15 Movies Nobody Wants to See a Remake Of

Today's entertainment industry has become obsessed with remaking or rebooting popular films from the last century and updating their stories to recapture the spark that made them so successful and memorable. Some worked, others failed spectacularly, but whether you love them or hate them, there are a few movies that are just too perfect to remake.

Below are iconic and beloved cinematic masterpieces that Hollywood should leave untouched. These classics are truly timeless and have had a lasting impact on cinema and pop culture that continues even today. They've captivated us with their thrilling stories and created a sense of wonder and amazement that simply can never be replicated. From epic blockbusters to best picture winners, here are fifteen movies that nobody wants to see remade.

15 'The Original Star Wars Trilogy' (1977–1983)

Director George Lucas created one of the biggest, long-running pop-cultural phenomena in cinema history with his original Star Wars trilogy. From 1977 to 1983, these three masterpieces told a legendary space fantasy tale full of exciting adventures, wonder, and memorable cinematic moments that just could never be achieved again.

Everyone still to this day can't get enough of this trilogy; they're that honored and beloved. Even when Lucas went back and added some changes for the 1997 special addition, it was met with stiff reactions from fans who claimed it needed to be left alone. This passion from fans ensures that any attempt to remake this trilogy will not go over well with the community.

14 'The Princess Bride' (1987)

The late but never forgotten Rob Reiner will best be remembered today not just for his remarkable service to the entertainment world but for giving audiences some of the most heartfelt classics of all time. Of course, his legendary romantic comedy The Princess Bride showed his incredible talents, and today, especially now with his tragic passing in 2025, even touching any piece of this film would be a disrespect.

The Princess Bride is an enjoyable blast from beginning to end, full of hilarious comedy, touching romance, and some of the most quotable lines in movie history. A remake will never come close to sparking some magic from this bona fide classic.

13 'Jaws' (1975)

Steven Spielberg is a name synonymous with American cinema. This legendary blockbuster filmmaker thrilled audiences with his revered tales of excitement and wonder. Though there's plenty to choose from, many would argue one of his all-time greatest was Jaws, the 1975 horror adventure that in many ways shaped the modern blockbuster summer experience.

With legendary performances, a tense score, and thrilling suspense, Jaws is a masterpiece through and through. Though it was a nightmare to shoot, it went on to become a pop culture horror icon and is still incredibly rewatchable. Sure, if you twist any fan's arm to say if there's anything bad about it, the rubber shark does look hilariously fake, but doggy animatronic effects aside, a remake of this just wouldn't feel the same. It wouldn't even stand out among the loads of Jaws-inspired shark movies that come out today.

12 'Casablanca' (1942)

Michael Curtiz's 1942 black-and-white classic Casablanca is the very definition of what it takes to be a Best Picture winner. It's a pure masterpiece full of excellent writing, flawless performances, and legendary lines, all coming together in a touching romantic drama about one man's redemption and his defiance against the evils of Nazi Germany.

It's so iconic that even those unfamiliar or who haven't seen it yet at least know or have misquoted one of its many famous lines. A remake of Casablanca, especially now, would not be like anything close to its story and themes, and its inspiring message about oppression wouldn't be as effective to use now as when it did back in 1942.

11 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' (2001–2003)

The epic and grand scale of author J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings seemed impossible to achieve on the big screen for many years. But that all changed when the turn of the 21st century brought all-new technologies, and so, New Zealand filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson took his shot at adapting it, leading to tremendous acclaim and his version becoming one of the greatest cinematic events of all time.

Each entry in this trilogy is an absolute masterpiece, full of so many spectacular visuals, epic music, and riveting action. They're all must-watch pieces of entertainment that can thrill anyone watching them from start to finish, and the effect they have on fans can't be replicated again, because of how much Jackson nailed it on the first try retelling this story.

10 'Citizen Kane' (1941)

The best American classics endure throughout history, continuously being remembered and praised for their brilliance. Orson Welles' Citizen Kane is one such example. Wildly regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, this masterpiece is a timeless tale with incredible drama and acting that still feels powerful today.

Written, directed, and starring Welles as the titular Charles Foster Kane, the story follows this revered newspaper tycoon from his ambitious rise to fame to his inevitable fall from grace. It's a heartbreaking story that looks at the dark side of seeking the American dream, showing how a lust for power and control can leave someone empty inside. It's a truly captivating film with spectacular performances, directing, and writing that have been endlessly studied and praised over the years. Remaking it now or ever will never capture what Welles achieved.

9 'Back to the Future' (1985)

The incredibly talented Robert Zemeckis has captured moviegoers' attention for decades, thrilling them with his marvelous films, like Contact, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and his magnum opus, Forrest Gump, all of which are praised today as classics. But for this list, his iconic 1985 masterpiece, Back to the Future, remains untouchable.

Not only one of the greatest comedies but also one of the most iconic science fiction movies of all time, Back to the Future is a magnificent cinematic achievement with perfect acting, hilarious comedy, and iconic imagery. Everything from the sets and costumes to even the iconic DeLorean time machine has become a significant part of pop culture, so trying to remake what is already timeless seems pointless because it's already perfect.

8 'Die Hard' (1988)

The '80s really did kick ass, didn't they? There's no other decade you could find more bullet-soaked, testosterone-fueled, pulse-pounding excitement than this action-packed decade. Perhaps the epitome of the genre in this awesome time was Die Hard, the explosive 1988 action masterpiece starring Bruce Willis and the late Alan Rickman in a thrilling adventure set in a high-rise office building.

Die Hard redefined the action genre, continuing to influence the action movies of today with intense violence, death-defying stunts, flawless acting, and iconic one-liners. Attempting to remake is simply impossible because its formula has tried to be replicated through its mostly mediocre clones. It's an enjoyable film that gets better and better with every rewatch, and despite coming out nearly forty years ago, its moments still don't fail to entertain.

7 'Pulp Fiction' (1994)

Quentin Tarantino is synonymous with powerful directing. He is perhaps one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, a visionary visual and verbal storyteller responsible for some of the most spectacular movies in recent history. While he's made some truly remarkable pictures, it's widely considered that his non-linear 1994 crime epic Pulp Fiction is his most outstanding achievement.

Pulp Fiction has quotes, scenes, fashion designs, and performances that have become immortalized in pop culture. It's simply perfect throughout, featuring iconic scenes and moments that showcase the absolute best of Tarantino's skills as a writer and director. It's a near-flawless masterpiece that no one other than Tarantino could have directed so uniquely.

6 'The Exorcist' (1973)

Remaking horror movies isn't new these days; some are actually pretty good. But not all of them need to be updated because some are just perfect the way they are. Take William Friedkin's frighteningly iconic 1973 The Exorcist, for instance. This memorable horror masterpiece is a benchmark for the genre and one of the scariest movies ever made.

This has some truly horrific moments that can never be recaptured again. The Exorcist is hauntingly unsettling and incredibly shocking, featuring some of the best acting and directing in horror history. What was achieved here can not be replicated, mostly because of the many disappointing sequels and spinoffs this movie led to. The Exorcist is already a perfect horror film that'll continue to scare for generations.