7 Great Sci-Fi Remakes That Surpassed The Originals

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Many movie fans are skeptical of remakes and reboots, but some sci-fi remakes have actually surpassed the originals in quality. Despite a common desire for fresh stories, remakes perform just as well financially as endless sequels, largely because they benefit from established recognition. The most successful remakes often take lesser-known or flawed classics – films people remember, but aren’t necessarily considered masterpieces – and improve upon them. This can involve updating films hampered by old budget constraints, or refining cult favorites with promising concepts that never quite reached their full potential.

Whether it’s classic 1980s science fiction or today’s big-budget movies, here’s a look at some of the best sci-fi remakes that were actually better than the originals.

7) Dredd (2012)

The movie Dredd is based on the popular comic book series 2000 AD, featuring Judge Dredd, a law enforcer in a bleak future. In this world, “Judges” have the power to act as police, judge, and executioner all in one. A previous film adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone as Judge Dredd was released in 1995, but it wasn’t successful with audiences or critics. Many disliked its poor attempts at humor, including a performance by Rob Schneider.

Although the 2012 remake didn’t succeed at the box office, critics liked it much more, and fans of the Judge Dredd comics thought it was a faithful adaptation. Despite the sequel being cancelled due to the film’s financial performance, it’s a significant improvement over the first movie and is still considered one of the best sci-fi action films from the 2010s.

6) Dune (2021)

Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film Dune was a major success, launching a large franchise for Warner Bros. This was a significant improvement over the first attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel to the big screen. The original 1984 version, directed by David Lynch, was a failure – so much so that Lynch himself has distanced himself from it, despite later becoming a celebrated director.

Villeneuve is a truly gifted director who brought the story to life on the big screen. The new Dune features a strong cast, stunning visuals, and thrilling action, ultimately delivering on the promise of the source material in a way David Lynch couldn’t during his attempt.

5) 12 Monkeys (1995)

The movie 12 Monkeys has an unusual origin. It’s based on a 1962 short film called La Jetée by Chris Marker. La Jetée was a unique and experimental film, made entirely of still photographs, but it effectively tells a 28-minute story about time travel and a post-apocalyptic world. The film centers on a mission to send someone back in time to discover the cause of a global catastrophe.

Though the original film was an interesting attempt, Terry Gilliam’s 1995 version is a true sci-fi classic. 12 Monkeys follows a prisoner, played by Bruce Willis, who is sent back in time to uncover the source of a deadly virus that wiped out most of the population. This brilliant time travel story earned two Academy Award nominations and is still considered one of the best films in the genre, even three decades later.

4) The Blob (1985)

Remaking an older movie can be a good idea when the original already has some recognition but didn’t quite live up to its potential. A prime example is the 1958 sci-fi horror film The Blob, starring a young Steve McQueen. The movie tells the story of an alien creature that eats everything in its path. McQueen plays a teenager who tries to stop it. While The Blob is fondly remembered, it was made on a small budget and wasn’t a particularly well-made film.

Chuck Russell’s 1985 remake of The Blob was a significant improvement over the original in terms of acting and special effects, even though it didn’t perform as well at the box office. Starring Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith, the film tells the story of teenagers fighting for survival against an alien creature. Despite its initial failure, The Blob has since become a beloved cult classic, widely considered superior to the Steve McQueen version.

3) The Fly (1986)

Released in 1958, The Fly is a classic science fiction horror film best known for its star, Vincent Price. The movie follows a scientist who accidentally merges with a fly during a teleportation experiment. While successful and leading to two follow-up films, all three movies were made with limited budgets.

David Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of The Fly surpassed the original in every way – which is no surprise, given Cronenberg’s talent. Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, a scientist who transforms into a human-fly hybrid, and the film’s impressive practical effects brought a level of gruesome detail the first movie couldn’t achieve. While the original was a classic, the remake is truly a masterpiece.

2) The Thing (1982)

The 1951 science fiction horror film, The Thing from Another World, was based on the short story Who Goes There. Both versions feature an alien that crashes to Earth and threatens humanity. While the original story depicted a plant-based alien that fed on blood, the 1982 remake is widely considered a horror masterpiece.

John Carpenter’s film, The Thing, closely follows the original story about an alien that crash-lands on Earth. This alien has the terrifying ability to transform into other living things, perfectly mimicking humans. The story unfolds at an Antarctic research station where the creature begins to kill and impersonate the scientists. Many see the film as a reflection of Cold War anxieties, highlighting the fear and distrust that permeated the era – the idea that you could never truly know who to trust, even those closest to you. While it didn’t do well in theaters initially, The Thing gained a strong following over time thanks to its popularity on home video.

1) Invasion of the Body Snatchers

The 1956 science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by Don Siegel and starring Kevin McCarthy, tells the story of a man who discovers aliens are secretly taking over Earth. These aliens replace people by capturing them, growing duplicates in pods, and blending into human society. The film was a hit and is now preserved as a national treasure in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

Although the original film is a well-loved classic, many consider the 1978 remake to be superior. Directed by Philip Kaufman, the remake boasts a fantastic cast including Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, and Brooke Adams. It even features a brief appearance by Kevin McCarthy, who starred in the original. The remake’s special effects are more impressive, it taps into the anxieties of the Cold War era more effectively, and it took the risk of delivering a more pessimistic ending compared to the original’s hopeful conclusion. Both films are highly respected within the sci-fi genre, but the remake ultimately stands out as the stronger of the two.

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2025-12-12 17:21