The 13 Greatest Films That Have Yet to Receive a Sequel or Remake

      Here are 13 of the finest films that never received a sequel or a remake — either because their narratives are fully conveyed or because no one wishes to jeopardize their legacy.

      **Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)**

      Credit: William Holden in *Bridge on the River Kwai*, Columbia Pictures

      Who would even consider remaking *The Bridge on the River Kwai*? No one. This classic from 1957, directed by David Lean, featured William Holden, Jack Hawkins, and Alec Guinness portraying British POWs tasked with constructing a bridge for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma.

      There exists a film named *Return from the River Kwai*, which explores similar themes and is based on a book about Australian POWs in Japan. However, its release in the U.S. was blocked after Tri-Star Pictures and Columbia Pictures sued over the use of “River Kwai” in the title.

      Tri-Star and Columbia emerged victorious, with the judge ruling that the name suggested a sequel to *Bridge on the River Kwai*, which it was not.

      **The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)**

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      Brian De Palma’s remarkable *Phantom of the Paradise* didn’t achieve box office success, so it’s not surprising it never got a sequel.

      However, as it has rightfully gained recognition as a cult classic, it’s surprising that it hasn’t been adapted into a stage musical. The film is filled with fantastic songs by Paul Williams, who portrayed Swan. While works like *Point Break*, *Evil Dead*, and *Showgirls* have been adapted for the stage, *Phantom of the Paradise* has not.

      De Palma and producer Ed Pressman were said to have collaborated on a musical version of the film in the 1980s, featuring songs by Jim Steinman, known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Yet, it never materialized.

      Not that we wish for a stage adaptation, as we cherish the movie just the way it is.

      **Citizen Kane (1941)**

      RKO Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Who would risk retelling Orson Welles' masterpiece about the soaring, tragic life of Charles Foster Kane? Absolutely no one. The film's closed narrative arc leaves no possibility for a sequel.

      The closest we get is David Fincher’s beautiful *Mank*, which depicts how screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), inspired by the grandeur of William Randolph Hearst, wrote what many consider the greatest film of all time.

      It’s so consistently listed among the best films ever made that when imagining a sequel that no one would dare attempt, the go-to joke is *Citizen Kane 2*.

      **Annie Hall (1977)**

      Credit: Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in *Annie Hall*, United Artists

      Woody Allen's romantic comedy features the inimitable Diane Keaton as the titular Annie Hall, a struggling nightclub singer, throughout her relationship with comedian Alvy Singer (Allen). It’s been imitated numerous times but never remade.

      Because who could emulate Allen’s distinct style?

      Yet, the question is likely irrelevant. Although Allen has a new film out, *Coup de Chance*, he is unwelcome in many industry circles due to allegations of molesting his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, three decades ago. He denies these claims and has never been charged.

      The closest *Annie Hall* has come to a sequel was an unauthorized short film titled “My Annie Hall,” directed by Matt Starr and Ellie Sachs, which used copyrighted material from *Annie Hall* without permission. Allen could have stopped it but chose to let it proceed.

      His publicist conveyed to *The New York Times* that the director “thought it was funny” and “saw no reason to interfere with those seniors’ enjoyment of life.”

      **Taxi Driver (1976)**

      Credit: Columbia Pictures

      *Taxi Driver* is another film that has seen much imitation — particularly by 2019’s *Joker*, which director Todd Phillips has acknowledged as a tribute to Martin Scorsese's work. This film even features *Taxi Driver* lead Robert De Niro.

      However, no film has matched the excellence of *Taxi Driver*. De Niro has floated the idea of a sequel over time, but why tamper with something flawless? It stands as one of the best films in cinema history.

      Additionally, there is a Korean TV series titled *Taxi Driver*, but it should not be confused with the film.

      **E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)**

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      This Steven Spielberg classic tells the tale of E.T., an extraterrestrial left behind on Earth. E.T. forms a friendship with a young boy named Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, who attempts to help him return home. The film also features Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton,