Reboots and remakes and re-whatevers are usually not considered a good thing. They can be very difficult to defend as anything other than cash-grabs… But they aren’t always bad. Sometimes, these movies can actually be good– Look at Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, or the Star Trek reboot, or Rise of the Planet of the Apes. So let’s look at some upcoming remakes that, if they actually end up happening, could potentially be just as good.
11. Akira
Speaking of Christopher Nolan, the director famous for such mega-hits as Interstellar and Inception was rumored this summer to be in talks for the Akira live-action remake. The deal ultimately apparently fell through, but it seems that Warner Bros. is making a big effort to make a really good movie with star power and good directors. Akira has a very strong source material, so if done right, it could be a fantastic movie.
10. Mortal Kombat
The first Mortal Kombat was a big hit back in 1995, though it was followed up with the dreadful sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, and the franchise was never much capitalized on after that. However, now that Warner Bros. has revitalized the franchise in video game form, and made the popular webseries Mortal Kombat: Legacy, we can expect that a new Mortal Kombat movie could be really good. As long as it takes the original movie’s sense of cheesy humor and the video game’s over-the-top violence, this is very safe to be excited for.
9. Flash Gordon
To be fair, this one is probably the least optimistic of all of the movies on this list. However, with Matthew Vaughn rumored to be in talks to direct it, fortunes could bode well. Add in the fact that the original movie is still a cult classic today, and it could be great.
8. Ghostbusters
This one’s already coming out in just a few months, so we certainly gotta hope it’s good. Paul Feig, of Spy and Bridesmaids fame, is bringing Ghostbusters to the 21st century, with an all-female cast. Initially, many people were rabidly against the concept of this movie ever existing, but now that it’s so close, it’s a lot more fine. Considering how solid Paul Feig’s track record has been, we should definitely be excited for it.
7. Jumanji
Jumanji was a well-liked family movie starring Robin Williams, but it is not exactly a cornerstone of pop culture like a lot of other movies. Sony is apparently remaking the movie, which might follow in the footsteps of Goosebumps or something similar. This sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it could actually be really good, if the writing team does it right. Since board games are nowhere near as popular anymore as they were twenty years ago, it could be a very interesting angle to place something like Jumanji in modern day.
6. Magnificent Seven
This remake of Magnificent Seven (which is itself a remake of the classic Seven Samurai) is set for next September, though there isn’t all that much known about it. But with a cast that includes such stars as Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Lee Byung-hun, and director Antoine Fuqua of Southpaw and The Equalizer fame, there’s much to look forward to.
5. Power Rangers
Power Rangers used to be one of the biggest kids franchises of all time, though it is not quite as popular anymore. However, it has picked up steam when the rights returned from Disney to Saban, and started showing on Nick, so both nostalgic fans and new fans will be excited for it. Considering how much cheesy fun the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie was, the new one has a lot of promise.
4. Hellraiser
We know next to nothing about this movie, and it may not actually happen. But the Hellraiser universe is pretty fleshed out, and the early movies were very focused on the creepy, disturbing special effects. With modern special effects and a mix of practical and CGI, a Hellraiser reboot would be awesome.
3. Road House
Road House is an amazing piece of 80’s iconography; a remake of this sounds absolutely impossible to do well, but I have faith in it. The original movie is silly but charming in every way (much like most of the best 80’s movies), and a remake that is self-aware enough about its campy roots would be great.
2. Toxic Avenger
Another cult classic here. This time, though, the original creator Lloyd Kaufman is the one doing it. It’s been a long-gestating remake, but in this new era of superhero movies and giant blockbusters, it could be better than ever.
1. Stargate
Stargate is another one of those properties that used to be very popular back in the 90’s and 2000’s, but faded away over time, with its last TV series being cancelled in the late 2000’s. However, Roland Emmerich wants to reboot the franchise, starting with the original 1994 movie. I’d say that, if the new Independence Day ends up being successful, this one has a good chance of being a good movie. If not, then… well, this movie won’t be made at all, most likely, so it’s all good.
Agree or disagree with the list? Sound off below!