The 2010s have seen its fair share of remakes, some good (“It,” “A Star is Born,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”) and some bad (“Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “The Lion King,” “Total Recall“). Although many are worried about making remakes of classic movies, as they don’t want to taint their reputation, there are some movies that need to be remade, either because the originals are too dated or the audience is eager to see their favorite characters again. Here are the top five movies that need a remake.
5. ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’
Paramount Pictures, 1986.
Many people will disagree with me on this one, but I think a remake of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” would be amazing. The film has had a resurgence lately, especially with teens and young adults. That makes it perfect for a remake. The current generation is already familiar with the movie, and if they incorporate new actors, it will be spectacular. Joe Keery, who plays fan-favorite Steve on “Stranger Things,” has already portrayed him in a viral Domino’s commercial. I think he would be the best choice for Ferris in the remake. And you must be asking, who will play the infamous principal Rooney? I think it would be fitting if none other than Matthew Broderick portrayed him, as that would bring his Ferris career full circle. Also, I mean, Matthew Broderick as Rooney! Come on!
4. ‘Back to the Future’
Universal Pictures, 1985.
It’s been 30 years since the last “Back to the Future,” and let’s just say we could use a dose of ol’ Doc and Marty McFly. While Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd portrayed Marty and Doc, respectively, a deepfake created by YouTuber EZRyder47 showed Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. as Marty and doc, respectively. A deepfake is a video that takes a bunch of videos and pictures of one actor and splices it onto the face of another. The result is an imagination of what a certain fan-favorite actor would look like as a popular character.
I think the idea of having Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. reunite again in “Back to the Future” is a perfect idea, as they already had such a good father (figure) and son relationship in the “Avengers” films. Hopefully we can see this happen on the big screen soon.
3. ‘The Percy Jackson’ Series
“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (Fox 2000 Pictures, 2010).
After the two disastrous movies in 2010 and 2013, the “Percy Jackson” series by Rick Riordan deserves a reboot that stays true to the books. The movies were rushed, trying to include five book’s worth of content into one film. It was doomed from the beginning. But if the series is remade, it can finally give the “Percy Jackson” fans what they want. I personally think that it would be best as a Netflix series, as they can have each book be a season. That way, they can fit everything they need and still have time to add depth to all the characters.
2. ‘The Sting’
Zanuck/Brown Productions, 1973.
Ah, “The Sting.” One of my all-time favorite classic movies about two con men conning their way through life. I think it’s fitting that it made a high spot on the list, considering not many people are aware how great the premise is. I think it would be great for a remake, yet this time have it set in the ’70s, instead of being made in the ’70s and set in the ’30s. This could give it a great new twist. Johnny Hooker, the scrappy young conmen should be played by Chris Evans, while old pro Henry Gondorff should be portrayed by George Clooney. This would make an amazing remake that unites younger viewers with this classic film.
1. ‘Starship Troopers’
TriStar Pictures, 1997.
The #1 spot on this list has to go to none other than “Starship Troopers.” This 1997 cult classic about a war against aliens that is also a metaphor for the Nazis and extreme militarization is one of my favorite sci-fi films. It’s filled with so much action and depth that it deserves a remake to bring it into the light of younger viewers who have never heard of it before. The CGI is fantastic even now, but better visual effects never hurt. And with a great cast with maybe Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) as Rico, a “Starship Troopers” remake would be a great move.
So does Hollywood need another round of remakes despite this being one of the main problems of the film industry? Maybe not, but there sure are a lot of films that not only could benefit from better VFX and new casting, but DESERVE a remake to its name. Yes, there’s a risk that it will destroy the original’s legacy, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take if it means we get to see our favorite characters and stories again.
