Remakes have been a popular Hollywood trend over the years. Rather than creating something original, movie studios have jumped at the chance to recreate a popular movie or series, because they knew it worked the first time. But, fans often have other thoughts and feelings. While some reboots can keep the critical elements, while still creating something new and different, others struggle to do as well or better than the original. Given how difficult it can be to get a remake right, if a movie is going to be remade, it should likely be given thorough attention before moving forward. But, just because Hollywood has occasionally gotten a remake right, does not mean that certain movies or franchises should be remade.
Sometimes, once or twice is enough to see that an adaptation or remake of something is just not going to work or live up to the hype the media tries to create around it. While graphics in older films may be dated, audiences are willing to overlook them for the story’s sake in an exciting and emotional narrative. Other stories simply got it so right the first time, that recreating it is only asking for trouble.
So, what films or franchises should never be remade?
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7 Harry Potter
Warner Brothers
Whether it be for the controversy the Harry Potter franchise seems to continue to find itself in, or that the original movies do a fine job adapting from the novels, this series should be left alone. Although the film adaptations never managed a perfect on-screen version of the books, the movies succeeded as one of the biggest franchises. Every attempt to reboot the universe, whether it be the audience-panned Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or the never quite-good-enough Fantastic Beasts spinoffs, have only continued to suggest that the Harry Potter franchise is losing its magic. Let the novels and movies rest knowing they succeeded in telling Harry Potter’s story as a young wizard turned-wizarding world savior.
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6 Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel Studios
Given that this franchise is still actively going, the MCU has a better chance of never dying than being remade anyway. But, one of the most critical reasons it should be left alone is that it is gigantic. The MCU began with Iron Man in 2008, and is still going strong over a decade later with plans to continue to broaden the constantly expanding universe. So, between the enormous scope of the films, Disney+ original series, and fighting against audience dedication and love of the franchise, the MCU, when it does eventually finish, should be left alone to its victory as a succeeding and beloved franchise, rather than forcing an entire recreation of every character and story that was already told beautifully the first time around.
5 The Mortal Instruments
Sony Pictures
Unfortunately, The Mortal Instruments novels never found a genuinely proper rendition for an on-screen adaptation. 2013’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was the first attempt at an on-screen novel adaptation. Unfortunately, the movie never matches the spirit of the books. While franchises such as Harry Potter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe succeed without knowledge of the source material, The Mortal Instruments crafts a movie that is far easier to understand with previous knowledge of the books. Unfortunately, watching the film alone makes it nearly impossible to understand what is happening or the stakes involved.
In 2016, Freeform tried again with a television adaptation of the novels with its series, Shadowhunters. Although Shadowhunters was more successful, it still could not reach the intensity of the stories. Although The Mortal Instruments books are filled with intense twists and turns, perhaps it is better left as a novel series rather than a third attempt at an adaptation.
4 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Paramount Pictures Studios
If there was any movie that encouraged kids to take a day off school every once in a while, it was this one. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the embodiment of every kid’s dream. Faking sick for the day to skip school and hang out with friends, experiencing fun activities such as baseball games and parades that one would not have experienced had they gone about their lives as expected is an element that makes this such a beloved movie. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is filled with iconic moments, and given its success, this is a movie that should be left alone.
The film relies on the charisma of its title character and bizarrely comical conflict with his sister and school principal to pull off some of the more quirky aspects of the movie.
3 Back To The Future
Universal Pictures
The Back To The Future trilogy ensured that every franchise element was essential. Small details in the background regarding whom the politician was, to the exposition about how Marty’s parents met played integral roles when Marty accidentally ended up in 1955. Back To The Future set the bar for understanding how time travel worked, and each of the trilogy used story elements and details in different ways depending on the time Marty and Doc ended up in. Back To The Future Part 2 builds on the first movie, showing a glimpse of what 2015 was meant to look like, while Back To The Future Part 3 took it back to the old west.
But, Back To The Future Part 3 knew it needed to tie up loose ends and used its final moments to show Marty making a different choice, one that wiped his future clean of the issues his future self would face in 2015. A remake would likely rely on gimmicks to acknowledge the original trilogy without the small details that help fill in the big picture.
2 The Princess Bride
20th Century Studios
If you are looking for a movie with action, adventure, romance, and comedy, The Princess Bride is a guaranteed success. The Princess Bride takes on its sense of a book-to-film adaptation, with the main story playing out as a bedtime story. The Princess Bride creates a fantasy world that never fails to be charming and witty in unexpected and comedic ways. It is a stand-out film that understands exactly what it aims to do and accomplishes it. The movie is filled with iconic moments and beautifully presents a parody of love stories while telling its own. This one is better off left alone, as fun as spoof movies can be. The Princess Bride succeeded in its endeavor so well that there would be no point in re-creating it.
1 Legally Blonde
Elle Woods is determined to prove her pretentious ex-boyfriend, Warner, wrong after he breaks up with her in an attempt to suggest he must get serious about his future. Warner plans to move on to Harvard Law School, and Elle knows that she can show him that she can be the exact type of woman that Warner planned to marry. Legally Blonde is far more than a woman trying to impress a man. Elle Woods turns out to be an innovative and dedicated student, her upbeat personality and interest in pop culture having no adverse effects on her strive to make her way through law school. Elle Woods ends up doing something far more important than getting back together with Warner. Elle impresses herself with her new law knowledge and finds a passion in it, eventually becoming valedictorian of their graduating class and surpassing Warner in every way.
