20 classic films that deserve a modern remake

Gremlins is creepy and weird and iconic, and it deserves a great remake (not that the original is bad — far from it). Sure, it’s still getting sequels now, but eventually it should get the reboot package. 

There are plenty of musicals from this era that should not be remade because they were so good the first time, but Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is not one of them. Yes, it’s a great movie with great music, but there’s a lot that needs to be updated for modern audiences, starting with the Child Catcher. 

The Music Man is a classic musical that is still performed on stage, so the story is by no means lost. But it’s such a fun film that would do well with a big-budget remake. 

Bye Bye Birdie was remade in 1995, but not to much avail. This film deserves a high-quality remake that captures the story’s essence and has great costumes and sets, a la the original. 

To Kill a Mockingbird is still a great film (and, of course, book), but it’s not one that viewers flock to today. It’s a powerful story that needs to continue being told, and a modern remake would help in that effort. 

There are several old musicals that deserve modern remakes, and Little Shop of Horrors is one. No one can replace Steve Martin as the dentist, but someone new can put a fun twist on the sadistic character, and the same goes for the rest of the lot. 

Clue is such a fun film, and it’s a concept that will always appeal to audiences. A remake wouldn’t have to include three alternate endings (though it absolutely should). 

If Bedknobs and Broomsticks doesn’t get remade, we at least need more filmmakers to merge live-action and animation. It’s a fun format that needs to be played with more often. 

A Streetcar Named Desire is an iconic film, but it doesn’t quite have the same cachet as some other films made in that era, which makes it an excellent candidate for a remake. The themes are still relevant today, and modern actors would have great models for their performances. 

For as often as we still talk about the George Orwell novel, we don’t talk much about its screen adaptation. Now would be a perfect time to have a remake of the film. 

Alien is still a blueprint for sci-fi films, but it’s also an excellent candidate for a remake. Thanks to modern technology, Alien could become even more disgusting to watch, much to the delight of some of the genre’s fans. 

There was a 12 Angry Men remake in the late ‘90s, but it was made for television and didn’t have nearly the impact the original had. While the impact may be hard to replicate, the quality of the original can be captured and repackaged for modern audiences. 

Taxi Driver is another film that hits the sweet spot for whether it should be remade. It’s beloved, but it’s not so widely considered perfect by modern audiences that there would be major backlash from even a conversation about a remake. 

There was a miniseries remake of Doctor Zhivago in the early 2000s, but a proper film remake would be welcome. And it would be just fine if the remake were slightly shorter than the original. 

There have been plenty of film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, and it won’t hurt to have more. It’s arguably the most famous story of all time, and it needs to continue being told to new audiences. 

Many have tried to remake The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, but all have, unfortunately, failed for one reason or another. This film deserves a quality remake with epic sets and stunning cinematography. A miniseries remake would suffice, too. 

Today’s youth need to know about Bonnie and Clyde — the real people. And what better way to introduce today’s youth to the famous outlaws than by giving the old film an epic remake?

Thelma & Louise absolutely deserves a remake. It’s a classic that would be just as fun if well done again. There are plenty of great modern actresses who would do the roles justice. 

9 to 5 is such a fun film, but more importantly, it’s got an important message of female empowerment. We need a great remake so more young women can be positively influenced to not stand for sexism in the workplace.

James Caan and Kathy Bates were great in Misery, but the film should still get a remake. It’s bizarre in all the best ways, and that strangeness would translate well to a modern format. Plus, we need more movies that are set in winter.