10 Classic Movies That Can’t Actually Be Rebooted

Summary

• Remakes of iconic movies like
  2001: A Space Odyssey
  would lack what made them unique.
• Some classic movies, like
  Casablanca
  and
  The Godfather
  , are deemed untouchable due to their legendary actors and directors.
• The charm and legacy of movies like
  The Princess Bride
  and
  Star Wars
  would be at risk if remade today.

Some classic movies can never be remade due to the specific circumstances in which they were produced being impossible to recreate — and possible copyright issues. Many famous movies should never be remade, but this might technically still be possible if the studio is determined enough to make it happen. Others are so associated with certain actors, directors, or the time in which they were made that a reboot is impossible, and if some ill-advised attempt came to pass anyway, it wouldn’t really be that movie.

More likely in cases like this is that studios will attempt to produce tie-in properties as part of the constant barrage of upcoming unwanted sequels and remakes. The best legacy sequels of all time convince studios and filmmakers that they can be the exception to bad continuations of classic movies. However, the idea of remaking certain classics just doesn’t work due to legal or narrative reasons, if not something else.

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10 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey’s Slow Pacing Was Elevated By Its Innovation

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Today, 2001: A Space Odyssey is actually an awkward movie that moves at an excruciatingly slow pace; it can’t compare to the engaging, fast-paced sci-fi movies that it inspired, such as Star Wars and Interstellar. 2001: A Space Odyssey established most of the most common tropes of the sci-fi space adventure genre and made waves in the industry with its groundbreaking effects. It is also inextricably linked with the late director Stanley Kubrick, while the rights to the material are still with Warner Bros.

2001: A Space Odyssey has some tie-in novels and comics, as well as the movie sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact. The sequel achieved decent reviews (67% on Rotten Tomatoes) but is nowhere near as famous. Its under-the-radar status shows how important new technology is to making 2001: A Space Odyssey work. 2001: A Space Odyssey can’t be reproduced for entertainment alone; it would be lacking what made the original movie a hit.

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2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most well-known films. A science-fiction epic, the film tells the story of the journey of Discovery One, a spacecraft operated by a group of scientists, astronauts, and a sentient computer, on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious monolith. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Kubrick combines sparse dialogue with the heavy use of scoring and ambiguous imagery to create something that eschews conventional filmmaking. 

Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date April 3, 1968 Writers Stanley Kubrick , Arthur C. Clarke Cast Keir Dullea , Gary Lockwood , William Sylvester , Daniel Richter , Leonard Rossiter , Margaret Tyzack Runtime 149 minutes

9 Casablanca (1943)

Casablanca Is A WWII Movie Made During WWII

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Casablanca accomplished the impressive feat of delivering a movie during World War II that tastefully handled current events within the plot and was well received, becoming considered one of the best movies of all time. Casablanca primarily focuses on the romance that would never last between the main characters, but part of Rick’s decision to let Ilsa go is because of what her husband will do for the war effort. The famous ending implies that Rick and Louis will do more things like this, but doesn’t feel the need to detail what that might be.

There are multiple unmade Casablanca sequels and remakes; shockingly, Warner Bros. discussed remaking it in 1973. Director François Truffaut possibly made an impression when he turned down the job because he couldn’t imagine replacing Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman because Warner Bros. never revisited the idea. Now, there has only been more time for Casablanca to ferment as an iconic classic that cannot be touched, and remaking it is even more ludicrous.

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Set in Morocco against the backdrop of the Second World War, Casablanca stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, a nightclub owner whose past comes back to haunt him when an old lover comes to ask for his help in smuggling her and her current husband out of the Nazi-occupied city. Ingrid Bergman stars alongside Bogart as Ilsa, with a further cast that includes Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, and Dooley Wilson. 

Director Michael Curtiz Release Date January 23, 1943 Writers Julius J. Epstein , Philip G. Epstein , Howard Koch , Murray Burnett , Joan Alison , Casey Robinson Cast Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet Runtime 102 minutes

8 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton Won’t Let A Nightmare Before Christmas Remake Happen

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The possibility of a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas has come up over the years since the first movie became a cult classic. Tim Burton (who created the idea for the movie but did not direct it) told Empire that he is not interested in making any kind of sequel or reboot: “I feel like that old guy who owns a little piece of property and won’t sell to the big power-plant that wants to take my land.” This comment implies that Burton still has some legal sway over the rights to The Nightmare Before Christmas.

However, remaking The Nightmare Before Christmas as a live-action movie is laughable because the aesthetics created through stop-motion is part of its appeal. Remaking the movie in stop-motion (if anyone would think this worthwhile) would be a very long and tedious process that would ultimately accomplish nothing new. If Burton or Henry Selick felt like they had a valid story idea and wanted to put in the time to animate a sequel, it could work, but Burton is vehemently uninterested in this.

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Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.

Director Henry Selick Release Date October 29, 1993 Writers Caroline Thompson Cast Catherine O’Hara , Glenn Shadix , Ken Page , William Hickey , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Danny Elfman Runtime 76 minutes

7 Dead Poets Society (1989)

Dead Poets Society Is A Perfect Part Of Robin Williams’ Legacy

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It seems unlike that anyone would consider remaking Dead Poets Society, simply out of respect for Robin Williams’ legacy. Williams’ performance as John Keating is already perfect, and there is no need to have another actor fail to live up to him. Some young stars, including Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, are also forever associated with the movie, making it hard to recast their characters. Dead Poets Society would also be very thematically complicated to remake today.

Many people consider Dead Poets Society a timeless classic, therefore remaking it would be a pointless endeavor.

Many have compared Dead Poets Society to The Holdovers, which only shows that much of Dead Poets Society still holds up today and doesn’t need to be rehashed in another movie. On the other hand, Dead Poets Society should also never be remade for the contrasting reason that its approach is sometimes too idealized. Many people consider Dead Poets Society a timeless classic, therefore remaking it would be a pointless endeavor.

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Set in an all-boys prep school in the 1950s, Dead Poets Society follows John Keating (Robin Williams), an English who inspires his students to appreciate poetry, think critically, and see life from a new perspective. The cast also includes Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, and Josh Charles.

Director Peter Weir Release Date June 2, 1989 Writers Tom Schulman Cast Robin Williams , Robert Sean Leonard , Ethan Hawke , Josh Charles , Gale Hansen , Dylan Kussman Runtime 128 minutes

6 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Apocalypse Now’s Controversy & Success Is Precarious Ground To Retread

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Apocalypse Now is also a feat of scale and effects, rendering any remake redundant when it will just be replicating what was impressive because of novelty. Its skillful adaptation of the basic Heart of Darkness story is impressive screenwriting, which may tempt filmmakers to try and accomplish something similar with the same or another classic novel (i.e., translating it into a completely different historical context). It is also attached to iconic actors including Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Harrison Ford, and is considered one of Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpieces.

Timing is also important to the movie’s effect, as it came out a few years after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Apocalypse Now would be incredibly precarious to remake due to the many controversies surrounding its production, including real warfare happening at the same time (via MovieWeb). An accurate summation would be that Coppola was lucky in many regards with Apocalypse Now, and trying to recreate what made the movie a hit is a pipe dream.

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In Francis Ford Coppola’s classic Vietnam War film, loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a rogue Colonel who has created a cult-like compound in the Cambodian jungle and is currently waging his own war outside the army’s purview. Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively, with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper. 

Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date August 15, 1979 Writers Joseph Conrad , John Milius , Francis Ford Coppola , Michael Herr Cast Marlon Brando , Martin Sheen , Robert Duvall , Frederic Forrest , Sam Bottoms , Laurence Fishburne Runtime 147 minutes

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5 The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather Would Not Be Complete Without The Original Cast & Director

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In 2012, the estate of author Mario Puzo challenged Paramount Pictures for the rights to The Godfather to prevent the studio from making any more movies, but eventually lost the case (via The Hollywood Reporter). However, Paramount still seems to be treating The Godfather as untouchable, while what legal sway Coppola has over the matter (or with any of his movies) is unclear. However, it is safe to say that there are many reasons The Godfather couldn’t be remade today.

The Godfather will forever be the product of the legendary actors and director who made it the first time around, and any contemporary artists and performers would be fools to try to mimic them. It is still one of the most lauded movies ever made, and there is no point in giving people another movie when they can just watch the original. Additionally, The Godfather is a very lengthy movie that might not capture people the same way today as it is just retelling a story they’ve already seen.

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Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would go on to become one of the most iconic crime films ever made. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather gives a tense and introspective look into the Corleone crime family of New York City.

Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date March 24, 1972 Writers Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola Cast Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall Runtime 175 minutes

4 The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Remakes & Retellings Of The Wizard Of Oz Demand Something New

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Admittedly, there are multiple Wizard of Oz remakes in development, but they tend toward revamping the story and setting. The novels are in the public domain and probably will continue to spawn retellings like Tin Man or Emerald City. Warner Bros. has historically been very protective of the elements that originated with the movie (via The Hollywood Reporter). Kenya Barris is working on a Wizard of Oz remake at Warner Bros. and may have permission to utilize elements like the movie’s songs. However, the director has stressed that this will be a new take on The Wizard of Oz.

The novels are in the public domain and probably will continue to spawn retellings like Tin Man or Emerald City.

In all this time, no one has actually tried to remake the first Wizard of Oz movie beat for beat. The closest anyone came is the infamous Return to Oz sequel. Like many other classic movies with their iconic leads, The Wizard of Oz is tied up with Judy Garland. It is also a product of its time, offering a story about hopeful escapism but returning home set and released at the end of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The Wizard of Oz‘s format is also a little outdated, too chipper to be taken seriously by today’s audience.

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Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family. 

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Director Victor Fleming Release Date August 25, 1939 Writers Florence Ryerson , Noel Langley , Edgar Allan Woolf Cast Margaret Hamilton , Jack Haley , Judy Garland , Bert Lahr , Ray Bolger Runtime 102 minutes

3 The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride’s Older Style & Tone Are Part Of Its Charm

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A lot of the story elements of The Princess Bride are outdated, demanding more explanation for why the characters do certain things. Aside from also being associated with iconic actors who can’t be replaced, its charm is founded upon being an older movie. The Princess Bride is a classic, swashbuckling adventure with many jokes that are still genuinely funny and a story that isn’t meant to be picked apart — which if it was remade, it certainly would be.

Notably, a retinue of A-list actors produced their own kind of fan-made version of The Princess Bride to raise money for charity during quarantine (via Vanity Fair). Of course, the point of this was to have fun and raise money, and get some samples of how today’s actors might read certain lines. None of them imagined themselves as replacements for Robin Wright or Mandy Patinkin, whose performances are immeasurably famous in movie history.

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Based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a comical fantasy adventure film that tells a swashbuckling tale of a hero and a princess, read to a young, sick boy in bed by his grandfather. The story itself follows farmhand Westley, who embarks on an epic journey to save his beloved princess from an evil prince as he meets strange but reliable companions along the way.

Director Rob Reiner Release Date October 9, 1987 Writers William Goldman Cast Mandy Patinkin , Chris Sarandon , Robin Wright , Cary Elwes , Christopher Guest Runtime 98 minutes

2 Star Wars (1977)

Amid All The Spinoffs & Sequels, No One Is Seriously Considering Remaking A New Hope

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Since Disney won the rights to the franchise, the Star Wars universe is ever expanding. More and more sequels, prequels, and spinoffs have come to fruition, even recasting iconic characters, as was seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story. However, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has since said (via The Hollywood Reporter) that recasting was a mistake, implicitly ruling out ever doing a direct remake: “Maybe I should have recognized this before. We would never make Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford. […] We also can’t go do something with Luke Skywalker that isn’t Mark Hamill.”

Director Matthew Vaughn thinks differently, having said (via The Hollywood Reporter): “Why are the characters so hallowed that from 1977 that you can’t re-do it for a new audience?” It’s safe to say that Star Wars fans would not be pleased with this idea. The first Star Wars movie has stood the test of time, serving as the foundation of a franchise that has disappointed some people in recent years but will always be beloved. It tells a very classic story that changed cinema through introducing new filmmaking techniques and the setting of a galaxy far, far away.

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The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father’s weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.

Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Writers George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Runtime 121 Minutes

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1 Citizen Kane (1941)

The “Greatest Movie Of All Time” Is Untouchable

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Citizen Kane is called “the greatest movie of all time,” which inherently means it can’t be remade. In an article now almost 15 years old, John Patterson suggested the idea of a Citizen Kane remake based around the life of Rupert Murdoch (via The Guardian), as Charles Foster Kane was based on William Randolph Hearst, a name that would have represented something similar in the 1940s. Citizen Kane also broke a lot of ground in cinema and a remake would inherently not have the same novelty.

Citizen Kane‘s story and format wouldn’t land as well today, the plot twists would be redundant, and a remake may even disrupt the legacy of the original. Many classic movies are object lessons against the current mindset of Hollywood, where not everything has to be remade. Filmmakers can tell some powerful stories through some updated reboots, but studios should also consider original ideas.

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Directed by and starring Orson Welles in his feature film debut, Citizen Kane tells the life story of Charles Foster Kane, a self-made business tycoon partially based on William Randolph Hearst. The film tells the story of Kane’s rise and fall from power, narratively framed by the sensation caused by death at the beginning and end of the film. Besides Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorehead, and Ruth Warrick also star. 

Director Orson Welles Release Date April 17, 1941 Writers Herman J. Mankiewicz , Orson Welles , John Houseman , Roger Q. Denny , Mollie Kent Cast Orson Welles , Joseph Cotten , Dorothy Comingore , Agnes Moorehead , Ruth Warrick , Ray Collins Runtime 119 minutes

Source: Empire, MovieWeb, The Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, The Guardian

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