 2001's Oceans Eleven took the ideas of the original Rat Pack film and improved upon them in nearly every way. Featuring an all-star cast, the wildly entertaining film led to two sequels and a spinoff focused on Danny Ocean's sister, Ocean's 8.

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While the original sits at 48%, the remake is currently at 83%. The original still has its merit, with the effortless coolness of the Rat Pack being a highlight, but the remake surpassed it in every way. It did what a remake should do, taking a film that had promise and turning it into something better.

Pet Sematary

1989: 51%

2019: 57%

1989 and 2019

2019's Pet Sematary divided audiences and critics. While many did believe the film was scary, a lot did not like its changes to the story. However, despite that, it still was praised as a better film than the original 1989 adaptation of the Stephen King novel. It sits at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the original 51%.

Stephen King has had many of his books turned into classic films, but neither one of these films lives up to that. However, both are entertaining films. The original still has a cult following to this day, while the remake takes the story in its own direction, with mixed results.

About Last Night

1986: 61%

2014: 69%

1986 and 2014 version

The original About Last Night is not on the same level as The Breakfast Club or St. Elmo's Fire in terms of pop-culture impact, but it is still a widely remembered and fun showcase of '80s talent. The 2014 remake was also a fun movie, this time as a showcase for Kevin Hart, who was at the height of his powers at the time. The film sits at 69%, compared to the original's 61%.

The chemistry of Hart and Regina Hall was noted by critics, as was the film drifting even further from the original source material. This gave the film its own feel, making it a film worth watching. Now, both films can exist and have their own merit, without feeling like carbon copies of each other.

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