10 Movies That Should Be Remade With Modern Special Effects

April 24, 2024, 10 p.m.

Movies

10 Movies That Should Be Remade With Modern Special Effects

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Summary Bedknobs and Broomsticks deserves a modern remake to enhance its engaging story with updated visuals.

The Blob, a sci-fi classic, could benefit from modern special effects to create a more terrifying Blob.

Air Force One's iconic crash scene could be improved with modern CGI for a more realistic impact.

Special effects have developed and changed over the years, and some great movie titles deserve to be remade for the modern world with a fresh and updated look. The first movie that used special effects was Alfred Clark's 1895 reenactment of the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots, and since then, the world of cinema has progressed an incredible amount. Whether they differed from the original or not, plenty of the best movie remakes have also relied on special effects to keep audiences engaged and have transported them to all manner of fictional universes.

For example, some of the best sci-fi movies, like the Star Wars franchise and The Matrix, were particularly praised for their visual effects. Some of the best horror movies of all time were also recognized for the use of CGI and digital image optimization, especially in titles such as The Ring and Pan's Labyrinth. In 1977, the Academy Awards made Best Visual Effects an official category and proved to the world that SFX was a permanent fixture in cinema. Since then, there have been some amazing movies that used special effects but now deserve to be remade with technological advancements.

Relevant Movies Original Release Bedknobs and Broomsticks 1971 The Blob 1958 Logan's Run 1976 Spaceballs 1987 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968 Flubber 1997 The Birds 1963 The Shining 1980 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 Air Force One 1997

10 Bedknobs And Broomsticks

1971

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Robert Stevenson Release Date December 13, 1971 Cast Angela Lansbury , David Tomlinson , Roddy McDowall

Bedknobs and Broomsticks was known for its fascinating use of live-action footage and traditional, Disney-esque animation. The film was based on the books The Magic Bedknob and Bonfires and Broomsticks by author Mary Norton and starred the iconic actress Angela Lansbury as Miss Eglantine Price. In the early 1970s, combining two different art styles on the big screen was groundbreaking, especially for a film that wasn't science fiction.

As an enjoyable and wholesome watch for all ages, Bedknobs and Broomsticks was deserving of a modern-day remake a long time ago.

As an enjoyable and wholesome watch for all ages, Bedknobs and Broomsticks was deserving of a modern-day remake a long time ago. Even though the film won the Academy Award for Best Special Visual Effects in 1972, other Disney titles from recent years have proved that there can be some improvement on their earlier animations. The football match scene would be fantastic to see with more up-to-date graphics, for example. Overall, the film's tone and engaging storyline should be remade and reintroduced for a new generation of children.

9 The Blob

1958

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buy Not available Not available Not available The Blob is a 1958 horror-science fiction film that stars Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews, a teenager who must protect his town from an alien amoeba-like organism that consumes everything in its path, growing larger with each victim. As the city slowly begins to be consumed, Steve and the surviving townsfolk band together to try to stop the alien menace. Director Irvine S. Yeaworth Jr. , Russell S. Doughten Jr. Release Date September 10, 1958 Cast Steve McQueen , Aneta Corsaut , Earl Rowe , Olin Howland , Stephen Chase , John Benson , George Karas , Lee Payton Runtime 86 Minutes

Considered one of the best sci-fi monster movies of the 1950s, The Blob introduced audiences to a small community consumed by an amoeboid alien. With plenty of cheesy yet dramatic moments, The Blob's special effects were mainly limited to the titular threat, a goopy blob that grew and enveloped everything and anything in its path. Although the visual era-appropriate impact was part of The Blob's charm, the film deserves a remake.

The Blob also had several moments where the small Pennsylvania town's buildings and streets were destroyed, something else that modern special effects could improve upon.

It'd be a manageable title to recreate, too. There was only one villainous figure, the alien, and it had no dialogue or an actual figure, so production wouldn't need to spend months or even years working away at an army of blobs. The Blob also had several moments where the small Pennsylvania town's buildings and streets were destroyed, something else that modern special effects could improve upon. Although there was a supposed remake already in the works, in January 2024, director Simon West stepped away from the project, and there has yet to be a further update.

8 2001: A Space Odyssey

1968

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buy Not available Not available Not available 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick's most well-known films. A science-fiction epic, the film tells the story of the journey of Discovery One, a spacecraft operated by a group of scientists, astronauts, and a sentient computer, on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious monolith. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Kubrick combines sparse dialogue with the heavy use of scoring and ambiguous imagery to create something that eschews conventional filmmaking. Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date April 2, 1968 Cast Keir Dullea , Gary Lockwood , William Sylvester , Daniel Richter , Leonard Rossiter , Margaret Tyzack Runtime 149 minutes

From the mind of the incredible director Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey's release was a staple moment in cinematic history for envisioning how space travel would work in the future. Kubrick's cinematography received significant praise, having used automated motion-controlled cameras to replicate the feeling of weightlessness in space, and it earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director in 1968. Although he lost out to Carol Reed with Oliver!, 2001: A Space Odyssey did win the Academy Award for Best Special Visual Effects.

The possibilities of Kubrick's vision were unlimited in 1968, so with the power of modern technology and the advancements in special effects, 2001: A Space Odyssey could be unstoppable in the present day.

The film's visual elements were stellar in the 1960s, so if it was remade over 56 years later, it could be a blockbuster hit. The possibilities of Kubrick's vision were unlimited in 1968, so with the power of modern technology and the advancements in special effects, 2001: A Space Odyssey could be unstoppable in the present day. The entire film was a tense and exciting journey from start to finish, but some scenes would be even more impressive if it was remade, such as the legendary, psychedelic Star Gate sequence.

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7 Logan's Run

1976

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Michael Anderson Release Date June 23, 1976 Cast Michael York , Richard Jordan , Jenny Agutter , Roscoe Lee Browne , Farrah Fawcett , Michael Anderson Jr. Runtime 120 minutes

In the year before Star Wars was released, the sci-fi world was dominated by Logan's Run. For its time, Logan's Run had relatively solid special effects, albeit imperfect, and was considered an enjoyable but cheesy watch. However, the powerful storyline that followed two warring societies and assassin Logan 5 (Michael York) was so brilliant that it was possible to overlook the film's special effects style. The same could be said about Star Wars, which became a full-blown franchise that, with each installment, improved upon itself time and time again.

With modern-day visual effects, Logan's Run could become another nostalgic movie that old and new audiences could fall in love with.

With modern-day visual effects, Logan's Run could become another nostalgic movie that old and new audiences could fall in love with. The fabulous vision of Logan's Run could also be fully realized and properly translated on the silver screen with new technology, which the original struggled with. In the 1990s, a remake of Logan's Run was picked up. Since then, the project has had multiple directors and writers come and go, but it has remained in development hell since then.

6 Flubber

1997

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Les Mayfield Release Date November 26, 1997 Cast Robin Williams , Marcia Gay Harden , Christopher McDonald , Raymond J. Barry , Clancy Brown , Ted Levine Runtime 93 minutes

1997's Flubber, one of Robin Williams' best movies, was actually a remake of the 1961 film The Absent-Minded Professor and an adaptation of the 1943 short story A Situation of Gravity by Samuel W. Taylor. Although Flubber received negative reviews from critics, it became a beloved family classic for audiences in the years after its release. The main complaint about Flubber was that its special effects were overused, which was unfortunate yet understandable considering its sci-fi-heavy storyline that followed Professor Brainard's (Williams) wild experiment.

The "Flubber" creation had the physical appearance of luminous green slime with extreme elasticity, something many children today would likely engage with.

The "Flubber" creation had the physical appearance of luminous green slime with extreme elasticity, something many children today would likely engage with. Brainard's experiment caused some corny but hilarious moments throughout the film, and overall, Flubber was enjoyed by audiences because of these same qualities. Present-day special effects have developed in such a way that they can be subtle yet still detailed, which would allow for a much better execution of Flubber than what was originally hoped and planned for.

5 The Birds

1963

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buy Not available Not available Not available The Birds is a 1963 horror film from director Alfred Hitchcock, telling the tale of a small town in Northern California that is plagued by hundreds of violent birds. Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, and Jessica Tandy star in the film, which has since become one of Alfred Hitchcock's most iconic movies. Director Alfred Hitchcock Release Date March 29, 1963 Cast Tippi Hedren , Suzanne Pleshette , Jessica Tandy , Veronica Cartwright , Rod Taylor Runtime 119 minutes

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece The Birds, one of the best classic horror movies ever made, created a universal fear of crows in audiences worldwide. The use of special effects in The Birds was interesting, and Hitchcock combined live-trained and mechanical birds, along with an optically altered layer of footage, to create some of the film's most iconic scenes. In the 1960s, this was a thrilling image that shook audiences to their core.

A planned remake of The Birds was announced in 2007, but the project never made it to screens.

A planned remake of The Birds was announced in 2007, but the project never made it to screens. In recent years, Hollywood has released several horror film remakes that utilized special effects to create significant and horrifying displays. A great example of this was the 2022 remake of Hellraiser, which demonstrated the evolution of SFX over the years. Considering the cultural impact The Birds had on the world of cinema, it would be an ideal title to be remade with modern visual effects.

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4 The Shining

1980

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buy Not available Not available Not available Stanley Kubrick's horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge. Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date June 13, 1980 Cast Danny Lloyd , Shelley Duvall , Jack Nicholson , Scatman Crothers Runtime 146 minutes

The Shining only used one special effects shot throughout the entire film, but Cinephiles remembered it for years. The shot in question was an aerial view of the complex hedge maze, and production used a combination of physical models and superimposed footage to create the eerie moment. However, plenty of other moments in The Shining could have been made even better with modern-era special effects.

The Shining proved itself worthy of being remade for a modern audience with era-appropriate special effects.

For example, Danny's (Lloyd) frightening visions could be demonstrated in a more impactful way. Any moments with the ghosts could also be scarier and more dramatic with SFX. The Shining received a sequel in 2013's Doctor Sleep, adapted from the novel of the same name by Stephen King, but the original was never remade. Considering the success of other remakes adapted from King's books, such as Pet Sematary, The Shining proved itself worthy of being remade for a modern audience with era-appropriate special effects.

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3 Who Framed Roger Rabbit

1988

Who Framed Roger Rabbit* Who Framed Roger Rabbit combines live-action and animation to create a world where humans and cartoon characters coexist. Set in 1940s Hollywood, the film follows a private investigator who is contracted to work on the case of a cartoon framed for murder, despite his dislike of cartoons. Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Kathleen Turner all star. Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date June 22, 1988 Cast Amy Irving , Christopher Lloyd , Charles Fleischer , Bob Hoskins , Kathleen Turner Runtime 104 minutes

Who Framed Roger Rabbit was set in a fictional, alternative universe focused on 1940s Hollywood and a world where cartoons and humans co-existed. The film won three Academy Awards for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects in 1989. Although the film's animation was praised, special effects in the 1980s were considerably less impressive than in the present day and could still be improved upon.

However, one minor issue with Who Framed Roger Rabbit's visual effects was how actors reacted to the animated characters.

However, one minor issue with Who Framed Roger Rabbit's visual effects was how actors reacted to the animated characters. There were a few moments when Eddie (Bob Hoskins) would speak with Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), but his eye line didn't align with where the cartoon rabbit stood. This was because all of the animation was done during post-production and not prepared ahead of time, and as the shoot was finished, it was difficult for this to be altered. However, with modern SFX, these small issues wouldn't be an issue in a remake, neatening up an already well-received film.

2 Spaceballs

1987

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buy Not available Not available Not available Directed by Mel Brooks, Spaceballs parodies a number of beloved science fiction classics, most notably Star Wars. The film stars Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, a mercenary who helps rescue Princess Vespa from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs who wish to use her as a ransom. While on the run, Lone Starr, Vespa, and company are pursued by Spaceball commanders Dark Helmet and Colonel Sandurz, whose bumbling attempts to retrieve Vespa make up much of the comedy of the film. Bill Pullman stars as Lone Starr, with a further cast that includes Rick Moranis, John Candy, Daphne Zuniga, and Joan Rivers. Director Mel Brooks Release Date June 24, 1987 Cast John Candy , Daphne Zuniga , Mel Brooks , Rick Moranis , Bill Pullman Runtime 96 minutes

Although the general tone and meta-ness of Spaceballs excused how it used special effects, there was no doubt that some of the film's spoofs could have looked better. Spaceballs was a parody of the Star Wars movies and starred several iconic performers, including Joan Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix and Mel Brooks as President Skroob and Yogurt. SFX was primarily used in shots that focused on the Eagle 5 spaceship, which special effects designer Grant McCune created.

Even Spaceballs' parody elements, such as the sight gag of the giant comb being pulled through the desert, could be improved with modern visual effects.

In recent years, however, films have created spaceships using CGI and digital optimization. Even Spaceballs' parody elements, such as the sight gag of the giant comb being pulled through the desert, could be improved with modern visual effects. Purposefully bad SFX would still be needed for the sake of comedy, naturally. However, because technology has developed so much in recent years, if a Spaceballs remake deliberately leaned into looking terrible, it would add to the film's hilarity.

1 Air Force One

1997

Air Force One In the 1997 action thriller Air Force One, President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) is forced to defend his plane from Russian hijackers while trying to save his family and administration. It is directed by Wolfgang Petersen, with Gary Oldman playing terrorist Egor Korshunov and Glenn Close appearing as Vice President Kathryn Bennett. Director Wolfgang Petersen Release Date July 25, 1997 Cast Glenn Close , Harrison Ford , Liesel Matthews , Gary Oldman , Wendy Crewson Runtime 124 minutes

Although several parts of Air Force One held up years later, its special effects did not. Air Force One starred Harrison Ford as the fictional President of the United States, James Marshall, and other legendary actors such as Gary Oldman as the ruthless villain Egor Korshunov and Glenn Close as Vice President Kathryn Bennett. Multiple moments throughout the film used special effects, including dramatic sequences that focused on the plane in the sky, which were created using a combination of models and live-action photography.

However, the biggest special effects blunder in Air Force One that audiences remember was the iconic crash shot at the climax of the film.

However, the biggest special effects blunder in Air Force One that audiences remember was the iconic crash shot at the climax of the film. This moment was created with purely CGI, and it was, unfortunately, quite noticeable. As the President's plane crashed into the Caspian Sea, it was hard to ignore how fake it looked, which ruined the film's dramatic ending. Although Air Force One was never a priority in regard to films that needed a remake, it was one that could be a lot more impactful and realistic with the application of modern special effects.