Films are one of the best forms of entertainment that can be enjoyed. There is no better lazy day activity to experience than cozying up with a friend or loved one and watching a great movie. The only problem is that some movies are not all that great to start. Many original versions of films really turn out to be flops. This is where remakes come in. Some bad movies are remade, but some great ones are repurposed as well. While the good original versions are tough to beat, there are some remakes that are actually even better than the original. This is not an easy feat to accomplish with really great movies. But there are some remakes that are so exceptional that they are actually more popular and better made than the first try. If you would like to learn about these exceptional second takes, check out these 7 remakes that are better than the original movies.
Dawn of the Dead: 2004
The remake to Dawn of the Dead is based closely on the Romero original. But this version starring Ving Rhames that follows survivors of zombie attacks is a very good watch. They hide out in a shopping mall and this storyline keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers: 1978
This remake is already amazing because of its cast, which includes Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldbum, Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, and Leonard Nimoy. This version has been described as elegant and terrifying at the same time.
Heaven Can Wait: 1978
The original version of this 1978 remake was called Here Comes Mr. Jordan. This was a great storyline, but the remake directed by Warren Beatty is much better, which is slanted as a warmly received romcom. The remake beautifully portrays a quarter back, who is taken 47 years before his time by an angel that made a huge error in timing.
True Grit: 2010
In the 1969 film adaptation of the True Grit novel by Charles Portis, John Wayne gives a stellar performance that earned him an Oscar. But the 2010 remake was able to capture the essence of the novel in a way that the original film failed to do so. Hailee Steinfield and Jeff Bridges also have great on screen chemistry in the remake and give amazing performances as well.
Ocean’s Eleven: 2011
The amazing series that started with the Ocean’s Eleven remake is really iconic now as far as films go. The director Steven Soderbergh chose a top-notch cast for the remake, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Elliot Gould. With this line up, the remake was always destined to be better than the original.
The Thing: 1982
The original was called The Thing From Another World, and it has now become just another cheesy Sci Fi movie from the 1950’s. This version called The Thing directed by John Carpenter is even more complex and riveting. It is spun as a more paranoid and beautifully created horror film.
Scent of a Woman (1992)
The original movie that laid the foundation for Scent of a Woman is called Profumo Di Donna, a 1974 Italian film directed by Dino Risi. It garnered many Italian awards, and two Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Language and Best Adapted Screenplay. But the remake by Martin Brest gets a bit more clout for its amazing performance by Al Pacino and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
