In cinema, retreading old ground can often lead to brilliance, as evidenced by the many well-made remakes and reimaginings Hollywood has produced over the decades. Some of those movies even rank among the best films of all time, with a greater impact on audiences than their original inspirations, like Scarface or Ocean’s Eleven. And though not every classic movie needs a remake, there are some that could do with a modern update.
Some of these are films that deserve a remake just for retrospective improvements in techniques and world-building, which may have been limited in their time simply because the technology didn’t exist yet. With others, the foundational concepts of their stories are so timeless that they capture the attention of every generation with their universal themes, becoming cultural touchstones that make just as much sense today as they did when they first premiered. With that in mind, here’s our selection of classic movies that we need to see remade.
1
‘Dial M For Murder’ (1954)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on Frederick Knott’s play, Dial M for Murder follows Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), a former tennis player who has devised a plan to kill his wife, Margot (Grace Kelly), for her inheritance. After finding out about Margo’s extra-marital affair, Tony blackmails an old acquaintance to kill her, but the plan goes haywire, forcing him to improvise. The movie also stars Robert Cummings, Anthony Dawson, and John Williams in notable roles.
One of Hitchcock’s crime thriller masterpieces, Dial M for Murder would make for a perfect remake with its inverted mystery narrative, which would appeal to the modern audience seeking something beyond the conventional whodunit format. Additionally, the original film was meant to be projected in 3D, but the technology was error-prone at the time, and it wasn’t released in 3D until the 1980s. Considering all the advancements made in 3D filming technology since then, a new version of Dial M for Murder would not only add an edge to the production and narrative but also bring a fresh perspective to Hitchcock’s brilliant original.
2
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Victor Fleming’s 1939 adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s children’s literary classic novel, The Wizard of Oz follows the story of Dorothy, a young farm girl from Kansas, and her pet dog, Toto. After getting caught in a tornado that transports them to the magical land of Oz, Dorothy and Toto set out on a fantastical journey to meet the mysterious wizard, running into various interesting characters along the way. Judy Garland stars as Dorothy in arguably her most iconic role, with Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton in other lead roles.
The Wizard of Oz is a cinematic landmark and a cultural milestone that has since been readapted, reimagined, and rebooted several times. But a 21st-century remake of the original film, using the latest imaging technologies and special effects, would make for a brilliant rendition that fans would love to see far more than the many spin-offs, sequels, and prequels that we’ve seen so far this century. While it would be difficult to surpass the 1939 film’s reputation as a groundbreaking work of cinema, its themes of self-identity, individuality, non-conformity, and embracing the out-of-ordinary surely resonate with a modern audience.
3
‘Clue’ (1985)
Written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, Clue is a mystery dark comedy adaptation of the popular board game of the same name, invented in 1943. Set in 1954, the film follows seven strangers who are invited by a mysterious host to his remote New England mansion, where the sudden death of one of the guests causes tension and suspicion among the group. Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and Colleen Camp star as main characters.
A campy and colorful crime comedy, Clue is proof that some board games do merit a cinematic adaptation, and the movie has been hailed as a cult classic that would surely earn greater attention if it were made today. Inspired by the premise of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the film’s plot still holds appeal among genre fans. With its multiple endings and signature color-coding of characters and their personalities, a contemporary take on Clue would make for a stylish and fun, possibly even interactive, murder mystery that could redefine the genre.
4
‘12 Angry Men’ (1957)
Sidney Lumet’s courtroom classic, based on Reginald Rose’s 1954 teleplay, 12 Angry Men centers on a group of 12 jury members who must deliberate on the fate of an 18-year-old boy accused of murder. As they discuss and debate the outcome of the trial, it sparks serious conflicts among the jurors, making them question their own sense of morality and judgment, and the very concept of reasonable doubt. The film stars Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden in the main roles.
One of the most influential legal dramas of the last 100 years, 12 Angry Men is a compelling commentary on justice, prejudice, civic responsibility, and the American justice system. With its closed-room setting and timeless themes, the film continues to fit into the modern landscape and is highly worthy of a remake. A 21st-century take on 12 Angry Men with updated perspectives, including gender diversity and psychosocial themes, could successfully revive its legacy and impact in a world where our biases continue to influence truth and justice.
5
‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ (1996)
A Disney animated musical drama adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1831 literary classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame tells the story of Quasimodo, a deformed bell-ringer in the titular cathedral in Paris, who is suppressed and isolated from the outside world by his tyrannical guardian, Claude. When Quasimodo meets a traveling dancer named Esmeralda, it sparks courage in him to break free of his controlling father and society at large. Directed by Gary Trousdale, the film stars the voices of Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, and Kevin Kline.
With themes of genocide, social prejudice, sin, and redemption, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a much darker and more complex Disney film that was way ahead of its time. A live-action remake of the same would allow Hugo’s classic to be explored with more depth and realism, navigating serious topics like systemic oppression, marginalization, and bigotry against the current landscape. Furthermore, translating the 15th-century Gothic setting and the sweeping animation into real-world cinematography would yield a visually stunning film, ranking a step above Disney’s other live-action remakes.
6
‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ (1984)
Directed by Michael Radford, Nineteen Eighty-Four is an adaptation of George Orwell’s classic, set in a totalitarian regime ravaged by war, where people are constantly under surveillance by their totalitarian leader, Big Brother, and persecuted for any sign of individualism (including thoughts). The plot centers on a low-ranking civil servant named Winston, who struggles to maintain his grasp on reality and his sanity against the overwhelming influence and power of the tyrannical rule. The film stars John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, James Walker, and John Boswell in main roles.
With themes of political authoritarianism, mass surveillance, and manipulation of the populace, Nineteen Eighty-Four has never been timelier, and it certainly deserves to be revisited with a contemporary lens. The film’s grim atmosphere, tragic story, and incisive socio-political commentary can be seamlessly updated to fit modern sentiments. A contemporary reimagining of the Orwellian classic has the potential to deliver a critical and necessary exploration of the nuances of social media influence, AI bias, digital surveillance, and the constant fight between facts and misinformation.
7
‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971)
Written, directed, and produced by Stanley Kubrick and based on the 1962 novel of the same name, A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian thriller that centers on Alex, a sociopathic teenager who is arrested for his acts of extreme violence. In captivity, he is forced to undergo a rehabilitation technique using experimental psychological therapy that renders him free of individualism. Malcolm McDowell stars in his most iconic role as Alex, alongside Michael Bates, Patrick Magee, Adrienne Corri, James Marcus, Warren Clarke, and Michael Tarn.
Despite facing plenty of criticism and controversy in its day, A Clockwork Orange remains an iconic dystopian thriller of the 20th century that deserves to be revisited through the 21st-century perspective. With modern audiences’ love for antiheroes, a new adaptation of the film would put the premise and the protagonist right at the heart of that cultural evolution. While it might be impossible to match Kubrick’s profound and surrealist vision, a remake of A Clockwork Orange could provide a crucial update on its social, cultural, political, and economic themes.
8
‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1956)
A sci-fi classic directed by Don Siegel and based on Jack Finney’s 1954 novel The Body Snatchers, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers follows an alien invasion in a fictional California town, where extraterrestrial plant pods replace existing humans with a visually identical copy devoid of emotions. When a local doctor stumbles on the phenomenon, he realizes the full scale of this “quiet invasion” and attempts to stop it. The film stars Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, with Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn Jones, Jean Willes, and Ralph Dumke as supporting characters.
One of the most definitive alien movies of all time, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a timeless classic that has resonated with fans and filmmakers ever since, meriting several remakes in the later decades. From political paranoia to the silent conformity of the “pod people,” the film’s themes hold relevance even today and would make for a perfect alien thriller. While the movie has been remade once in 2007, a more contemporary reimagining of Invasion of the Body Snatchers could reshape the premise to reflect the current world, while simultaneously elevating the production values with state-of-the-art filmmaking capabilities.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- Release Date
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February 5, 1956
- Runtime
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80 minutes
- Director
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Don Siegel
- Writers
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Daniel Mainwaring, Richard Collins
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Dana Wynter
Becky Driscoll
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Kevin McCarthy
Dr. Miles J. Bennell
