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10 Movie Remakes That Aren’t the Same Genre as the Original
BY PHILIP ETEMESI
December 24, 2023
Movie remakes are expected to be the same genre as the original, but some directors switched things up to varying outcomes.
There have been endless calls to leave the classics alone, yet remakes are still common in Hollywood and other film industries. More often than not, audiences and studios succumb to the temptation to rework an old project and infuse some modern spice into it. Whenever this happens, the remake not only tends to follow the same premise as the original, but also sticks to the same genre. However, there are a few times when genres get changed.
Various factors influence such an unusual move. At times, a director loves a story, but feels more comfortable making movies in a certain genre, so they switch things up and hope it works. On other occasions, it simply doesn’t make economic sense to maintain the original film’s genre, hence a fresh playground becomes the only option. Such moves mostly work out well, but there are a few times when the end product is worse.
Here are 10 movie remakes that aren’t the same genre as the original.
10. Anna and the King (1999)
Anna and the King was originally based on a book called Anna and the King of Siam, which has had numerous adaptations, including on Broadway. The 1999 movie version harkens back to the book mostly, and is a loose remake of the 1956 film, The King and I, though that particular film is a musical, while the newer version is strictly a period drama. It tells the story of Anna Leonowens (Jodie Foster), an Anglo-English teacher tasked with teaching the many wives and children of King Mongkut of Siam back in the 19th Century. She goes on to treat them all like ordinary schoolkids, something that causes friction between her and her employer.
Why the Genre Change Is Bad
The original King and I won several Oscars, including Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, while the remake wasn’t recognized by any award organizations. Even though it’s still one of the most recommendable movies about teachers, the decision not to pack in song and dance numbers as was the case the first time around, results in a dull and gloomy viewing experience. Because of this direction, many of the characters also appear wooden. Stream on Max
9. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
The Magnificent Seven is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic Japanese film Seven Samurai. It revolves around seven gunslingers hired by the residents of a small town to free them from the tyrannical rule of the outlaw, Calvera (Eli Wallah). Kurosawa’s film, on the other hand, is a martial arts masterpiece about villagers who hire seven samurai to deal with bandits who are planning to steal their crops after a harvest.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
The western genre was at its peak in Hollywood in the ‘60s, whereas the martial arts genre didn’t become popular until the ‘70s. It, therefore, made sense to give audiences something they loved. And it’s worth acknowledging that director John Sturges did a great job of tweaking the story enough to make it fit into the Old West. Thanks to his transplanting expertise, the movie ended up receiving excellent reviews and is now considered one of the must-see western flicks for anyone looking to explore the genre. Stream on Paramount+
RELATED:10 Asian Films That Are Way Better Than Their American Remakes
8. The Stepford Wives (2004)
the stepford wives
Release DateJune 10, 2004DirectorFrank OzCastNicole Kidman , Matthew Broderick , Bette Midler , Glenn Close , Christopher Walken , Roger BartRatingPG-13Runtime93Main GenreComedy
The Stepford Wives, a black comedy, is a reworking of the 1975 horror movie of the same name. It sees the popular reality television producer Joanna Eberhart (Nicole Kidman) relocate to a suburb in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with her husband after her career takes a nosedive. There, she discovers that the husbands are implanting microchips into their wives’ heads to make them more submissive.
Why the Genre Change Is Bad
The remake was panned by critics and made a loss at the box office, which isn’t a surprise, considering that all the gags and jokes failed to land. The gender discrimination and feminist topics being addressed here require a serious approach, hence the movie could have fared better by using the same scary tone as the original. By failing to touch on the dangers that arise when men seek subservient partners, Stepford Wives fails to establish itself as one of the iconic films about feminism. Stream on Paramount+
7. Cruel Intentions (1999)
Cruel Intentions
Release DateMarch 5, 1999DirectorRoger KumbleCastSarah Michelle Gellar , Ryan Phillippe , Reese Witherspoon , Selma Blair , Louise Fletcher , Joshua JacksonRatingRRuntime97Main GenreDrama
It’s never wise to share your plans with the entire world. That’s something the teenager Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) learns as soon as she declares her intentions to remain a virgin until marriage. Soon, she becomes the target of a sexual competition where her nefarious peers vow to make her break the promise she made to herself.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
Cruel Intentions is way more popular than Dangerous Liaisons (the original), so much so that it even has a few sequels, whereas its predecessor came and went without much fanfare. This is mainly because it has plenty of intriguing characters, who all embody various teenage-related themes. Consequently, it has been used as a blueprint by many directors hoping to make fascinating teen dramas. The location change from ancient Paris to modern New York also makes it more relatable. Stream on Tubi
6. Outland (1981)
Outland is a space version of the critically acclaimed western, High Noon. Undoubtedly one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of the ‘80s, it stars Sean Connery as a police marshal assigned to one of Jupiter’s moons to oversee a mining operation. After a few weeks on the job, he discovers that there is a drug operation ring run by the manager. He thus makes an effort to try and stop it before it’s too late.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
Space operas were the most desired films in the late-70s and early-80s, thanks to the popularity of the Star Wars franchise, so it made sense to jump on the trend. Initially, director Peter Hyams intended to make a western remake, but after observing the trends, he felt it would be wise to supply something that suited the demand. And there’s no denying that he was creative while making the necessary modifications. Rent on AppleTV
5. For A Few Dollars More (1965)
For a Few Dollars More
Release DateMay 10, 1965DirectorSergio LeoneCastClint Eastwood , Lee Van Cleef , Gian Maria Volonte , Mara Krupp , Luigi Pistilli , Klaus KinskiRatingRRuntime132Main GenreWestern
Sergio Leon’s For a Few Dollars More finds the bounty hunter, Manco (Clint Eastwood), chasing after the outlaw, El Indio. He soon bumps into Col. Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef), who is after the same man, and the two agree to work together. This western is based on yet another Akiro Kurosawa film, Sanjuro.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
Both movies are good, but For a Few Dollars trumps the original when it comes to dialogue. The western has some of the most memorable quotes in the Dollars trilogy, making it both fun to watch and to listen to. Lines like, “If Wild sees me, the sun will catch fire,” and “No amore, no dinero, no sun,” are nowhere to be found in Sanjuro’s subtitles. Besides that, Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood give way better performances thanks to their superior talents. Rent on AppleTV
4. Emma (2020)
Emma.
Release DateFebruary 13, 2020DirectorAutumn DeWildeCastAnya Taylor-Joy , Johnny Flynn , Bill Nighy , Mia Goth , Myra McFadyen , Josh O'ConnorRatingPGRuntime124Main GenreComedy
Period drama Emma shares a plot with the modern-themed coming-of-age teen comedy, Clueless. It revolves around Miss Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy), a young and wealthy woman from Regency-era England who enjoys playing matchmaker for her friends and relatives. On many occasions, her efforts result in unfavorable outcomes.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
The genre change creates room for the story to be explored in a cultured manner. Clueless is riddled with teen tropes and focuses more on laughter than love, despite the premise being about a matchmaker. Emma, on the other hand, covers all the complexities that came with dating and courtship in old times. The genre change was also good because it prompted a Best Costume Design nomination at the Oscars, something that happened because of the lovely period attire. Stream on Peacock
3. Colorado Territory (1949)
Colorado Territory’s case is a rare one because it is directed by Raoul Walsh, who also made the original, High Sierra. In addition to that, they were only released eight years apart, yet most remakes take a while to happen. Both movies are about an outlaw (still played by Humphrey Bogart in both films), who is broken from jail for one final job, but the 1941 film is a noir, while the 1949 film is a western.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
This is presumably another case of a director adjusting to the changing Hollywood tide to not remain a relic of the past. Walsh quickly realized that movie lovers were leaning towards westerns, so he made the necessary tilt. The original is still superior when it comes to the plot and dialogue, but both films are recommendable for anyone who loves Bogart and Walsh. Stream on Plex
2. Barb Wire (1998)
Remaking the greatest war movie of all time, was never a good idea, but the producers of Barb Wire felt it would be a good idea to cover the same ground as Casablanca. The newer version of the story is set during the Second Civil War in 2017, when America is heavily divided, forcing the nightclub owner, Barb Wire (Pamela Anderson Lee), to also work as a mercenary.
Why the Genre Change Is Bad
The shift from war/romance drama to sci-fi was a terrible idea, proven by the six Razzies the movie was nominated for. In addition to that, Anderson was also nominated for Worst Actress at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. The box office figures weren’t great either, so this is a project that definitely ought to have been abandoned. Like The Godfather or Shawshank Redemption, Casablanca is simply one of those films that can’t (and shouldn’t) be remade in any form. Rent on AppleTV
1. Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale
Release DateNovember 14, 2006DirectorMartin CampbellCastDaniel Craig , Eva Green , Mads Mikkelsen , Judi Dench , Jeffrey Wright , Giancarlo GianniniRatingPG-13Runtime144Main GenreAction
So good is Casino Royale that many often forget that it isn’t entirely original. The first film came out in 1967, and in it, James Bond battles Dr. Noah and the evil organization known as SMERSH. In the rebooted 2006 version, Bond takes on the criminal banker known as Le Chiffre, though many of the supporting characters (including his love interest, Vesper Lynd), remain the same.
Why the Genre Change Is Good
Martin Campbell’s Casino Royale is a dark spy film that strips off most of the cheesiness that the franchise had been known for until that point. Because of this approach, it comes off as more realistic. Most importantly, the remake ushered in the Craig-era of Bond movies, which is widely considered to be the best, if not second-best phase of the franchise ever since it was conceived. From well-choreographed action sequences to deeper plots, the recent 007 adventures have been nothing but awe-inspiring. Stream on Prime Video.
