Hollywood loves a safe bet, and a familiar title feels safer than a new idea. Audiences, though, tend to remember the original too well. Critics often do as well, and their scores can show a clear drop.
The ten remakes below are ones where reviewers generally preferred the earlier film. The comparisons rely on broad Rotten Tomatoes style consensus, so treat the gaps as approximate. Scores can shift a little over time.
Psycho (1998)
Gus Van Sant’s version of Psycho copied Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film almost shot for shot, only in color. Critics didn’t find that fascinating. Most saw it as a technical exercise with no spark.
Hitchcock’s original sits near the top of critical rankings, with a score in the mid nineties. The remake landed far lower, closer to the bottom third. Reviewers kept asking what the point was.
The Wicker Man (2006)
The 1973 British original is a cult favorite, admired for its eerie folk horror mood. Neil LaBute’s remake moved the story to an American island and swapped the dread for unintentional laughs.
Critics were harsh. The remake’s approval rating stayed in the low teens, while the original holds a strong, well above average score. Its reputation today rests mostly on memes.
Total Recall (2012)
Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 Total Recall mixed satire, violence and a playful sense of reality. The 2012 version, directed by Len Wiseman, polished the look and lost most of the personality.
The original earned a clearly favorable score, in the low eighties. The remake fell to roughly about one third positive. Many reviews described it as handsome but hollow.
RoboCop (2014)
Verhoeven’s 1987 RoboCop was a sharp, bloody satire of corporate America. José Padilha’s remake aimed for a cleaner, more serious tone, and many critics felt the bite was missing.
The original scores in the nineties. The remake landed near the middle, around half positive, which is respectable but well short. It wasn’t hated, just outclassed.
Point Break (2015)
The 1991 Point Break was a stylish action film with surfing, bank robberies and plenty of charm. The 2015 version swapped surfing for extreme sports stunts and lost the human story along the way.
The original’s score is comfortably positive, in the high sixties to seventies. The remake sank into single digits or close to it. Critics praised some stunt work but little else.
Partner offer
Poltergeist (2015)
The 1982 Poltergeist, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper, is a haunted house classic. Gil Kenan’s remake followed the same outline with fewer scares and less warmth.
Critics gave the original a score in the nineties. The remake came in around one third positive. Reviewers called it unnecessary more often than they called it bad.
Ben-Hur (2016)
The 1959 Ben-Hur won eleven Academy Awards and is known for its chariot race and sheer scale. Timur Bekmambetov’s 2016 remake tried to compress the story into a much shorter running time.
The original still enjoys a very high critical rating. The remake received roughly one quarter positive reviews and flopped at the box office. Critics said the emotional core got lost in the rush.
The Lion King (2019)
Disney’s 1994 animated Lion King is one of its most loved films, with a score in the low nineties. Jon Favreau’s 2019 version used photorealistic animation and followed the story closely.
Critics scored it at only slightly above half positive. Many said realistic animals couldn’t show the emotion that drawn characters did. It still earned well over a billion dollars worldwide.
Pinocchio (2022)
Disney’s 1940 Pinocchio is regarded as a landmark of animation, and its critical standing is close to perfect. Robert Zemeckis directed the live action remake for Disney+, with Tom Hanks as Geppetto.
Reviewers were unimpressed. The remake received well under half positive reviews, around the high twenties. Complaints focused on the uncanny digital effects and a lack of charm.
Snow White (2025)
Disney’s 1937 Snow White was the first full length cel animated feature, and critics still rank it among the greats. The 2025 live action version arrived to a loud debate and a mixed critical reception.
Its approval rating landed below half, in the low forties. The original sits in the high nineties. The remake also underperformed given its large budget.
Final Thoughts
None of these remakes is the worst film ever made, and a few have defenders. Still, in each case critics agreed the original did something the new version couldn’t repeat. If you have limited time, start with the earlier film.
Partner offer
Planning a trip to Vegas?
Compare hotel rates and show tickets on VEGAS.com.
