Sign in to your Collider account
Hollywood has a habit of digging up old classics, dusting them off, and trying to sell them to a new generation—whether audiences want them or not. While some remakes like The Departed or It manage to justify their existence by bringing a fresh perspective, others crash and burn, either because they fail to capture the original’s magic or because they simply never needed to be remade in the first place. Time and time again, studios have taken beloved (or even just mildly successful) films and churned out expensive, uninspired copies that audiences reject outright.
The following movies are prime examples of remakes that flopped hard at the box office, proving that bigger budgets and modern effects don’t always mean success. Whether it was unnecessary remakes like Point Break and Red Dawn or misguided attempts to modernize award-winning classics like Ben-Hur, these films were met with critical and public disdain, as well as financial disaster.
10 'Flatliners' (2017)
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev
A remake of the 1990 sci-fi thriller, Flatliners follows a group of medical students, played by Elliot Page, Diego Luna, and Nina Dobrev, who experiment with near-death experiences to gain insight into the afterlife. Each student voluntarily stops their heart for a short period, only to be revived moments later. Initially, the experiment grants them heightened abilities and a sense of euphoria, but soon, they start experiencing terrifying hallucinations connected to their past sins. As their visions grow increasingly real and dangerous, the group realizes they’ve unleashed something sinister, and their experiment has deadly consequences.
The original Flatliners wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it had a unique concept, a terrifying setting in a college, and a strong cast, including Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon and Kiefer Sutherland, making it a cult film. The remake, however, failed to bring anything new to the table. Instead, it delivered a watered-down, forgettable thriller that neither improved upon nor justified revisiting the story. The film was met by poor reviews, earning a dismal 4% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences simply weren’t interested in a pointless remake, and the movie flatlined at the box office, with the original besting the remake.
Flatliners
Release Date September 29, 2017
Runtime 108 Minutes
-
-
Steve Byers
Nelson Wright
-
Charlotte Mckinney
David Labraccio
-
9 'Red Dawn' (2012)
Directed by Dan Bradley
Image via FilmDistrict
The Red Dawn remake follows a group of teenagers who form a resistance when North Korea suddenly invades the United States, starting with Spokane, Washington. The teens, calling themselves the Wolverines, engage in guerrilla warfare to fight off the occupying forces, using their small-town survival skills to take on a much larger military force. The film stars Chris Hemsworth (who shot this movie before Thor), Josh Hutcherson, and Josh Peck.
The original 1984 movie starring up-and-coming actors like Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen was just an IP in MGM's bank that needed to make the studio money. However, MGM declared bankruptcy before the film's release, leading to delays and a significant change where North Korea replaced the original villain, China, in order to attract the lucrative Chinese box office. Without an urgent political context like in the 80s, the movie looked silly and was highly unnecessary. The movie suffers from weak storytelling and generic action sequences, ultimately made it fail to recoup its budget at the box office.
Red Dawn (2012)
Release Date March 15, 2012
Runtime 93 minutes
-
-
-
Josh Hutcherson
Robert Kitner
-
Isabel Lucas
Erica Martin
8 'The Wicker Man' (2006)
Directed by Neil LaBute
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
The Wicker Man, a remake of the 1973 British folk horror classic, follows Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage), a policeman investigating the disappearance of a young girl on a secluded island. As he digs deeper into the community, he uncovers a bizarre matriarchal society that worships ancient pagan traditions. The more he searches for the missing girl, the more disturbing the island’s secrets become. The movie gains notoriety for a scene where Cage screams “Not the bees!” as a swarm of bees engulfs him.
Even before the release, the original movie's director and star, Robin Hardy and Christopher Lee already derided the idea of a remake. While the original Wicker Man was a slow-burning psychological horror masterpiece, the 2006 remake was just a regular horror film with jump scares and awkward dialogues. Nicolas Cage’s over-the-top performance turned what should have been a tense thriller into absurdity, spawning memes on the internet. Cage himself has expressed that the film was indeed absurd. The film itself was panned by critics. flopped at the box office and is considered one of the worst horror movies of the 2000s.
7 'The Hustle' (2019)
Directed by Chris Addison
A gender-swapped remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Hustle follows two con artists, Josephine (Anne Hathaway), a sophisticated and calculated schemer, and Penny (Rebel Wilson), a loud and brash small-time swindler—who join forces to scam wealthy men on the French Riviera. Despite their different styles, they form an uneasy partnership, eventually making a bet to see who can con a tech millionaire out of his fortune first.
Similar to Red Dawn, the movie was part of MGM's plan to monetize its IP library. Aside from the always reliable Hathaway and hilarious Wilson, The Hustle is that it brings nothing new to the table. The original film has sharp writing aided by fantastic performances from Michael Caine and Steve Martin, making it one of the best movies about con-artists. The remake suffers from a lazy script, unoriginal gags, and lackluster execution that make it feel like a lifeless cash grab. It flopped at the box office, barely making a profit, and was quickly forgotten, making this a lesson in remaking classic movies for studios.
The Hustle
Release Date May 10, 2019
Runtime 94 minutes
6 'Conan the Barbarian' (2011)
Directed by Marcus Nispel
A remake-reboot of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, Conan the Barbarian follows a young Conan (Jason Momoa) as he embarks on a brutal quest for revenge after his village is massacred by the warlord Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang). Alongside a warrior monk (Ron Perlman) and a mysterious woman (Rachel Nichols), Conan fights his way to stop Zym from unleashing an ancient evil.
This remake failed because it misunderstood what made the original film so beloved and rewatchable. The movie was also a result of studio interference, that director Marcus Nispel felt that he wasn't able to fully realize his vision. Momoa had the physicality for the role, but the film’s weak script and generic dialogue gave him little to work with. Additionally, the CGI-heavy effects stripped away the raw, practical appeal of the original. With a budget of $90 million, Conan the Barbarian flopped hard, grossing only $63 million worldwide. As a result, plans for a sequel, a spin-off and even a legacy sequel with Schwarzenegger were abandoned.
5 'Psycho' (1998)
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Image via Universal Pictures
Gus Van Sant’s Psycho is practically a shot-for-shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film, with the same story Marion Crane (Anne Heche) steals money and hides out in the eerie Bates Motel, where she meets the socially awkward Norman Bates (Vince Vaughn). The film also stars Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen and William H. Macy.
This remake is often considered one of the most unnecessary films ever made. The new film didn’t reimagine Psycho but simply recreated it in color, making it one of the most bizarre experiments in cinema. Several changes that were made to modernize and recontextualize the classic weren't enough. The result was a strange, soulless copy that lacked the tension, performances, and artistry of Hitchcock’s version. The film was a box office flop, earning just $37 million against a $60 million budget, proving that some classics should just be left alone.
4 'The Crow' (2024)
Directed by Rupert Sanders
Image via Lionsgate
Full transparency here, this one isn't literally a remake. Directed by Rupert Sanders, The Crow is a modern reimagining of the source material that inspired the 1994 cult classic. This version of The Crow stars Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven, a musician who, along with his fiancée Shelly, is brutally murdered by a gang. But death isn’t the end for Eric—he is resurrected by a supernatural crow and embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance against those who took everything from him.
One of the biggest reasons the new film feels unnecessary is that the original film already achieved cult status, which was in part because of Brandon Lee’s hauntingly powerful performance and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. This picture, however, feels like a hollow attempt to capitalize on a dormant IP without adding anything truly fresh or meaningful. Additionally, the film's journey to the screen has been plagued by development hell, constant delays, and fan skepticism. It doesn't help that Skarsgård distanced himself from the movie.
The Crow
Release Date August 23, 2024
Runtime 111 Minutes
3 'Point Break' (2015)
Directed by Ericson Core
In the 2015 remake of Point Break, instead of being set in California, this version follows FBI agent Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) in a globe-trotting mission infiltrating a group of eco-terrorists led by the enigmatic Bodhi (Edgar Ramírez). Bodhi’s crew is not only surfing but also flying with wingsuits and snowboarding as they attempt to complete a set of extreme challenges tied to a philosophy of balance with nature.
The original Point Break directed by Kathryn Bigelow is beloved for its thrilling action spearheaded by Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze’s chemistry. The 2015 remake, however, turned the film into a bland, action flick, replacing emotional stakes with generic CGI-heavy stunts. The film’s performances were not as impactful as the Reeves-Swayze duo, and critics dismissed it as another unnecessary remake. The film barely broke even, while its copycat, The Fast and the Furious had spawned a successful franchise.
Point Break
Release Date December 3, 2015
Runtime 113 minutes
2 'Ben-Hur' (2016)
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), the Ben-Hur remake is an attempt to revive the classic 1959 epic for modern audiences. The film follows Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a Jewish prince in ancient Rome who is betrayed by his adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell) and sentenced to a life of slavery. After surviving years of hardship, Judah returns to confront his brother and seek revenge.
The remake was bound to fail because of the predecessor's towering legacy, a cinematic achievement that received 11 Academy Awards. Even with the aid of modern technology and CGI, the remake fails to evoke the same sense of awe as the 1959 version starring Charlton Heston. The film focuses too much on the action and spectacle, forgetting to give its characters compelling emotional journeys. The 2016 version failed to find an audience, proving that some stories, particularly grand epics, are better left untouched.
Ben-Hur
Release Date April 19, 2016
Runtime 123 Minutes
1 'Oldboy' (2013)
Directed by Spike Lee
Image via FilmDistrict
A remake of Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed film, Oldboy follows Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin), a man mysteriously imprisoned in a hotel room for 20 years, only to be released without explanation. As he searches for answers and seeks revenge, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that ties back to his past. Directed by Spike Lee, the film also stars Elizabeth Olsen and Sharlto Copley.
The remake fell flat because it struggled to capture the unique, gritty atmosphere and psychological depth that made the original film so iconic. While Spike Lee is a talented director, his take on the story failed to evoke the same emotional complexity and tension. The power of the original film came from its slow-burn storytelling, shocking brutality, and cultural context, which the remake failed to replicate. Ultimately, this remake was seen as an uninspired rehash of a beloved classic, and it flopped with just $5 million against a $30 million budget.
Oldboy
Release Date November 27, 2013
Runtime 104 minutes
KEEP READING: The 10 Worst Movie Remakes of the Last 25 Years, Ranked
English (US) ·