Fantastic Films That Never Received a Sequel or Remake

      To commemorate the recent Breakfast Club reunion — details to follow — here are 15 outstanding films that never received a sequel or a remake, either because their narratives are fully concluded or because few would risk diminishing their legacy.

      **The 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, features William Holden, Jack Hawkins, and Alec Guinness as British POWs constructing a bridge for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma.

      There exists a film titled Return from the River Kwai, which addresses similar themes and is inspired by a book about Australian POWs in Japan. However, its release in the U.S. was halted after Tri-Star Pictures and Columbia Pictures filed a lawsuit concerning the use of "River Kwai" in the title.

      Tri-Star and Columbia prevailed, with the judge ruling that the title suggested it was a sequel to The Bridge on the River Kwai, which it wasn't.

      **Citizen Kane (1941)**

      RKO Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Who would dare to reimagine Orson Welles’ masterpiece chronicling the rise and fall of Charles Foster Kane? Absolutely no one. The film's closed narrative leaves no space for a sequel.

      The nearest we have is David Fincher’s beautiful Mank, which narrates the story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), who, driven by the opulence of William Randolph Hearst, penned what many consider the greatest film ever created.

      It consistently ranks highly on all-time best movie lists, and any jokes about sequels inevitably refer to Citizen Kane 2.

      **Annie Hall (1977)**

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

      This Woody Allen romantic comedy showcases the incomparable Diane Keaton as the titular Annie Hall, a struggling nightclub singer, as she navigates her relationship with comedian Alvy Singer (Allen). It has been imitated countless times but never remade, as no one could replicate Allen’s distinct style.

      Yet, this discussion may be irrelevant. Even though Allen has a new film, Coup de Chance, he is persona non grata in numerous industry circles due to allegations of having molested his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, three decades ago. He has denied the accusations and was never charged.

      The closest Annie Hall ever got to a sequel was an unofficial short film titled “My Annie Hall,” directed by Matt Starr and Ellie Sachs, which used material from Annie Hall without authorization. Allen could have blocked it but chose to allow it to proceed.

      His publicist remarked 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 inspired many imitations — notably 2019’s Joker, of which director Todd Phillips has openly stated is a tribute to Martin Scorsese. The film even features Robert De Niro, the star of Taxi Driver.

      However, no film has matched the brilliance of Taxi Driver. De Niro has floated the idea of a sequel over the years, but why alter perfection? It stands as one of the greatest films ever made.

      There is also a South Korean TV series titled Taxi Driver, but it’s not to be confused with the film.

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

      Credit: Universal Pictures

      This classic by Steven Spielberg tells the story of an extraterrestrial named E.T. who is stranded on Earth. E.T. befriends a young boy named Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, who helps him find his way home. The cast also includes Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton, and Dee Wallace.

      While Spielberg has made numerous sequels, he has chosen to leave E.T. undisturbed.

      “Sequels can be perilous as they compromise your truth as an artist,” Spielberg explained to the American Film Institute. “I believe a sequel to E.T. would only rob the original of its purity. People only remember the latest installment, overshadowing the original.”

      **The Princess Bride (1987)**

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      This cherished romance by Rob Reiner is, in our view, one of the finest films ever made. It stars Robin Wright and Cary Elwes in a sweeping, fairytale love story infused with action, adventure, and comedy, and it’s among the best films that never had a sequel or remake.

      It’s such a perfect film that we hope its legacy remains untarnished by a remake.

      In 2019, Disney Theatrical Productions mentioned a musical adaptation was in the works, but that was prior to the pandemic disrupting Broadway, and there has been