Movie remakes tend to get an automatic bad rap, but this time we’re putting some numbers behind it. Take the original’s Tomatometer rating, subtract by the remake’s number, and voila: the 24 worst movie remakes by Tomatometer!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010, 15%)
Visually faithful but lacking the depth and subversive twists that made the original so memorable, the Nightmare on Elm Street remake lives up to its title in the worst possible way.
79 percentage points less than A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 94%)
The Invasion (2007, 19%)
Slickly made, but it lacks psychological insight and thrills.
79 pts. less than Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, 98%)
Get Carter (2000, 12%)
Michael Caine shows up to collect a paycheck, and so does everyone else in this rote, middling remake.
78 pts. less than Get Carter (1971, 90%)
The Women (2008, 13%)
A toothless remake of the 1939 classic, lacking the charm, wit and compelling protagonists of the original.
78 pts. less than The Women (1939, 91%)
The Mummy (2017, 16%)
Lacking the campy fun of the franchise’s most recent entries and failing to deliver many monster-movie thrills, The Mummy suggests a speedy unraveling for the Dark Universe.
77 pts. less than The Mummy (1932, 93%)
Godzilla (1998, 16%)
Without compelling characters or heart, Godzilla stomps on everything that made the original (or any monster movie worth its salt) a classic.
77 pts. less than Gojira (1956, 93%)
The Wicker Man (2006, 15%)
Puzzlingly misguided, Neil LaBute’s update struggles against unintentional comedy and fails.
75 pts. less than The Wicker Man (1973, 90%)
The Stepfather (2009, 11%)
This tepid remake of the 1987 cult classic lacks the tension and satirical undercurrents of the original.
75 pts. less than The Stepfather (1987, 86%)
The Jackal (1997, 18%) The Jackal is a relatively simple chase thriller incapable of adding thrills or excitement as the plot chugs along.
72 pts. less than Day of the Jackal (1973, 90%)
The Haunting (1999, 16%)
Sophisticated visual effects fail to offset awkward performances and an uneven script.
71 pts. less than The Haunting (1963, 87%)
House of Wax (2005, 25%)
Bearing little resemblance to the 1953 original, House of Wax is a formulaic teen slasher flick.
70 pts. less than House of Wax (1953, 95%)
Down to Earth (2001, 20%)
A toned down Chris Rock fails to bring a limp script to life as the movie moves from one gag to the next.
69 pts. less than Heaven Can Wait (1978, 89%)
Halloween (2007, 25%)
Rob Zombie doesn’t bring many new ideas to the table in Halloween, making it another bloody disappointment for fans of the franchise.
68 pts. less than Halloween (1978, 93%)
The Pink Panther (2006, 22%)
Though Steve Martin is game, the particulars of the Inspector Clouseau character elude him in this middling update.
68 pts. less than Day of the Dead (1985, 82%)
The Fog (2005, 4%)
A so-so remake of a so-so movie, lacking scares, suspense or originality.
67 pts. less than The Fog (1979, 71%)
Mr. Deeds (2002, 22%)
This update of Capra doesn’t hold a candle to the original, and even on its own merits, Mr. Deeds is still indifferently acted and stale.
67 pts. less than Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936, 89%)
Arthur (2011, 25%)
An irritating, unnecessary remake that demonstrates the libertine charm Russell Brand exudes in supporting roles turn against him when he’s star of the show.
65 pts. less than Arthur (1981, 90%)
Swept Away (2002, 5%)
Muddled and lacking the political context of the original, Swept Away offers further proof that Madonna can’t act.
64 pts. less than Swept Away (1975, 69%)
Rollerball (2002, 3%)
Removing the social critique of the original, this updated version of Rollerball is violent, confusing, and choppy. Klein makes for a bland hero.
63 pts. less than Rollerball (1975, 66%)
Pulse (2006, 11%)
Another stale American remake of a successful Japanese horror film, Pulse bypasses the emotional substance of the original and overcompensates with pumped-up visuals and every known horror cliche.
63 pts. less than Pulse (2005, 74%)
The Heartbreak Kid (2007, 29%)
Despite some amiable performances, The Heartbreak Kid is neither as daring nor as funny as the Farrelly Brothers’ earlier films.
62 pts. less than The Heartbreak Kid (1972, 91%)
Ben-Hur (2016, 25%)
How do you fight an idea? By filming a remake that has too few of its own, and tries to cover it up with choppy editing and CGI.
61 pts. less than Ben-Hur (86%, 1959)
Psycho (1998, 37%)
Van Sant’s pointless remake neither improves nor illuminates Hitchcock’s original.
