Top 10 Worst Movies That Deserve a Remake

Top 10 Worst Movies That Deserve a Remake

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Behind many bad or disappointing movies lies the potential for greatness. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 worst movies that deserve a remake.   For this list, we’re looking at films that were largely disappointing upon their initial release - whether it was critically, commercially or both - and thus deserve another lease on life. Many of the films here are based upon existing intellectual properties, which made their cinematic stumbling all the more painful for those dying to see these stories properly told. Note also that a film is still eligible even if there are rumors of a reboot, remake, spin-offs, and so on surrounding it.  

The first entry in “The Inheritance Cycle” fantasy novel series was self-published by the still-teenaged author Christopher Paolini and his family back in 2002. It quickly gained an ardent fan base, and received the big budget movie treatment only a few years later, to a balanced sentiment of both excitement and skepticism. Although the author himself approved of the translation, critics were not so forgiving, with many accusing the film’s story of being too derivative of the “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” franchises, while also remarking on the inexperience of first time director Stefen Fangmeier. We’re hoping another stab at an adaptation would be able to highlight what fans had loved about it in the first place.  

#9: “Catwoman” (2004)

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Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman, is a great character, yet no one has quite been able to present the smart, sexy, and dangerous burglar properly on the big screen... well, not since Tim Burton. Case in point? This 2004 bomb, which, by all accounts, has to be one of the worst comic book adaptations ever filmed. Halle Berry stars as Patience Philips, a new incarnation of the anti-heroine, in what is essentially another origin story. Unfortunately, a daft script, exaggerated performances, and some of the most cringe-worthy CGI imaginable make this cat’s claws utterly harmless. But hey, at least cats have nine lives, and that means they have at least a few more chances to revamp this feline femme fatale.

Granted, director Oliver Stone may’ve already inundated the market with his disappointing 2004 historical drama, but we saythat there’s still a demand out there for the story of Alexander the Great to be told – and told well. Sure, Colin Farrell may not have completely convinced in the title role, but Stone’s film wasn’t entirely without merit, telling an epic tale during an era when films like “Gladiator” and “Troy” were still fresh in people’s minds. Maybe instead of yet another re-edit of the Oliver Stone version though, some other up-and-coming director could add a fresh spin to the story of this intriguing, iconic world conqueror.  

#7: “Resident Evil” (2002)

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Although the 2002 film adaptation of “Resident Evil” wasn’t particularly liked by critics, it did spawn countless sequels. In recent years, however, interest in this cinematic franchise has sharply declined. What could kick start “Resident Evil” once again? We say a remake with practical effects, make-up, and monsters, as opposed to the tired computer-generated effects that were used by the later films. In a day and age where old school horror techniques are coming back in fashion with younger directors, this could be just the boost “Resident Evil” needs to once again rise to the occasion. Getting rid of Alice and focusing on characters from the video games may also help.  

Michael Bay drew critical ire when he decided to adapt the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor into a romantic dramatization starring Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hartnett. Many cried foul at the film’s historical inaccuracies and love triangle subplot, while others focused on Bay’s penchant for relentless explosions. “Pearl Harbor” did reap significant financial rewards at the box office, however, and we think the story could still be done justice if placed in the hands of someone capable of balancing both action and storytelling in the proper ratio.  

#5: “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003)

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Based on the celebrated comic book series, this was another case of Hollywood not properly following the source material, preferring instead to create a straightforward, big budget action film following Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s tale of fantastic fictional characters from history. Truth be told, the film works fine in that respect, but fans and critics alike still balked at “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” and plans for a franchise quickly fizzled out. 2015 first unearthed rumors of a reboot, however, so the time may yet still come for Allan Quatermain, Dr. Jekyll, Tom Sawyer and Captain Nemo to rebuild their League on the big or small screen.  

#4: “Super Mario Bros.” (1993)

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Some films seem destined to garner a cult following, regardless of critical or commercial disdain. “Super Mario Bros.” is one of those films. This VERY loose adaptation of the classic Nintendo game first hit theaters in 1993. Bizarre costumes, flashy action sequences, and wacky performances abound in “Super Mario Bros.” Yet, its tenuous link to the video game series didn’t win it many favors with fans at the time. Although we’re not sure if anything can quite match the head-scratching weirdness that is “Super Mario Bros,” we’d love to see some inventive filmmaker out there try his hand at remaking this one.  

#3: “The Last Airbender” (2010)

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Fans have been known to get up in arms when a film adaptation misses the mark. Nothing quite touches the vehemently negative reaction to M. Night Shyamalan’s take on the animated series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Not only did fans react negatively to the casting of Caucasian actors in what should’ve been Asian roles, but the “Avatar” community and others also commented on the quality of acting, story, and special effects, all of which were almost universally panned. Even if you’ve never watched the show, it’s clear by this point that “Avatar” fans deserve a proper big screen adventure with their heroes.  

The late nineties didn’t exactly foster the same comic-friendly cinema climate we enjoy today. Michael Jai White stars as creator Todd McFarlane’s betrayed military man who sells his soul to the devil in order to return to the woman he loves, only to find outthat she has remarried his best friend in the five years since his death. We think that a character with such a tragic backstory needs to make a serious comeback, not to mention the fact that Spawn himself is practically the definition of badass as he fights demons and devils for his very soul. Make this one happen, Hollywood, and do it right! Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions! “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (2004) “Jumper” (2008) “Sphere” (1998)

#1: “The Golden Compass” (2007)

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Coming out in the wake of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Lord of the Rings” franchises, “The Golden Compass” has been described as one of the most disappointing adaptations ever. Shying away from Philip Pullman’s source material, it was criticized for blunting the anti-Catholic sentiment within the film, while religious organizations complained about how said themes stemmed from the source material. However, with several years having gone by since its release, perhaps it’ll soon be the right time to reevaluate once again and attempt to bring Pullman’s tale to life. Fingers crossed that the BBC can do “His Dark Materials” justice on the small screen.   Do you agree with our list? Which bad movies do you think deserve some redemption? For more thought-provoking top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com!