10 Great Movie Remakes

5. The Departed (2006)

This entry is probably going to land me in hot water with Hong Kong cinema fans out there, but I think that The Departed is a film that deserves a solid nod. True, every night there are fights in underground cinema clubs over this very topic, but I’m going to take my chances, especially because I’m undefeated so far. For those more mainstream movie fans, The Departed is a remake of Internal Affairs (also known as Mou Gaan Dou). While fans of the original are outraged over the remake, I can’t really be that surprised. After all, any good foreign film will be remade by Hollywood, and this one just so happens to be one of the best.

4. Casino Royale (2006)

Look, if you really need a definitive example of why Hollywood continues to come out with remakes, it’s because some of them turn out amazing. Few people remember that the first James Bond film was Casino Royale, starring the likes of Peter Sellers and David Niven. The original never really makes it clear exactly who 007 really is. The remake, though, makes it abundantly clear that the new 007 is Daniel Craig. Filled to the brim with awesome chase scenes, brutal fights and a torture scene that makes grown men weep long after their girlfriends have gone to sleep, this is a new Bond for a new generation.

3. Ocean’s 11 (2001)

Since the remake came out in 2001, it’s become fairly common knowledge that the film is based off the 1960s film (there’s just something about remaking movies from the ’60s) starring the Rat Pack. If you don’t know what that is, just know that you’ve made me feel very old. Anyway, this flick is filled with style, charisma, intelligence and some of the hottest male leads in Hollywood. The remake manages to capture the essence of the original with leads that are too cool for school and a sense of humor that manages to make it one of the better movies of the new millennium. Of course, the same can’t really be said for sequels, but this is a remake list, so let’s not talk about them.

2. True Grit (2010)

I remember when I was little and grandpa used to shout about how John Wayne was the greatest thing in the world. He would tell me about how he was a man’s man (whatever that means) and the best actor who ever lived. Well, in my humble opinion, walking funny and saying “Pilgrim” don’t make you the epitome of machismo, and wearing an eye patch shouldn’t win you an Oscar! I’ve tried to re-watch the original after the remake came out and it’s hard to get through the entire thing. Luckily, these days the original comes with plenty of commercial breaks. When in doubt though, just go with the Jeff Bridges version.

1. The Thing (1982)

Of course, I’m talking about the 1982 version and not the 2011 one. This film is pretty much regarded by experts and internet trolls alike as the greatest remake of all time. Of course, the original (The Thing From Another World) didn’t really set the bar too terribly high. Still, The Thing is a hell of a movie. It’s the type of film that will do wonders for your insomnia in that it will leave you suspicious of your cat. Has he left your sight? Is he acting weird? Are those crab legs growing out of his back?! All valid questions you’ll be forced to face after sitting through the John Carpenter horror classic. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, then you’re definitely missing out. It is, after all, one of the best horror remakes of all time.

Honorable Mentions: Little Shop Of Horrors, The Birdcage and Some Like It Hot.

So there you have it, 10 movies that hopefully prove that maybe audiences shouldn’t find remakes so off putting. Of course, there are plenty of terrible ones out there, but there are also some great ones. Let me know in the comments below what your favorite remake of all time is!