Movie remakes in general can be a hit or miss, and Firestarter, a recent remake of Stephen King's novel, is an unfortunate example of a remake not hitting the mark. While Firestarter may not be doing so well with critics, there are still good movie remakes out there.
Horror movies in particular receive a lot of remakes, possibly thanks to advancements in visual effects. Films such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street are just a few that have received a remake. But there are plenty of other remakes, and Ranker has a great list of horror movie remakes that are fun to watch.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes. Some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
The Mummy (1959)
The first version of The Mummy was released in 1932 and is still adored even today. The costume designs were great for the 1930s, and the acting (including horror legend Boris Karloff) was just as good. Then, in 1959, a remake going by the same name was released.
The Mummy from 1959 was a good film and is still considered a movie that should be watched. However, this one is not exactly a remake. While it uses the same name, the movie's character Joseph Whemple is the only connection it has to the original 1932 film. Despite this, it's still loosely considered a "remake" due to the name of the film and the titular monster.
Cape Fear (1991)
Cape Fear was released in 1962, and its story is dark but captivating all at once and is considered a great film to this day. In 1991, the remake of Cape Fear was released and made quite the impression on viewers.
Starring Robert De Niro and directed by Martin Scorsese, the film takes a bit of a different turn from the original by changing certain aspects of the story. Still, it would keep the overall premise, except for the dark atmosphere that the original had. The movie was well-received by old and new fans and brought new life back to the original 1962 film, and with the stellar cast, it was critically acclaimed as well.
Evil Dead (2013)
The Evil Dead will always be a classic. The 1981 horror film, before it went the horror/comedy route, is a fan favorite and is held in high regard. When a remake was announced, fans were skeptical. Yet when it hit theaters in 2013, many fans were happy with the outcome.
The 2013 remake of Evil Dead is considered one of the scariest in the franchise, and with its effects and scenes, it's no surprise. Gallons of blood were used, and the chase scenes with the demon were intense. Despite some negative feedback, it's still considered a good remake, and it also helped that Bruce Campbell played a role in helping to create this film.
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Wes Craven is considered a master at the craft of horror, and in 1977 he directed The Hills Have Eyes. While this movie is considered disturbing and rather creepy in places, the 2006 remake took it to the next level.
The Hills Have Eyes remake added some graphic and disturbing scenes that really upped the creep factor. The effects and acting were great, especially the costume designs and makeup of the mutants. The films are not for everyone, but the 2006 remake has a lot to offer and received plenty of good reviews.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
The first Dracula film was released in 1931 and, at the time, it was considered to be horrifying. The film was an adaptation of the book of the same title, and in 1992, a remake was made titled Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Francis Ford Coppola's remake presents itself to be more sensual than the original, and this becomes very clear in some of the scenes that take place in the film. However, the acting is phenomenal, and the casting was mostly perfect, especially with Gary Oldman playing the role of Dracula. Fans were delighted with what they saw, and the film is still held in high regard as a great remake, a classic 90s movie, and a fairly loyal adaptation of Bram Stoker's original novel.
The Fly (1986)
The original version of The Fly first came out in 1958 and was considered at the time to be grotesque. Little did they know back then that the remake of the same name would show what grotesque meant with its excellent use of haunting body horror.
The remake of The Fly by David Cronenberg, a master of body horror, was released in 1986, with the main character being played by Jeff Goldblum. The scientist in the remake went by a different name, and there were better special effects and extreme gross-out moments throughout. The 1986 remake became a cult classic and is considered one of Jeff Goldblum’s best roles.
The Ring (2002)
Japanese horror films often have a fantastic atmosphere, lore, story arcs, and characters, and due to the love that many show for Japanese media, some movies have received an English remake. Such is the case with the remake of The Ring.
Despite some viewers being too embarrassed to admit that this movie is a guilty pleasure, the 2002 remake received plenty of good reviews and praise for its creepy atmosphere and disturbing imagery, thanks to director Gore Verbinski. The remake proved that gore is not always needed to make a great and gripping horror.
Dawn Of The Dead (2004)
Dawn of the Dead from 1978 had plenty of gore and great FX work by Tom Savini and, at the time, scared a good amount of viewers. The 2004 sequel of the same name brought in a lot more blood and gore and is considered one of the greatest zombie movie remakes.
The 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead provided audiences with a new and vulgar blood-filled experience. The rush of each scene is intense, with viewers at the edge of their seats. The remake also drew in a new audience and received some excellent reviews from the fans of the original 1978’s film.
IT (2017)
The iconic 1990s mini-series IT was adapted from Stephen King's famous horror novel and was later remade into a movie that broke the box office. Instead of there being a hilarious Tim Curry dressed as a colorful clown, viewers were treated to Bill Skarsgård as a creepy and demonic-looking clown.
IT from 2017 is considered to be a much more brutal version of its predecessor, considering the amount of gore, horrifying images, and disturbing moments that the kids go through. The effects and the amount of time put into each scene show the amount of time dedicated to making it as creepy as possible.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s 1982 film, The Thing, is a classic horror movie with great practical effects and creepy body horror. However, some fans do not know that this is not the first version of the movie.
The Thing is a remake of the 1950s film, The Thing From Another World. John Carpenter, of course, would put his spin on it, and instead of having a singular guy in a mask, John took the extra step and went all out with the alien entity. It didn’t get much attention at the box office on its initial release but would later receive the title of a cult classic due to its horrifying effects (and an iconic F-bomb), and is considered one of the best remakes out there.