10 Films That Warrant Remakes

      We understand that you're weary of Hollywood remakes and hope studios would prioritize original ideas.

      However, some films genuinely warrant remakes. A few had intriguing concepts that didn’t translate well to cinema, while others come from source materials that merit broader adaptation.

      These are the exceptional films that truly deserve remakes to fulfill their potential.

      **Black Widow (1987)**

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      The original Black Widow — distinct from the Marvel film featuring Scarlett Johansson — is a compelling neo-noir tale about a Department of Justice official (Debra Winger) who becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman (Theresa Russell) known for seemingly killing her spouses.

      So, why a remake? What’s the need to alter something that's already good?

      In this instance, the original Black Widow contains a sapphic subtext that wasn’t fully explored in the 1988 film. In today's more progressive climate, a remake could delve deeper into the nature of the women's attraction to one another.

      **The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen**

      Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

      The original League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, based on the comics by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, features one of the most exciting concepts in cinema: a group of classic literary characters, such as Allan Quatermain, Nemo, Mina Harker, Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and Tom Sawyer, unite for Victorian-era steampunk adventures.

      Unfortunately, the film received negative reviews and exhibited character imbalance: Sean Connery, playing Quatermain, was the most notable star, but his hefty salary limited the casting of other major actors in pivotal roles.

      Picture a contemporary adaptation filled with a balanced ensemble of stars who are also talented character actors, like Cate Blanchett, Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, Daniel Kaluuya, Bill Murray… you get the picture.

      We would be thrilled to see this intellectual property in Wes Anderson’s hands.

      **John Carter (2012)**

      Credit: Disney

      One of the earliest intellectual properties, inspired by the creator of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter was poorly received when it was adapted into a film in 2012.

      Most of Burroughs' stories in the John Carter collection included "of Mars" in their titles, and simply naming the film John Carter offered no clue to potential viewers about its content. This was just the tip of the iceberg regarding the film’s promotional problems — according to Michael Cavna from the Washington Post, it was one of Hollywood's “biggest marketing flops ever.”

      Taylor Kitsch portrayed John Carter well, but the film failed to convey what made John Carter special — a century-old science fiction work that inspired numerous future projects, including Star Wars. The film deserved to be treated like an epic cinematic showcase of a literary classic — akin to the Lord of the Rings films — but instead, it received indifference.

      The film’s hefty budget makes it unlikely for anyone to revisit it soon. However, the source material is strong enough that it warrants another attempt, with the past issues resting in its execution.

      **World War Z (2013)**

      Credit: Paramount Pictures

      World War Z is an entertaining movie and a decent zombie action film featuring Brad Pitt. It excelled at the box office, grossing over $500 million.

      Nevertheless, the novel by Max Brooks from 2006 that inspired the film is significantly superior: it uses a zombie outbreak as a framework to critique geopolitics, societal failures, and human nature itself. The book is a gripping read that holds a lot of insight.

      World War Z could easily transform into a multi-season HBO series, reminiscent of Game of Thrones. Its superficial similarities to HBO’s The Last of Us and AMC’s The Walking Dead might hinder or benefit it.

      The Hollywood Reporter states that Paramount, recently under new management, is considering an update of World War Z among potential reboots or remakes.

      **Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)**

      Credit: STXfilms

      The 2017 movie drew inspiration from the French science fiction comic series Valérian and Laureline, created by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières. Since its 1967 debut, the series has garnered a devoted fanbase, but something was lost in Luc Besson's big-screen adaptation.

      The film follows Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) as they journey to Alpha, a sprawling city inhabited by diverse alien species, encountering a threat that could annihilate the universe.

      Besson, who personally funded the approximately $180 million film, had previously achieved success with the audacious sci-fi epic The Fifth Element, so expectations were high.

      However, Valerian failed to captivate at the box office, receiving mixed reviews, albeit some appreciated Besson’s ambitious effort. A. O. Scott from The New York Times remarked that the film “