# Remakes of TV shows/movies that actually worked **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213 "2005-08-01T22:22:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![souroranges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@souroranges](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/souroranges)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/1 "2005-08-01T22:22:40Z")
All of these remakes of movies… Bewitched, The Honeymooners, Dukes of Hazzard, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Bad News Bears… aren’t exactly screaming, “I need a makeover!” (if, of course,metiphorically, movies/shows can talk) Granted, I haven’t seen all of these movies yet, but the recent trend is too simply recreate the essence of the previous show/movie rather than create a new experience for the viewer. (Even Bewitched: the movie, with its lukewarm romantic comedy concept, seemed to attempt to create the same sitcomy lameness of the show) Can anyone please name a movie/TV show (yes even spin-offs) that actually IMPROVED compared to its inspiration? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/2 "2005-08-01T22:54:42Z")
I think the _Addams Family_ movies improved on the TV show. And while I’ve never seen it, I’ve heard critics say that the re-made _Ocean’s Eleven_ was better than the original version. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/3 "2005-08-01T23:07:37Z")
The 1939 [Wizard of Oz](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/) was an improvement over the [original 1925 version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016544/). I thought [The Brady Bunch Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112572/) was a vast improvement over the original TV series, mostly because it poked fun mercilessly at the lamer aspects of the show. I enjoyed the Bill Murray version of [The Razor’s Edge](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087980/) more than I enjoyed [the original Tyone Powers version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038873/). That’s about all I can think of, tho. For the most part, I think that since films are a permanent product, unlike a performance in the theatre, if they were done right, future director’s should just leave them alone and get their own damn stories. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/4 "2005-08-01T23:13:27Z")
And the 1985 [Return to Oz](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089908/combined) was a vast improvement over the 1939 film. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/5 "2005-08-01T23:14:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > The 1939 [Wizard of Oz](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/) was an improvement over the [original 1925 version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016544/). But was it an improvement over the [actual original version from 1910](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0001463/combined?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8dHQ9MXxmYj11fHBuPTF8cT13aXphcmQgb3p8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=8;ft=42;fm=1)? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/6 "2005-08-01T23:19:06Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > And the 1985 [Return to Oz](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089908/combined) was a vast improvement over the 1939 film. Uhhhh not exactly, Doc. **Return to Oz** wasn’t a remake. The source material was a different L. Frank Baum novel. (Sorry, but I can’t remember exactly which one was adapted for this film.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/7 "2005-08-01T23:20:53Z")
Alfred Hitchcock’s **The Man Who Knew Too Much** remake is arguable better than his original. The John Huston **Maltese Falcon** is much better than either of the two previous versions. Same for **His Girl Friday** and the original version of **The Front Page**. **Star Trek IV** was an improvement on the earlier films and on the TV show. Tim Burton’s **Batman** was certainly better than Batman TV show and movies. **The Bride of Frankenstein** is definitely better than the Karloff **Frankenstein**. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/8 "2005-08-01T23:20:54Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > But was it an improvement over the [actual original version from 1910](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0001463/combined?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8dHQ9MXxmYj11fHBuPTF8cT13aXphcmQgb3p8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=8;ft=42;fm=1)? At 10 minutes long, this can hardly be counted as the original film. The first time any of Baum’s work had been set on celluloid, sure, but not even close to a feature film, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/9 "2005-08-01T23:21:46Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > And the 1985 [Return to Oz](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089908/combined) was a vast improvement over the 1939 film. Are you high? You must be high. Let’s see, the 1976 _Wonder Woman_ was a vast improvement over both the 1967 pilot attempt and the horrendo 1974 Cathie Lee Crosby vehicle. The Christopher Reeve Superman movie was an improvement on the George Reeves Superman series. The first Tim Burton Batman, while highly overrated, was better than the earlier Batman series and movie. The Buffy series was a great improvement over the Buffy movie. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/10 "2005-08-01T23:24:29Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Uhhhh not exactly, Doc. **Return to Oz** wasn’t a remake. The source material was a different L. Frank Baum novel. (Sorry, but I can’t remember exactly which one was adapted for this film.) I know (it was based on \*The Land of Oz \* and _Ozma of Oz_), but this thread has also strayed into sequel territory. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/11 "2005-08-01T23:29:00Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > At 10 minutes long, this can hardly be counted as the original film. The first time any of Baum’s work had been set on celluloid, sure, but not even close to a feature film, IMO. Er, I was mostly joking, but if you want to throw down on the topic, if it’s the first time Baum’s work was set on celluloid, how is it not the original film? If you don’t like considering the 1910 version the “original,” there’s still a 1921 version that pre-dates the 1925 film. For that matter, where does the OP restrict the subject matter to “feature” films? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/12 "2005-08-01T23:30:46Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Alfred Hitchcock’s **The Man Who Knew Too Much** remake is arguable better than his original. > > The John Huston **Maltese Falcon** is much better than either of the two previous versions. > > Same for **His Girl Friday** and the original version of **The Front Page**. > > **Star Trek IV** was an improvement on the earlier films and on the TV show. > > Tim Burton’s **Batman** was certainly better than Batman TV show and movies. > > **The Bride of Frankenstein** is definitely better than the Karloff **Frankenstein**. IMO, **Star Trek IV** was a sequel, not a remake. Ditto for **Bride of Frankenstein**. Tim Burton’s **Batman** was not a remake either, just a continuation of the franchise. From Wikipedia: **In film, a remake may refer to a newer version of a previously released film, or a newer version of the source (play, novel, story, etc.) of a previously made film.** [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remake) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/13 "2005-08-01T23:36:51Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Er, I was mostly joking, but if you want to throw down on the topic, if it’s the first time Baum’s work was set on celluloid, how is it not the original film? If you don’t like considering the 1910 version the “original,” there’s still a 1921 version that pre-dates the 1925 film. > > For that matter, where does the OP restrict the subject matter to “feature” films? I guess the OP doesn’t. I was only stating my opinion. And I’ve never seen the silent 1921 version. My guess, judging by a lack of information on IMDB, is no one alive has ever seen it. Thus, I have no way of knowing if it was poorly made or terrifically executed. Thus, I have no opinion about it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/14 "2005-08-01T23:41:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > I guess the OP doesn’t. I was only stating my opinion. Yeah, well, let that be a lesson to you. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/15 "2005-08-02T01:06:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Tim Burton’s **Batman** was not a remake either, just a continuation of the franchise. > > From Wikipedia: > > **In film, a remake may refer to a newer version of a previously released film, or a newer version of the source (play, novel, story, etc.) of a previously made film.** [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remake) Wouldn’t Tim Burton’s **Batman** be considered a newer version of the source material (the comics) of the original movie/tv series in this case though? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/16 "2005-08-02T01:34:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > IMO, **Star Trek IV** was a sequel, not a remake. How about **Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan** over the “Space Seed” episode from the original series? \*\*M_A_S\*H \*\* the TV series may have overstayed its welcome, but overall it was better than the movie. The TV version of **The Odd Couple** was arguably as good as the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/17 "2005-08-02T02:27:55Z")
For a spin off I think Frasier was better than Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/18 "2005-08-02T03:30:46Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Wouldn’t Tim Burton’s **Batman** be considered a newer version of the source material (the comics) of the original movie/tv series in this case though? Not IMO. It’s about the story. The source material isn’t “the comics” it’s a particular issue or set of issues of the comic. Otherwise Spiderman 2 is a remake of Spiderman, and I doubt anyone will try and make that argument. From the same [Wikipedia link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remake): > [@](#): > > A true remake will use the same characters and general storyline of the film or other work being remade. The Burton movie features a plot that is unlike anything from the original movie or TV series. The characters are there, the city of Gotham is there, but the things that happen are all new to that movie. If you can find an episode of the series that had the same plot, then yeah, I’ll be happy to slap the word “remake” on yet another of Mr. Burton’s movies. Similiarly, **Batman Begins** features a story unlike anything else in the Batman cavalcade, and thus is just a new movie within that franchise. > [@kunilou](#): > > How about Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan over the “Space Seed” episode from the original series? That was the original episode that featured Khan, wasn’t it? It’s been more than 20 years since I saw it, IIRC, but I thought that the movie was far and away the best Star Trek ever filmed for either medium. Nothing I saw after it ever made me change that opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/19 "2005-08-02T03:37:04Z")
The new _Ocean’s 11_ was a huge improvement over the original, and I say this as a Rat Pack fan. _The Manchurian Candidate_ from 2004 was an excellent movie, but then again, so was the original with Frank Sinatra. (Notice a trend developing?) _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ was an amazing TV drama that spun off of the amusing-but-forgettable comedy movie. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213/20 "2005-08-02T03:42:58Z")
Another vote that the newer O11 was an improvement over the original. I haven’t seen the new Manchurian Candidate. What was right/wrong with it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-of-tv-shows-movies-that-actually-worked/315213.md?page=2)