The student has surpassed the master! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the movie remakes that, against all odds, manage to surpass their source of inspiration. We’re not saying the original movies were bad, but some things are better the second time around.
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00:00 "What am I working on?
00:02 I'm working on something that will change the world and human life as we know it."
00:07 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the movie remakes that,
00:12 against all odds, managed to surpass their source of inspiration.
00:16 We're not saying the original movies were bad, but some things are better the second
00:21 time around.
00:22 "If you play long enough, you never change the stakes.
00:23 The house takes you.
00:25 Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet big and then you take the house."
00:31 Number 10.
00:33 Dune and Dune Part 2 "Dreams make good stories.
00:36 But everything important happens when we're awake.
00:38 Because that's when we make things happen."
00:40 A revolutionary piece of fiction should easily inspire an equally revolutionary adaptation,
00:46 right?
00:47 Well, all we can say is watching Denis Villeneuve's sprawling two-part sci-fi epic just makes
00:52 us wonder how it took this long for a proper visit to Arrakis to see the light of day.
00:57 "Why?
00:58 How long were you never to go?"
01:00 We're not saying David Lynch didn't try back in the 80s, but it's clear Villeneuve's
01:04 ambition and passion made all the difference in bringing the world of Dune to life.
01:09 In fact, the decision to divvy up Frank Herbert's tax-paid dividends, giving us a fully realized
01:14 landscape to get lost in.
01:16 Throw in state-of-the-art CGI, a haunting Hans Zimmer score, and a top-notch ensemble
01:22 cast and the Dune duology is a blockbuster prophecy come true.
01:27 "Lead them to paradise."
01:29 "They said I got you!"
01:32 Number 9.
01:34 Invasion of the Body Snatchers "Lock the door!"
01:37 "They're coming!
01:38 They're coming!
01:39 Help!
01:40 Help!
01:41 They're coming!
01:42 They're coming!
01:43 Listen to me!"
01:44 Like a well-adapted novel, Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers has found its way to the
01:47 big screen on four different occasions.
01:50 The initial outing from 1956 is undoubtedly a classic in its own right, but the premise
01:56 of aliens invading Earth via replication was even more at home in 1978.
02:01 "Officer, I would like to report four bodies in my backyard."
02:05 "You alright?"
02:06 "Wait right there, Mr. Pinnell."
02:07 "How do you know my name?"
02:08 "Hang on, Matthew."
02:09 "I didn't tell you my name!"
02:12 Upgrading the story from a small town to San Francisco, Invasion of the Body Snatchers
02:16 maintains the chilling paranoia that made its predecessor great.
02:21 But an added emphasis on disturbing practical effects brought the material much closer to
02:25 body horror while also making the stakes far more personal.
02:29 It's a taut thriller about the loss of individuality and the dangers of conformity, one that encapsulated
02:35 the uncertainty of a complicated time in history.
02:44 Number 8.
02:45 The Departed
02:46 English language remakes of international movies can be risky.
02:51 When done wrong, they can seriously diminish the value of their source.
02:54 "Oh, whoa."
02:55 "Let's say you have no idea, and leave it at that, okay?
02:58 No idea.
02:59 Zip.
03:00 None."
03:01 "If we had an idea about what we do, we would not be good at what we do, would we?"
03:04 When done well, as The Departed, though, they can elevate the original to a new level of
03:09 prestige.
03:10 That's exactly what Martin Scorsese does with this interpretation of the Hong Kong
03:15 thriller Infernal Affairs.
03:27 Switching the set to Boston, the remake maintains the premise of an undercover cop and a mob
03:32 member attempting to infiltrate each other's organizations.
03:35 But The Departed sets itself apart due to its impressive ensemble cast and staggering
03:40 twists.
03:41 "Do they know about me?"
03:42 "I know about you, Cully.
03:43 You know I'd never give you up."
03:50 It's a dark but thoughtful exploration of complex themes like loyalty and justice, and
03:55 one of Scorsese's absolute best.
03:59 Number 7.
04:00 The True Lies Following the success of Aliens and Terminator
04:11 2, James Cameron went in a decidedly different direction while keeping things on the biggest
04:16 scale possible.
04:17 The remake of the French spy farce La Total finds Arnold Schwarzenegger as globetrotting
04:23 spy Harry Tasker, who keeps his profession a secret from his oblivious yet bored family.
04:29 "Just that there's so much I wanted to do with this life and it's like I haven't
04:34 done any of it.
04:35 And the sand's running out of the hourglass and I just wanted to be able to look back
04:41 and say, 'See?
04:42 I did that.
04:43 I was reckless and I was wild.'"
04:47 It's definitely the kind of movie that requires you to suspend your disbelief, especially
04:52 once Harry wrangles his wife, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, into a fake mission that turns
04:57 into a very real one.
04:59 But True Lies still has plenty going for it, from its over-the-top action sequences to
05:03 the screwball comedy of the two leads.
05:09 Notable for being the first movie made for over $100 million, the results speak for themselves.
05:16 Number 6.
05:17 War of the Worlds Steven Spielberg would go on to helm another
05:26 worthy remake in 2021's West Side Story.
05:32 But when it comes to definitive film adaptations, the legendary director's take on H.G. Wells'
05:38 seminal sci-fi classic has a slight edge.
05:43 Whereas the original from 1953 blends in with other movies that use the threat of invasion
05:48 as a Cold War metaphor, this remake stands out due to its modernized action and unsettling
05:54 parallels to the September 11th attacks.
05:57 This War of the Worlds effectively presents its Martian invaders as singular, unprecedented
06:02 threats that don't distinguish their victims.
06:05 Although the film was criticized for its convoluted ending, it still captures a palpable sense
06:10 of panic as ordinary citizens' way of life is upended in an instance.
06:23 Number 5.
06:24 Scarface Although it makes many of the same points
06:32 as its 1932 predecessor, Scarface takes a wildly different approach to doing so.
06:50 Trading in the streets of Prohibition-era Chicago for the beaches of Miami, this remake
06:54 turns its Italian immigrant protagonist into a Cuban refugee named Tony Montana.
07:00 In one of his most iconic roles, Al Pacino gives life to a violent and vulgar force who
07:05 will do anything to stay on top of the criminal underworld.
07:09 Equally defined by its graphic violence and memorable quotes, Scarface was not widely
07:14 embraced upon initial release, with many criticizing its extravagant deviations from the original.
07:20 Luckily, opinions have softened in subsequent years, with the film's bleak portrayal of
07:34 excess eventually finding a loyal following.
07:38 Number 4.
07:39 The Fly If you think horror can't get weirder than
07:53 the image of a fly's head on a man's body, prepare to bug out.
07:57 Pun very much intended.
07:59 Bringing body horror into the mainstream, David Cronenberg's The Fly refashions the
08:04 1958 B-movie of the same name into a terrifying tragedy.
08:09 Jeff Goldblum assumes the role of an eccentric scientist whose teleportation experiment is
08:14 upended by a rogue insect, and the film is helped greatly by his likable charisma.
08:25 Its sequel parts thought-provoking, disgusting, and sad as Seth Brundle slowly morphs into
08:31 an unrecognizable monster.
08:33 With its unflinching, Oscar-winning makeup making his transformation all the more realistic,
08:38 The Fly easily surpasses its campy origins to become an unforgettable experience.
08:56 Number 3.
08:57 Ocean's Eleven Exactly how do you top a movie that brought
09:07 together the most charismatic men in Hollywood?
09:10 It's simple, bring together the most charismatic men in Hollywood.
09:14 2001's Ocean's Eleven did just that, but took things a step further by matching its
09:19 star power with a more compelling caper.
09:22 The basic premise is still the same, with the titular group of thieves setting their
09:26 sights on a series of Las Vegas casinos.
09:42 But the movie succeeds where the Rat Pack-led original doesn't, thanks to its brisk pace
09:47 and the intricate staging of the central heist.
09:50 Much like George Clooney's Danny Ocean, this is a confident remake that remains one
09:55 step ahead of the audience the whole way.
10:00 Number 2.
10:01 Heat Of all the films on this list, Heat keeps its
10:04 remake roots the most well-hidden.
10:13 You wouldn't know it at first glance, but this crime opus starring Al Pacino and Robert
10:17 De Niro began in earnest as an under-scene TV movie entitled L.A. Takedown.
10:23 Both films depict the cat-and-mouse chase between an overworked police lieutenant and
10:27 a career bank robber, and the trail of devastation the two leave in their wake.
10:47 Heat may have the advantage of a larger budget, but it seizes every chance to craft unrivaled
10:52 action sequences around two iconic leading men at their most intense.
10:57 It's really not hard to see why scenes like the diner exchange and the immortal bank shootout
11:01 fare so much better on the big screen.
11:07 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:11 The Birdcage This remake of a French comedy was a milestone
11:15 for LGBTQ representation.
11:30 True Grit It's hard to top John Wayne, but the Coen
11:33 brothers make it look easy.
11:47 It and It Chapter Two Another remake that benefits from a divided
11:51 story.
12:03 Father of the Bride Somehow even sweeter than the Spencer Tracy
12:07 original.
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12:33 The Thing Although still highly regarded, 1951's The
12:51 Thing from Another World was considerably hampered by how much of its titular antagonist
12:56 it could and couldn't show.
12:59 In comparison, director John Carpenter's 1982 remake brings the otherworldly invader
13:03 to life in all of its horrific glory.
13:10 Following a group of scientists trapped by an alien that can assume each of their appearances,
13:15 it's at once an intriguing mystery and an all-out fright-fest.
13:19 We can't be sure of who to trust from one moment to the next, and the revolutionary
13:28 special effects that help bring the creature to life remain the stuff of nightmares.
13:33 As we've seen, plenty of remakes have improved upon the original, but few have accomplished
13:38 that job as well as this one has.
13:41 Is there a remake you thought surpassed the original?
13:44 Let us know in the comments.
14:02 Thanks for watching.
14:11 (upbeat music)