10 Movies You Didn’t Know Were Remakes

Nowadays remakes are being released more than ever before. It, Ghostbusters, The Lion King, and Shaft and just a few remakes that have been released within the last few years. Some films are obvious remakes but others might surprise you. Here are 10 films you might not have realized were remakes.

1. Casino Royale

When most people hear the title Casino Royale, they think of the 2006 James Bond film starring Daniel Craig. What people don’t know is the film is actually based on a little-known James Bond film from 1967 called Casino Royale.

The original Casino Royale was more of a comedy spoof of the James Bond franchise than an action-packed installment like the remake. The film has a great cast including Peter Sellers, William Holden, Orson Welles, and even Woody Allen. The original Casino Royale was an absolute failure since it was so different than the other James Bond films and was just downright stupid. Do yourself a favor and skip out on the original and stay with the remake.

2. Little Shop of Horrors

Anyone who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s knows the 1986 sci-fi comedy Little Shop of Horrors. A lot of fans of this film are surprised to hear that it is a remake from a 1960 movie with the same name starring the legendary Jack Nicholson.

The original Little Shop of Horrors follows the same plotline and has the same cheesy charm that the remake is loved for. It was directed by the king of B movies, Roger Corman. Any movie buff will tell you that Roger Corman helped push the cheesy, low budget films into the mainstream. The original Little Shop of Horrors is now a cult classic with a loyal fan base. Any fan of the remake should go back and watch the original Little Shop of Horrors.

3. Gone in 60 Seconds

The 2000 action movie Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie was fairly popular during the turn of the millennium. Car movies were becoming Hollywood’s next big thing in the early 2000s with releases like The Fast and the Furious and the Italian Job (more on this film later). Most of these car films are remakes of classic films. Gone in 60 seconds is no exception.

The original Gone in 60 Seconds was released in 1974 and has a similar plotline as the remake but with a few differences. It is about an insurance investigator who is also a professional car thief who has to steal 48 cars for a South American drug lord in only a few days. There is no sub-story about the main character’s brother being kidnapped like in the 2000 remake.

The original film is best known for a 40-minute high-speed chase scene where over 90 cars were destroyed during the filming process. Around 125 cars were destroyed or damaged during the entire shoot. The original Gone in 60 Seconds is an average film just like the remake but it is still worth the watch if you are into cars and action films.

4. The Italian Job

The Italian Job is another car movie released back in the early 2000s. Released in 2003, this film tried to capitalize on the success of other car films of the time period like The Fast and the Furious and Gone in 60 Seconds. Just like Gone in 60 Seconds, The Italian Job is a remake of a 1969 British film with the same name.

Both movies follow the same storyline about a criminal gang who are trying to steal a shipment of gold coming into Italy from Japan. The remake is much more Americanize and adds a bit more drama than the original. Both versions have a comedic feel to them, but the original has a bit more comedy in it. Both films are worth a watch, but the original Italian Job seems to hold up just a bit better than the remake.

5. The Nutty Professor

The Nutty Professor starring Eddie Murphy is a 1996 classic that many of us grew up watching. This great film is about an overweight scientist who drinks a potion that temporarily turns him into an attractive but crass man named Buddy Love. What people don’t know is this movie is actually a remake of a forgotten 1963 Jerry Lewis film also titled The Nutty Professor.

The original Nutty Professor follows a similar plotline but instead of being an overweight man with a good heart, the professor is a nerdy man with little social skills. Other than that, the plot is the same. Jerry Lewis gives a hilarious performance that gives Eddie Murphy a run for his money. Both films are absolute classics, but the original Nutty Professor is sadly becoming forgotten. Do yourself a favor and go watch the original, you will be glad you did.

6. Flubber

Flubber is another 1990s comedy that many of us grew up watching. Starring the great Robin Williams, Flubber is about a chemistry professor that creates a new substance he calls flubber that takes on a mind of its own. What is interesting is that the film is actually a remake of another classic Disney movie called The Absent-Minded Professor.

Both The Absent-Minded Professor and Flubber follow the same plotline with very little changes. The Absent-Minded Professor was a smash it back when it was released back in 1961 and even inspired a sequel a few years later. Unfortunately, many people have forgotten about The Absent-Minded Professor and have no idea that Flubber was a remake of it. If you are a fan of Flubber, then The Absent-Minded Professor is a must-see.

7. The Hills Have Eyes

With the rise of the horror genre recently, many people are looking back trying to find horror films they might have forgotten about. What is interesting is that many people are going back thinking the original Hills Have Eyes was made in 2006 and picking that up instead of the actual original from 1977. Although the 2006 remake is an awesome movie, the 1977 is a lesser-known masterpiece by Wes Craven.

Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes has the same plot as the 2006 remake but has a particular vibe and charm that the new one does not. The original doesn’t throw nearly as much gore at you as the remake. It relies on the atmosphere and feeling of dread more so than the gore. There is still a fair amount of blood in the movie but it is not the main focal point. The original Hills Have Eyes has a very big cult following now and is a favorite among Wes Craven fans. This is a must-see for any fan of the horror genre.

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8. The Departed

This successful 2006 crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese has been critically acclaimed by both critics and audiences alike. The film is about an undercover cop trying to infiltrate an Irish mob in Boston all while a mole for the mob is trying to do the same within the police department. This sounds like the usual mobster film that Martin Scorsese, but it is actually a remake of a Chinese film from 2002 called Infernal Affairs.

The Departed follows the same plotline as Infernal Affairs but is much more Americanized. There are a few small changes between both films but nothing that would affect the story. Both focus on trying to find out who the mole and the undercover cop is before they are exposed by either the police or the mob. Infernal Affairs is a bit harder to follow than The Departed but that’s due to it being a foreign film and the differences in Chinese and American film making. Regardless Infernal Affairs is still a movie worth seeing and a must-watch for foreign film fans.

9. I Am Legend

This 2007 blockbuster starring Will Smith was not the first movie based on the 1954 novel of the same name. The movie actually takes a lot from the first film based on the book titled The Last Man On Earth from 1964. They have the same plotline about a being the last living person in an apocalyptic city overrun by mutants.

One of the differences between I Am Legend and The Last Man on Earth is that the mutants in I Am Legend are more like zombies where the mutants in The Last Man on Earth are more like vampires. There are a few other subtle differences but not very many. The Last Man on Earth, much like other films on this list, is a very good film that was highly praised during its release but is slowly becoming forgotten.

10. Scarface

Believe it or not, the 1983 movie Scarface starring Al Pacino is a remake of a film from 1932 also called Scarface. Almost everyone has seen or at least knowns about the story of Scarface. It is about a man who climbs up the ranks of the criminal underworld and becomes a drug kingpin.

The 1932 version of Scarface follows the same story, but it takes place on the southside of Chicago and is about alcohol smuggling instead of drug smuggling. Both films are based on the 1929 book Armitage Train that was inspired by Al Capone but the 1932 films follows the story more so than the 1983 remake. The 1932 film has long been forgotten but is still a great movie that many classic film fans will enjoy.

A lot of these films were originally based on books but that is another article entirely. Many films are remakes of older movies and books that many people do not remember. Feel free to leave some of your favorites in the comments below.

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