20 Worst Movie Remakes Ever, Ranked

Some remakes try to update familiar stories with new technology and modern casts, but the results do not always match the originals. This list counts down twenty high profile do overs that struggled with critics or audiences despite big names and bigger budgets. Each entry highlights who made it, who starred in it, and how it compares in scope and performance to the earlier version. The focus is on concrete details like release context, production choices, and box office numbers rather than opinions.

‘Rollerball’ (2002)

This remake was directed by John McTiernan and starred Chris Klein, LL Cool J, and Rebecca Romijn. It reimagined the 1975 film set around a violent future sport and shifted much of the action to Eastern Europe. The production used extensive night vision and green tinted sequences that were notable for their stylistic choices. The film opened in early February and posted a domestic box office well below its reported production budget.

‘Swept Away’ (2002)

Directed by Guy Ritchie, this update starred Madonna and Adriano Giannini and adapted the 1974 Italian film of the same name. The story follows a wealthy tourist and a deckhand stranded together on a deserted island. It was released by Sony in a limited number of theaters before expanding briefly. The film earned very little at the box office relative to its production and marketing costs.

‘The Wicker Man’ (2006)

Neil LaBute directed this retelling with Nicolas Cage, LeeLee Sobieski, and Ellen Burstyn. It relocates elements of the 1973 British folk horror story to the Pacific Northwest and features a re imagined matriarchal community. The movie’s marketing emphasized mystery and ritual imagery over explicit scares. It grossed modestly in North America and had a short theatrical window before moving to home video.

‘Psycho’ (1998)

Gus Van Sant created this shot for shot color remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic. Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, and Viggo Mortensen took over the principal roles. The production rebuilt the Bates Motel and house and replicated key camera setups from the original. It opened in December with a wide release but finished its run far behind the earlier film’s enduring popularity on home formats.

‘The Haunting’ (1999)

Jan de Bont directed this adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel and the 1963 film. Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Owen Wilson headlined the cast. The movie used large scale sets and extensive visual effects to portray the haunted mansion environment. It opened strong in midsummer before dropping quickly in subsequent weekends.

‘Poltergeist’ (2015)

This reimagining was produced by Sam Raimi and directed by Gil Kenan with Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt leading the cast. It updates the suburban setting with modern technology like smartphones and drone cameras. The film released in 3D in some territories and arrived during the Memorial Day frame. Worldwide grosses covered the production budget with most revenue coming from international markets.

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (2010)

Directed by Samuel Bayer, this reboot starred Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger alongside Rooney Mara and Kyle Gallner. It revisits the premise of a killer attacking teens in their dreams and introduces new backstory details. The movie was produced by Platinum Dunes and released in late April. It opened at number one domestically before experiencing steep week to week declines.

‘Get Carter’ (2000)

Stephen Kay directed this version with Sylvester Stallone, Miranda Richardson, and Mickey Rourke. The film relocates elements of the 1971 British crime drama to an American setting. It features cameos and nods to the original including a supporting role for Michael Caine. The release posted moderate opening numbers that tapered off by the second weekend.

‘The Stepford Wives’ (2004)

This update of the 1975 film was directed by Frank Oz and stars Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, and Glenn Close. The story follows a couple moving to a Connecticut suburb with seemingly perfect residents. The production design emphasized sleek robotics and stylized homes to reflect the modern twist. It opened in early summer and recorded most of its revenue in the first few weeks of release.

‘Point Break’ (2015)

Ericson Core directed this remake featuring Édgar Ramírez and Luke Bracey. It expands the extreme sports elements to wingsuit flying, big wave surfing, and high altitude snowboarding. The film shot on location across multiple countries to stage practical stunts. Domestic box office was limited while international receipts made up the bulk of its total.

‘Red Dawn’ (2012)

Directed by Dan Bradley, this remake stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Adrianne Palicki. The story moves the invasion scenario to a contemporary setting and underwent digital alterations to change the invading force before release. The film completed principal photography years before it reached theaters due to a distributor transition. It posted a mid range opening over the Thanksgiving period.

‘The Mummy’ (2017)

Alex Kurtzman directed this action oriented reboot with Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, and Annabelle Wallis. It launched a planned shared universe built around classic monster properties. The film opened worldwide in early June with premium format screens contributing to grosses. International territories accounted for the majority of revenue while domestic totals trailed projections.

‘Poseidon’ (2006)

Wolfgang Petersen helmed this remake of the 1972 disaster film with Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, and Emmy Rossum. The production used large gimbal sets to simulate the capsized ocean liner and incorporated significant digital water effects. It opened in May amid a crowded early summer schedule. The film’s global box office fell short of break even when compared against production and marketing costs.

‘Arthur’ (2011)

Jason Winer directed this update starring Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, and Greta Gerwig. It retells the story of a wealthy man pushed toward an arranged marriage while falling for someone else. The movie features New York City locations and modernizes supporting roles and character dynamics. It opened in April and delivered modest domestic returns across its theatrical run.

‘Ben-Hur’ (2016)

Timur Bekmambetov directed this adaptation starring Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, and Morgan Freeman. The film includes a newly staged chariot race sequence built with a mix of practical stunts and visual effects. It was released in August after a faith focused marketing campaign and premium format bookings. Domestic and international grosses did not recoup the reported production budget.

‘Clash of the Titans’ (2010)

Louis Leterrier directed this 1981 remake with Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, and Ralph Fiennes. The movie was converted to 3D in post production to meet demand for premium screenings. It opened over Easter weekend and led the box office with strong initial numbers. A sequel followed two years later as part of the same production pipeline.

‘Oldboy’ (2013)

Spike Lee directed this reinterpretation of the 2003 South Korean film with Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, and Sharlto Copley. It retains the core premise of a man imprisoned for years and later released with a time limit to uncover the truth. The film had a late November release and a smaller theater count than typical wide releases. It recorded limited box office and quickly transitioned to digital platforms.

‘RoboCop’ (2014)

José Padilha directed this reboot starring Joel Kinnaman, Michael Keaton, and Gary Oldman. The story updates robotics and surveillance themes with drone warfare and non lethal options. The production used a redesigned black suit and filmed in Toronto and Detroit stand ins. It performed better internationally than domestically and spawned tie in games and merchandise.

‘Total Recall’ (2012)

Len Wiseman directed this remake with Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel. It draws from Philip K Dick’s short story and moves the action to a world divided between two megacities. The movie emphasized large scale set pieces and used extensive practical sets for vehicle corridors. It opened in early August and saw stronger overseas grosses than in North America.

‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)

Paul Feig directed this new team entry with Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. The film features updated proton gear, new ghost designs, and cameos from members of the original cast. It released in midsummer with IMAX and 3D options and generated a substantial global gross relative to its budget. Home media included an extended cut with additional scenes and alternate jokes.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us which remakes you think deserve a spot here.