The 10 Greatest Remakes Of All Time, According To Reddit

Movie remakes are a difficult and often complex proposition. Many people don’t like the idea of remakes, believing that the originals are good enough and stand fine on their own (even despite their age). Others want to see an updated and more modern interpretation of a classic story.

Some of the highest-grossing remakes of all time are great movies. On the other hand, many remakes are either quickly forgotten or viciously attacked and criticized on the internet. When a remake is good, it is a surprising and welcomed experience. These are the greatest remakes of all time, according to Redditors.

10 Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Reddit user bythog is a huge fan of the Ocean’s Eleven remake. As they write, “The newer Ocean’s Eleven is so much better than the original that it should be counted as the only version.”

It is indeed a fantastic film, wonderfully directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an all-star ensemble cast that includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts. It’s arguably one of the best heist movies ever made, let alone one of the best remakes.

9 The Departed (2006)

The Departed is one of the best movies directed by Martin Scorsese and the winner of that year’s Best Picture Academy Award. It’s an undeniable classic. And what some people may not know is that The Departed is actually an American remake of a Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs.

Reddit user SkepticalOrange writes, “There are things The Departed does better than Infernal Affairs and there are things Infernal Affairs does better than The Departed.” Both are equally great movies, and there’s no denying that The Departed is a fantastic remake.

8 The Great Gatsby (2013)

The Great Gatsby is one of the all-time greatest novels, and it has been remade countless times. Reddit user shadymcdonalds states, “The Robert Redford version had no heart IMO, it’s faithful to the story but doesn’t show the themes of the story at all. While I felt Luhrmann’s Gatsby…did a better job at engrossing me in the world.”

Luhrmann’s version was indeed gorgeous and enthralling, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Gatsby arguably trumps Redford’s. It was more convincing, and it helped clarify some of the novel’s tragic themes.

7 Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

This now deleted Reddit user claims “Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1974) is way better than (1956) version.” While the black and white original is indeed a classic, many people remember the iconic 1978 remake (the Reddit user erroneously claims that it’s from ’74). The presence of Donald Sutherland certainly helps, and the remake contains one of the all-time famous twist endings.

Maybe it’s not way better than the original, but it’s certainly a fantastic remake that takes full advantage of the story’s potential.

6 The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Reddit user savepublicdomain writes, “The Wizard of Oz. Yes, the 1930’s musical version is a remake. There is a reason no one remembers the original adaptation.” In fact, there were three adaptations of Frank Baum’s novel before the iconic ’39 musical was released.

The first was a silent film released in 1910 – just ten years after the publication of the novel. Another silent film followed in 1925, and an animated short from Canada was released in 1933. Obviously, none had the impact of Victor Fleming’s classic.

5 Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

Reddit user Maelis writes, “Dawn of the Dead, at least in my opinion. They’re different, but both excellent. As such it’s hard to say one is better than the other.” The original Dawn of the Dead still holds up today, but there’s no denying that it is showing its age. Zack Snyder’s remake is not only Snyder’s finest film, but a great movie in its own right.

The remake is indeed vastly different, containing a far larger cast, more violence, and running zombies. And while it may not trump Romero’s original, it is nevertheless a surprisingly enjoyable remake.

4 Cape Fear (1991)

Reddit user lduffy16 claims, “Both Cape Fears are equal in my opinion.” The original Cape Fear was released in 1962, serving as an adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s novel The Executioners. It’s a great film, and it was remade in 1991 by Martin Scorsese.

It stars Robert De Niro as Max Cady and Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, and they make for a spectacular team. It’s one of the most unnerving thrillers of the 1990s and proved enormously popular, grossing over $180 million at the box office.

3 Father Of The Bride (1991)

Reddit user bellestarxo states, “I like Father of the Bride, Steve Martin version, better than original.” The movie was received very well at the time, earning strong reviews, praise for the performances of Steve Martin and Martin Short, and grossing $130 million at the box office.

It is so ingrained in modern pop culture that some people may forget (or not even know) that it is a remake of a 1950 comedy starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.

2 The Thing (1982)

monarc claims, “The Thing is widely regarded as a superior remake.” The original was released in 1951 with the title The Thing from Another World. It’s a good movie, but there’s no denying that it has been made irrelevant in the midst of John Carpenter’s far superior remake.

While his film wasn’t well received at the time, it is now regarded as one of the best Carpenter movies and one of the best horror movies of all time. It’s certainly one of the grossest.

1 Suspiria (2018)

Reddit user TowelieMcTowel07 writes, “Suspiria was really damn close, ill have to sit with it a bit longer, but I loved its style and the story changes really improved the story IMO. The original is still an amazing classic but damn that remake was probably the best remake I have seen.”

While the original is indeed a classic, the American remake certainly stands on its own. While a box office failure, the movie earned praise for its atmosphere, unique and memorable visuals, and the performances of Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton.

About The Author

Nathan Sharp
(852 Articles Published)

Nathan Sharp is a writer from outside Toronto, Ontario. He has a love of movies and television, having enjoyed them for more than twenty years. His preferences include drama, action, and horror, with the former being a particular point of interest and fascination.

He also has a love of video games, particularly those of Rockstar.

Whether it be about film, television, or video games, Nathan loves a good discussion and has written hundreds of articles for Screen Rant.

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