It is no secret that Hollywood has run out of original ideas and the same movies keep popping up every few years. There are so many good movies out there, so good that they’re remade once, twice, maybe even three times.
Here are some of those movies that didn’t fade away and Hollywood just couldn’t keep their hands off of remaking them!
Oliver Twist
1909 saw the first film release of Oliver Twist, and studios pumped out more version to please audiences who loved the story.
It’s been remade several times and the 1948 remake was extremely well-received. The most famous version was from 1968 and based on the smash hit musical Oliver! The other versions came out in 1922, 1933, 1948, 2005, and 2007, but weren’t as applauded.
Brewster’s Millions
Known as one of the most remade movies ever (seven times to be exact), Brewster’s Millions is based on a 1902 comic of the same name, which was first released in 1914. Other versions came out in 1921, 1926, 19335, 1945, 1961, and 1985.
The original film centers on Montgomery Brewster, a man who has to spend $1 million without getting anything new, to then inherit $7 million. When the 1985 Richard Pryor version came out, Montgomery had to spend $30 million in order to inherit $300 million.
The Great Gatsby
Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel of the same name, The Great Gatsby has been made into feature films five times.
The first one was released in 1926 and three remakes followed it, with the 2013 version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan being the last one.
Great Expectations
Based on the Charles Dickens’ novel from 1861, Great Expectations has been released and remade four times since its initial release in 1917. The 1917 silent film was only 50 minutes long.
The 1934 film (which received less than favorable reviews) starred Phillips Holmes as Pip and Jane Wyatt as Estella. The other versions came out in 1946, 1974, and there was a 1998 movie that served as an updated, more modern verison of the famous tale.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë wrote one of the most renowned pieces of classic literature called Jane Eyre. It’s about a heroine’s journey into adulthood and her blooming love for Mr. Rochester, the mysterious master of Thornfield Hall.
The beloved literary masterpiece has been adapted for both movie and television. At least 70 versions of the novel has been released in different media forms, including radio and theater. The 1910 silent drama Jane Eyre was the first American and first English-language installment and was the second or third worldwide film adaptation. The 2011 version starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender is a beautiful movie with terrific performances.
Frankenstein
After the 1931 release of Frankenstein, there have been many other film adaptations of Mary Shelley’s tale. However, it’s the only one that has remained a cultural touchstone since it came out.
Versions of the story have hit the silver screens in 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein, 1973’s , Frankenstein: The True Story, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), and Victor Frankenstein (2015).
A Star Is Born
The 1937 romantic drama A Star Is Born stars Janet Gaynor as an young aspiring actress with big dreams and Fredric March as an alcoholic movie star looking to relaunch his career. The original film was a huge hit with critics and commercial audiences, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Story. It earned over two million dollars at the box office and it was the first film that showed movies depicting Hollywood life had the potential to be successful with audiences.
The 1954 remake with Judy Garland and James Mason gave the impressive actress a Golden Globe Award and helped reinvigorate her career. The 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson switched things up a bit and became the second highest grossing film that year. Most notable out of all the remakes is the 2018 film starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga which topped box office and music charts.
Seven Samurai
Regarded as one of the most influential actions films ever made, Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese epic Seven Samurai, centers on a village of desperate farmers who hire seven ronin (masterless samurai) to take on bandits who will return after the harvest to steal their crops.
The film itself was remade as The Magnificent Seven in 1960, starring Steve McQueen and Yul Brunner. It’s been garnered as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Other reworked versions include Beyond the Stars and Seven Swords.
