Hollywood loves reboots and remakes. Have you seen the films that have come out recently?
However, there are some titles out there that could use for a makeover, or could be remade to please a modern audience. While a reboot can’t replace the original that we know and love, perhaps a modern retelling could fix some of the minor mistakes of the past or improve on it to make it more engaging. So without further ado, here are some movies that could be remade to tick those boxes.
10. Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox has commented that a Back to the Future reboot may happen in the future, despite the story being already perfect. And while it’s unlikely (for obvious reasons) to get the old cast members to play their iconic roles, there are also calls for Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr to take on the shoes of Marty McFly and Doctor Brown. However, Holland claimed that the original is pretty good on its own, and that a reboot isn’t necessary. Still, it didn’t stop a musical from being produced.
9. The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is already iconic, but is somewhat dated since it uses the high school stereotypes from the 80s. A potential modern reboot could still use the same story, but try to update the characters so it could fit with the times. After all, it’s a good coming-of-age film where five random children became friends after having to stay behind in detention. It will be interesting to see how this type of tale would be adapted for a newer audience. The Nickelodeon show, Victorious, sort of did it in one of its episodes, but we already know the characters from the show, and it felt more like a parody.
8. The Truman Show
Just like The Breakfast Club, The Truman Show is also iconic, yet it uses the tropes of its time. So for some, it might feel old and dated. Imagine a modern-day adaptation with current technology telling a story about a man who’s blissfully unaware that he’s the star of his own TV show. Would that be even possible? If anything, it might be even more relevant.
7. School of Rock
Let’s be real, nobody can replace Jack Black as Dewey Finn, but music has evolved over the years. While School of Rock showed appreciation to legends like AC/DC and Black Sabbath, a reboot could pay tribute to bands that made waves in the past few years like Linkin Park and Paramore. Perhaps the students would use their rock education to be vocal about current world issues that worry them, rather than the cliches that were heard in the original. If the film made its way into a musical format, a reboot wouldn’t hurt.
6. Pokémon: The First Movie
If the Pokémon Company can reboot Ash’s origins story with a talking Pikachu, then it can pretty much give this first film a giant makeover. It doesn’t have to change anything major, but it could be reworked so it doesn’t make Pokéfans feel old. If this film does get remade, the first thing it should do is rid of the weird English dubbing choices 4Kids made back when it first came out, like how Ash knows the city of Minnesota.
5. Metropolis
There could be some debate about whether or not Metropolis gets a reboot. On one hand, it’s already iconic, even if it was a silent film, so why make it again? On the other hand, there was an anime adaptation made back in 2001. Either way, it’s going to take someone very skilled to ensure that this is a success. While Apple TV did announce a Metropolis series led by Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail, we still have no news of a scheduled release date.
4. 300
Say what you want about Zack Snyder and what he did to the DCU, but you have to admit that his work in 300 was pretty epic. So you may be wondering, why does this film need to be remade? Perhaps it could be more historically accurate whilst keeping close to its action-packed charm. Maybe it could use modern-day VFX so it doesn’t look tacky, especially due to the heavy use of greenscreen back in the day. Regardless, it’s still pretty iconic, and I wouldn’t mind if it gets retold through a modern lens.
3. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Atlantis: The Lost Empire is an underrated Disney gem. It was the first to have a strong female lead, who’s also a princess. At the same time, it told an interesting story about a boy who wants to uncover this lost city. This film is action-packed, yet something that’s really worth watching, and it’s such a shame it didn’t give Disney the success it wanted. If it was released now, it could possibly give Disney the numbers it wanted. If Disney is intent on continuing its massive push on into live-action remakes, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is something it shouldn’t turn its head against.
2. The Goonies
For the love of God, please give Ke Huy Quan a lead role in a potential Goonies reboot. If Indiana Jones won’t give this beloved actor a major part after his acting comeback, at least bring back an old classic. If it worked for Ghostbusters, then it could work here. Yes, there were some questionable elements the original film had, but it was a cool children’s adventure when it first came out. A modern take on this movie could be a continuation on the previous events, with Quan revisiting his childhood or having more of a mentor role.
1. Singing in the Rain
Singing in the Rain is such an interesting film, since it shared a piece of Hollywood history when the industry was transitioning to audio and vocals. Perhaps a modern retelling could use more information about that history’s transition, whilst keeping the spirit of the original. If it does get remade, it better not butcher the titular song, because it’s a a classic.
Let’s be real, all these titles are pretty iconic in their own right, and there might be some outrage if they were to be rebooted. But this is the direction that Hollywood is taking, remaking old films and giving them a new fresh coat of paint. I believe that these stories deserve to be retold one way or another, as long as it doesn’t take away the spirit of the original.