5 Gender Swap Movies That Worked & 5 That Were a Cash Grab

5 Gender Swap Movies That Worked and 5 That Didnt

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were counting down the best and worst movie remakes and sequels where the lead roles were recast as a different gender. Well be examining whether the gender swap itself worked, not just the quality of the film.

#5: Didnt Work: Hes All That (2021)

The first version, Shes All That, was your standard makeover-themed high school rom-com. The 2021 update follows almost the exact same story beats. The biggest difference aside from the gender swap is that everyone is constantly on social media. Except, of course, for Cameron. Hes this movies Laney Boggs, an artsy loner who turns out to be hot underneath the stocking cap and scraggly hair. The plot is practically a copy-paste of the original. A remake like this could have seized the opportunity to examine beauty standards and the ways they affect men as well as women, but this one fails to do anything interesting at all. Hes All That is basically just a worse, more annoying version of the 1999 film.

#5: Worked: What Men Want (2019)

Both this movie and the original feature high-powered business people using their newfound gift to get ahead in their jobs. What Women Want has ad exec Mel Gibson reading womens minds to steal their ideas and manipulate them. What Men Want, on the other hand, sees sports agent Taraji P. Henson successfully navigating a male-dominated field and exposing her friends lying, cheating partners. Shes no saint, but shes a lot easier to like than Nick Marshall. In fact, Henson is most of the reason this film works. Shes smart and funny, and actually has chemistry with co-star Aldis Hodge. Well go out on a limb and say the gender-swapped version might actually be better than the original.

#4: Didnt Work: The Hustle (2019)

Based on 1988s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which itself is a remake of 1964s Bedtime Story this film stars Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson as con artists who team up to fleece wealthy men. We wanted this movie to work. It should have worked. Hathaway and Wilson are both comedic powerhouses, but for some reason the jokes just do not land. Every punchline feels forced, and we never get the sense that the two leads actually enjoy working together. The script is limp and predictable, and the direction is unremarkable. Its amazing that with so much talent involved in this production that the end result turned out so bad.

#4: Worked: Ghostbusters (2016)

Despite all the hate this movie received from immature men who dont think girls should be allowed to bust ghosts, it was actually a critical success. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones are a comedy dream team. They play off each other perfectly and genuinely look like theyre having a blast. Chris Hemsworth is also no slouch in the comedy department, and he provides the icing on the cake as Kevin the receptionist. These ghostbusters arent just lady versions of the 1980s characters. They have their own unique backstories and motivations. In fact, many fans wish they could have gotten more background on the characters, especially McKinnons Holtzmann.

#3: Didnt Work: Grease 2 (1982)

We wouldnt be surprised if a lot of you didnt even know this movie existed. After Grease became a huge box office smash, Paramount was quick to pump out a sequel. Unfortunately, it was a massive flop. It basically rehashes all the plot points from the original, but with worse songs, worse acting, and worse chemistry between the leads. No offense to Maxwell Caulfield, but he doesnt have John Travoltas singing talent or on-screen presence. And while good girl Sandy Olsson is sweet, down-to-earth, and relatable, her male counterpart Michael is just boring. Grease 2 was a hastily written cash grab, and it shows.

#3: Worked: His Girl Friday (1940)

This screwball comedy features a fast-talking reporter named Hildy investigating a mans wrongful conviction at the behest of her editor, who also happens to be her ex-husband. Its based on the 1928 Broadway play The Front Page, which was first adapted into film in 1931. In both the play and the earlier movie, Hildy is a man. The 1940 version recasts the character with Rosalind Russell and adds a romantic element. Although the film mostly follows the plot of the original, Russells rapid-fire banter with Cary Grant makes it feel fresh and new. The two play off each other brilliantly, making His Girl Friday a true classic of the genre.

#2: Didnt Work: American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules (2020)

This movie was supposed to be a modern take on the teen sex comedy from the girls perspective. It could have been a fun twist on the genre, but it was written and directed by a bunch of dudes, and it shows. Instead of presenting an authentic look at young womens sexuality in the age of social media, its full of raunchy scenes and jokes that are more like something from a male fantasy. Obviously teen comedies dont have to be realistic, but the characters in the first American Pie felt genuine and likable. These girls are just caricatures of high school students.

#2: Worked: Ocean's 8 (2018)

Sandra Bullock plays Danny Oceans sister Debbie. As in the earlier films in this series, she assembles a team to pull off a lucrative heist. This time, theyre stealing a $150 million Cartier necklace right off a celebritys neck during the Met Gala. The star-studded cast is the perfect mix of quirky and oddball characters, and the writing is just as sharp as any movie in the series. The heist itself even includes a surprise twist, just like Oceans Eleven but this movie is far from a rehash. Instead, its a unique spin on the franchise that leaves us wanting more of this gorgeous group.

#1: Didnt Work: American Psycho 2 (2002)

Like Grease 2, this sequel was a quick cash grab intended to capitalize on the popularity of another property. Mila Kunis plays a college student studying criminology whos determined to get into the FBI. Shes also a sociopath who murders just about everyone she meets. If that sounds like it has nothing to do with the first film, youre right it doesnt. Thats because the script was originally called The Girl Who Wouldn't Die and had no connection to the 2000 film. It was hastily retooled to tie it in with American Psycho, and it was so bad that Kunis later admitted she was embarrassed to be in it. Its not funny or scary, and its missing the satire that made the original so brilliant.

#1: Worked: 13 Going on 30 (2004)

This early 2000s rom-com isnt a straight remake, but it has an awful lot in common with a made-for-TV Disney movie from the 80s called 14 Going on 30. In it, a 14-year-old boy uses a machine invented by his nerdy friend to age himself into an adult overnight so he can pursue the teacher he has a crush on. In the Jennifer Garner version, her 13-year-old consciousness magically transports into her own future body. Garner absolutely nails this role. Shes incredibly convincing as a woman with the mind of a young teen not to mention hilarious. The plot might be a little silly, but the humor, romance, and 80s nostalgia more than make up for it.

What movie would you like to see remade as a gender swap? Let us know in the comments below!