5 best movie remakes of 2025 that were better than the original (and 5 that were not)

Movie remakes of 2025 have been a tumultuous genre, although some surprised everyone by understanding the assignment and some were deeply disappointing. From legacy remakes and classic adaptations to live-action remakes, if there's one thing we've learned then it's this: nostalgia alone is not a creative strategy and definitely not a substitute for vision.

Here are five movie remakes of 2025 that were (almost) better than their original counterpart, and five that didn't live up to expectations at all and should have stayed in the vault.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Five movie remakes of 2025 that absolutely stole the show

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein saw the light of the day once again, thanks to Guillermo del Toro, who made it one of the best movie remakes of 2025. Starring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as The Monster, the film rewired how we see the antagonist of the novel, giving Elordi's character more space, a fresher take, and a whole lot of humanity.

The film was praised for it's brilliant direction and design, and the performances, especially Elordi who disappeared into the Monster unrecognizably. Although the story shifted gears in a few ways, straying away from Shelley's depiction of events, it stayed authentic to the source's creativity and it's portrayal of a man ruined by science.

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Highest 2 Lowest

Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest was an English retelling of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low, and without a doubt it was one of the best remakes of 2025, thanks to a stellar cast that brought music, magic and a mogul who has the best ears in the business. The film follows David King, a music mogul who's child gets kidnapped and he is asked for a large ransom. The twist is that the kidnapped child is actually his driver's son, and he is forced to choose between the ethical choice of saving him, or walking away with his wealth.

The performances anchor the film, and it lives up to how good Kurosawa's original film was. Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have always been a powerful combo, and they definitely gave us one of the best remakes of 2025.

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The Naked Gun

Can Liam Neeson do comedy and ace it? Absolutely yes! Akiva Schaffer's The Naked Gun paired Neeson up with Pamela Anderson in an absurd, hilarious premise for a film that involved spiritual owls, slapstick comedy and some of the best physical comedy of the year. A reboot of the original franchise that starred Leslie Nielsen, The Naked Gun stars Neeson as his son who is working hard to ensure the Police Squad does not shut down.

The film is hilarious, with good acting and directing and is just as good as it's predecessors. Hands down one of the best movie remakes of 2025.

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Bugonia

Bugonia stands out as one of the best movie remakes of 2025 because it takes a cult classic and fearlessly mutates it into something bold, unsettling, and very now. A reimagining of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, the story follows two conspiracy obsessed men who kidnap a powerful pharmaceutical CEO, convinced she is an alien planning Earth’s destruction.

With Emma Stone delivering a chilling performance opposite Jesse Plemons, director Yorgos Lanthimos transforms the original’s chaos into a razor sharp, visually striking remake that feels urgent rather than nostalgic.

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Superman

Superman earns its place as one of the best movie remakes of 2025 because it finally understands what makes the character timeless. Written and directed by James Gunn, the film is a reboot of the Superman film franchise, reimagining the DC icon for a new generation.

David Corenswet stars as a younger, emotionally grounded Clark Kent, one who is more colorful, cheerful and a sign of hope than the previous iterations of the caped hero. One of the biggest and most successful films of the year, Gunn took Superman back to his roots, making him a symbol of hope, just like he was in the comics.

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Five movie remakes of 2025 that should have stayed in the vault

The Running Man

The Running Man lands as one of the worst movie remakes of 2025 because it mistakes scale and speed for substance. A new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel and a reworking of the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, it follows Ben Richards, a desperate father forced into a televised manhunt where survival equals entertainment.

Glen Powell leads a stacked cast but none of them can save the film from its problems. Edgar Wright’s slick style overwhelms the satire, and what should feel urgent and horrifying ends up loud, glossy, and oddly empty.

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I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer did not exactly live up to it's franchise's horror and brilliance because it leans way too hard on nostalgia without adding anything sharp or scary. The film follows a group of friends who cover up a fatal accident, only to be hunted a year later by a hook wielding killer.

Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders lead the new cast, with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. returning, but even their presence cannot save a story that feels stale, predictable, and weirdly toothless, making it one of the worst movie remakes of the year.

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Wolf Man

Wolf Man ranks among the worst movie remakes of 2025 because it drains the iconic monster of fear and momentum. A reboot of The Wolf Man franchise, the film follows a family man who becomes infected by a werewolf curse while trying to protect his wife and daughter.

What should have felt primal and terrifying ends up being muted, repetitive, and emotionally thin, leaving this remake more somber than savage.

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Fear Street: Prom Queen

Fear Street: Prom Queen is another one of the failed movie remakes of 2025 because it strips the Fear Street formula of everything that once made it fun. Led by a star studded ensemble, the performances still fall flat because it don't live up to the horror of the franchise, and ended up being a boring watch, very off-brand from a franchise that has haunted us for a generation.

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Snow White

Disney gave us the worst live action film they have ever made, and it was for the Disney princess that started the studio in the first place. Marc Webb's live-action remake of Snow White was bleak, bland, and lacked the magic that the original fairytale is known and loved for. Led by Rachel Zegler who played the princess with some different, contemporary twists that altered the character's arc, the film failed to land well with the audience, particularly because of how far it strayed from the original story.