Movie reboots often have earned a bad reputation as they’re perceived as cash grabs on nostalgia. However, every once in a while, some reboots surpass expectations, bringing new life to a well-loved franchise. With that, here are the 9 movie reboots that shocked everyone.
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Fans had already seen two Spider-Man series starring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Yet, Marvel decided to skip the origin story and softly introduce Tom Holland in Captain America: Civil War before his first solo movie. With that, they showed the audience a younger and more relatable version of Peter Parker. It evolved into a coming-of-age story rather than an origin, offering audiences something new.
8. Creed (2015)
The Rocky franchise began strong, but its momentum waned after the release of its fifth film. With this, Rocky Balboa tried to undo the damage with his sixth installment, but some still sensed that something was missing. Through Creed, the franchise gained a new life with Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky and the acting talent of Michael B. Jordan. The film follows Adonis Creed, the son, while Rocky remains his trainer.
7. The Addams Family (1991)
Barry Sonnenfeld brought The Addams Family to a 1991 reboot, following its original franchise from a 1964 television series. The story originally took the original three-panel comic strip in 30-minute sitcom episodes, but the reboot expanded it into a feature-length movie. It also resulted in Addams Family Values, which audiences hail as one of the best ’90s gothic comedies. The movie also increases its franchise 34 years later with Netflix’s Wednesday being a hit.
6. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
The first Ocean’s Eleven was released in 1960, which starred Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. However, it didn’t catch up much with the audience. However, the 2001 version made the film a success, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts, and Don Cheadle. While the original had star power, it was criticized for having a weak script. Meanwhile, the reboot boasts both star power and improved scriptwriting.
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
The Planet of the Apes franchise is known to have had previous failures in rebooting with its 2001 attempt. However, when Fox decided to reboot and renamed it “Rise” for a more modern audience in 2011, it surprisingly worked. The film began again from the start with Caesar and his journey as the first ape to lead a planet-changing revolution. Basically, it tells of a powerful origin story and combines it with modern technology that makes the apes feel real and emotional.
4. The Mummy (1999)
Attempts to revive Universal’s Classic Monster movies often fail, but not with Stephen Sommers’ 1999 film, The Mummy. It swapped the horror of the 1932 original for a spooky but funny action-adventure movie in Indiana Jones style. The film became a box office blockbuster, earning over $400 million worldwide. It also started two successful sequels.
3. Star Trek (2009)
J.J. Abrams had only one idea for a Star Trek movie reboot: to make it cool. Two years after the prequel series concluded in 2005, a new Trek era commenced with the goal of making a movie for everyone. The casting features Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, who have inherited the legacies of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The supporting players also played a role in the success of the reboot, like Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, and the late Anton Yelchin.
2. Batman Begins (2005)
Remember Joel Schumacher’s infamous 1997 disaster with Batman & Robin? Despite featuring George Clooney, the actor himself even disliked his performance. But in 2005, that all changed in Christopher Nolan’s reboot, which brought realism to the superhero genre. Nolan turned Batman’s origin story into a deep dive and launched one of the most successful trilogies in film history.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller’s 1979 Mad Max is a cult classic that actually launched Mel Gibson’s career. But 36 years later, Miller announced plans to reboot his franchise with a new lead. With its stunning visuals, Charlize Theron’s performance as Furiosa, and a strong feminist perspective, the film has won the hearts of the audience.