10 Movies That Should Never Get Reboots Or Remakes

Movies That Should Never Be Remade Or Rebooted

With reboots and remakes dominating the landscape, it sometimes feels like Hollywood doesn’t want to try anymore. It’s lazy and, in most instances, extremely unnecessary. Granted, and we will admit, there have been a handful of films that actually improved with their second iteration, but these are very few and far between.

No doubt reboots or remakes will continue in Hollywood, because even though they can be inferior to the original, for some reason they make enough money to warrant the remake. But with that said, there are some films – classics in every sense of the word – that have no business being remade. They stand the test of time and even with the technical abilities of today, these films need to have a “do not touch” sign wrapped around them.

10. The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix, made back in 1999 by the Wachowskis, was a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge special effects movie that started a very successful franchise. So, right there you’d have to ask yourself, if it is going to be rebooted or remade, does this mean all of the films in the franchise will then too? In terms of storytelling, effects, and the perfect cast to present the material, this film is simply too groundbreaking to consider for a reboot.

9. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

There IS only one The Wizard of Oz. This is one film that should be put in a lock box, never to be taken out but for its viewing pleasure. It offers the perfect blend of fun, scares, excitement, and entertainment with its musical numbers, something that would surely get lost in translation with today’s sense of moviemaking. The Wizard of Oz is the literal definition of a “classic movie,” one that needs to stay far away from a reboot or remake.

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

The first of two Steven Spielberg films on this DO NOT TOUCH list. Yes, perhaps a modern-day look at E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial might possibly get us a better looking (in terms of technical performance) E.T., but why? This original was an innocent creature whose practical effects fit wonderfully for the time the film was made. Spielberg kept the pace lively and tugged at the heartstrings enough to make this one of the most memorable films ever and definitely one that should never be considered for a reboot or remake.

7. Jaws (1975)

This 1975 Steven Spielberg film started it all. Not only did Jaws cause panic along the East and West Coast beaches, but it was also the film that coined the term “blockbuster.” So, what makes this film one that should be off-limits from a reboot or remake? In a word – everything.

From the writing to the actors involved to the pitch-perfect directing that got a massive boost when Bruce (the mechanical shark) failed on every level, causing Spielberg to use the shark less and less. It was this minimalistic (yet forced) approach that struck fear in the hearts and minds of moviegoers. A special shoutout goes to composer John Williams, who helped strike that fear with his iconic Jaws theme music, one that won him his second Oscar.

6. Pulp Fiction (1994)

The beauty of Pulp Fiction is the simple fact that it is a Quentin Tarantino film, one that lends itself to his “style” of filmmaking and one that is very hard to duplicate. Not only is it his style that is unique, but also the tempo of his script. He writes like a musician composing music. There is a beat, that if you speed up or slow it down, it falls flat. Tarantino’s beat is perfect with Pulp Fiction. It also helps that he knows his characters and thus is able to put the right actor into the right roles. You simply can’t reboot or remake this film.

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

We will be the first to admit it and Stephen King will probably agree, turning his novels into films has not gone well. For the very few that have gotten it right, there are numerous ones that have not. Thankfully, The Shawshank Redemption got it right and so much so, the film should never be considered for a reboot or remake.

Frank Darabont brought King’s novella, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” to life with a near-perfect script and sense of direction, while Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and the rest of the cast hit every single note head-on. Leave this one alone, it does not need a reboot or remake.

4. Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane, for all intents and purposes, has been declared the best movie ever made. Orson Welles was a force to be reckoned with as he not only starred in the film as newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, but Welles also co-wrote the script as well as sat in the director’s chair for this classic. You simply can’t do any better than Welles did with this film, as evidenced by it being routinely considered to be the greatest film ever produced.

3. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Another classic that should never be considered for a reboot or remake. Gone with the Wind, which has stood the test of time, even with its controversial themes, is one that shouldn’t be touched. The film stars screen legends Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Terrance Howard, and Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African American to win an Academy Award.

2. The Godfather (1972)

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Well, let’s hope that offer does not have anything to do with a reboot or remake. There have been plenty of movies since the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola hit The Godfather that has told stories of the mafia, and some that did it very well.

But in terms of sheer storytelling, there is nothing that can compete with The Godfather, another film that rates as high as Citizen Kane in the history of best films ever. Somehow, Coppola stumbled onto magic with his cast and crew, making this one film that should never be considered for a reboot or remake.

1. Casablanca (1942)

One more truly classic film that needs to be left alone on its own lofty merits. Casablanca stars screen legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in a movie that is filled with adventure and romance with its memorable lead characters and often quoted one-liners (“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine”). This is another film that is constantly near the top as the greatest film ever made, so do us a favor Hollywood, and don’t tarnish its legacy with a poor reboot or remake.