It seems like no property is safe from being remade these days, although there are still some truly iconicsci-fireleases whose legacies should be left to stand for themselves. Throughout film history, audiences have connected with stories of alien encounters, space exploration, and satirical insights into dystopian societies, and a select fewtimeless sci-fi classicshave managed to avoid thedreaded modern Hollywood remaketreatment. While that’s not to say that these movies will never be remade, most sci-fi lovers agree these films should remain untouched.
While there have been some great sci-fi remakes over the years, more often than not, they can come across as cash grabs that try to exploit the appeal of the original without improving on what came before. It’s no surprise that studios often choose to remake some of thebest sci-fi moviesof all time because there’s a built-in audience who will likely check out the movie just out of curiosity. It’s very difficult to pull off a great remake, soit might just be best to allow these sci-fi movies’ legacies to remain intact and undisturbed.
10Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
As the inception point for one of the highest-grossing sci-fi franchises of all time,Star Wars: A New Hopewas where it all began for George Lucas’s epic space operaexploration of the Skywalkers. The ripple effects of this film have been widespread as its undeniable success changed Hollywood as a whole and ushered in the era of the summer blockbuster. With an extended universe that includes three cinematic trilogies and a litany of spin-off media, the legacy ofStar Warslooks set to continue for decades to come.
While it’s always exciting to see how the mythology ofStar Warsgets expanded in subsequent media, nobody wants to see a straight remake of the first film. With Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford as an irreplaceable trio, one only has to look at the reception toSolo: A Star Wars Storyto see their legacy should be left well enough alone. WithThe Force Awakensas the closest thing toA New Hoperemake that anyone would be willing to accept,Star Warsshould focus on new stories and not retread the past.
9Inception (2010)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
While some viewers may be crying out for Christopher Nolan to return to the world ofInceptionfor a sequel that expands upon its unique, dream-exploring world, nobody wants to watch this modern classic be remade. With a smart script, awe-inspiring visuals, and great performances from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio,Inceptionstruck a chord with viewers to become one of the most successful movies of 2010.
Many years have passed sinceInceptionwas released, and there’s fear someone may attempt to go back to the well and try and remake this dream-stealing story. This would truly be a fool’s errand, as, without Nolan at the helm, any attempt to recapture the magic of the original would quickly turn into a nightmare. Sometimes, it’s nice just to let a single movie stand on its own, andInceptionis a great example of Hollywood not being out of original ideas in the 21st century, and to ruin that with a remake would be a shame.
8Brazil (1985)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
The satirical dystopia seen in Terry Gilliam’sBrazilrepresented some of the most unique and interesting work from the former Monty Python member. As a clever and insightful look into the ridiculousness of bureaucracy and the outrageous nature of a surveillance state, the Kafkaesque absurdity at the heart of this movie showcased the sillier side of corporatism and state capitalist agendas seen iniconic works like George Orwell’sNineteen Eighty-Four.
There was a chaotic energy toBrazilthat only Gilliam could pull off as the film tapped into his unique worldview and contributed to hisTrilogy of Imagination, which also includedTime BanditsandThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Taken together, all these films addressed the crazed nature of modern society and humanity’s natural instinct to escape its brutal grasp.Brazilperfectly represented Gilliam’s artistic vision at the time and place in which it was produced, and to remake it today would not have nearly the same impact.
7They Live (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter
While modern society has yet to escape the shackles of Neoliberalism, the cultural landscape has changed quite a lot since John Carpenter releasedThey Livein 1988. As a wildly underrated movie at the time,They Livedeconstructed the issues at the heart of Reaganomicsand showcased how the increased commodification of culture only served to divide society. As the story of a drifter named Nada (Roddy Piper),They Livesaw him discover a pair of special sunglasses that allowed him to see that the ruling class were in fact aliens manipulating the status quo through subliminal messaging.
A straight remake ofThey Livewould not have the same impact, as the idea that an elite ruling class is manipulating culture is no longer a conspiracy theory but an undeniable fact of life. Carpenter’s message remains relevant, but a modern remake would need to take things even further and highlight how citizens can push back against this controlling system. For a remake ofThey Liveto work, it would need to properly address the fractured nature of contemporary life and reimagine its concept for the modern age.
6Blade Runner (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
The visually stunning world ofBlade Runnerperfectly translated Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novelDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?to the screen. With an incredible performance from Harrison Ford and a stylish aesthetic that mixed film noir tropes with a futuristic cyberpunk look, director Ridley Scott truly hit on something special with this cinematic depiction. As a thought-provoking story exploring existentialism, identity, and the nature of artificial intelligence, sometimes a movie is just too iconic to even think about making a remake.
One reason thatBlade Runnershould not be remade is that there are already so many alternate versions of it out there already. Amongthe seven cuts of the film in circulation, audiences are already confused about whether to watch the theatrical version, the director’s cut, or the final cut. Add to this the excellent legacy sequelBlade Runner 2049and the anime seriesBlade Runner: Black Lotus, and there’s enough content in this franchise without resorting to a cash-grab remake of a timeless classic.
52001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Nobody has even dared to try and remakeStanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece2001: A Space Odyssey. With a legacy going back nearly six decades, this extraordinary film represented the cutting edge of cinema’s capabilities at the time and has not lost any of its innate powers in the years since. From its iconic use of classical music to the villainous nature of the AI supercomputer HAL 9000, filmmakers and film fans alike know that it’s impossible to improve upon perfection.
As a cryptic and difficult-to-decipher film, the power of2001: A Space Odysseywas in how well its visuals, sound, special effects, and sequences all came together as a cohesive whole. Trying to remake this movie from a narrative point of view doesn’t truly work, as the mystery of the alien monolith and its early prehistoric sequences have been left up to the audience’s interpretation.2001: A Space Odysseywas a singular classic, and its appeal would be impossible to replicate with a simple remake.
4Alien (1979)
Few sci-fi movies have earned as revered a place in popular culture as Ridley Scott’sAlien, an all-time great film that combines the incredible worldbuilding of the sci-fi genre with the unknowable terror of space. With Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, this story about the space crew slowly being killed off one by one by a terrifying alien creature known as a Xenomorph turned the trope of a helpless female victim on its head to deliver one of cinema’s greatest heroines. As the starting point for a major franchise,Alien’slegacy is practically unmatched.
Part of the appeal of theAlienfranchise is how it’s grown and developed over the years, withdirectors like James Cameron and David Fincher adding to its appeal with unique sequels. A remake would only serve to reset the timeline and undo decades of lore and mythology. Instead, theAlienfranchise should continue to expand through sequels, spin-offs, crossovers, and extended media.
3The Matrix (1999)
Directed by The Wachowskis
Released just before the dawn of the new millennium,The Matrixwas a cinematic phenomenon that revolutionized sci-fi filmmaking. As a deeply thought-provoking and unique exploration of philosophical topics related to free will, reality, and the ethics of belief,The Matrixblended these heavy concepts with fast-paced action and an iconic cyberpunk style. With Keanu Reeves as computer hacker Neo, his role as “The One” sees him leave his simulated reality and enter into a rebellion against the machines who have enslaved humanity.
WhileThe Matrixhas had several divisive sequels, to actually remake a movie this iconic would go down very badly with sci-fi lovers. Reeves' role as Neo feels absolutely irreplaceable, and the appeal ofThe Matrixrepresents a specific moment of transformation within the film industry. From its trailblazing use of its slow-motion bullet time to the unique nature of its premise, a remake ofThe Matrixwould not have nearly the same appeal.
2E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
As the epitome of Steven Spielberg’s family-friendly films, there’s a nostalgic energy and timeless appeal toE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialthat could just never be replicated with a remake. With the perfect balance of adventure, entertainment, and pure wonder,E.T.’ssuccess is firmly rooted in its time and place, as its use of practical effects just wouldn’t have the same impact if they were replaced by modern CGI. The bond between Elliott and E.T. also just felt so natural and unforced that simply repeating this with new actors likely would fall flat on its face.
Spielberg is well aware of the legacy ofE.T.and understands that it was such a special achievement that he has refused even to make a sequel. This was evident through the planned sequelE.T. II: Nocturnal Fears, a movie that would see Elliott and his friends kidnapped by evil aliens, with E.T. needing to save them. Spielberg later said he decided to leave the legacy of E.T. alone because this sequel “would do nothing but rob the original of its virginity” (viaNBC) and that “E.T. is not about going back to the planet.”
1Back To The Future (1985)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Not only is remakingBack to the Futurea terrible idea, but the original director, Robert Zemeckis, has actually ensured that this sci-fi classic cannot be remade, at least while he’s around to stop it (viaVanity Fair.)Zemeckis has managed to hold onto the rights to the franchise all this timeand, in a rare example of artistic integrity in Hollywood, has repeatedly shut down any offers for a remake, reboot, or sequel focusing on the adventures of Doc and Marty.
This is great news for sci-fi lovers, as theBack to the Futuretrilogy remains the crown jewel in family-friendly films of the 1980s. With two irreplaceable performances from Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, it does bear thinking about what modern actors would be recruited to fill their shoes if it was ever greenlit. There’s something special aboutBack to the Future’suntouchable place among the litany of unnecessarysci-fi remakesout there, and long may it continue.
