The science fiction genre really began to take over Hollywood in the ’50s and ’60s and, at the time, was considered to only produce B-level schlock movies. It wasn’t until the ’70s and ’80s that the genre began producing higher-quality pictures. This led to dozens of properties from the early years being ripe for the picking to be remade. With bigger budgets, better effects, and more esteemed acting, these are the top eleven science fiction remakes in this galaxy or any other.
11 Dredd (2012)
2012’s Dredd is both an adaptation of the comic series and a remake of the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone. This often overlooked and forgotten remake received rave reviews upon its release, both for its action sequences and performance given by leading man Karl Urban. Despite the critical and commercial success of the property, talks of a sequel have sadly never come to fruition.
10 King Kong (2005)
Following the success of his Middle Earth trilogy, Peter Jackson found his next great epic film in 2005’s remake of King Kong. Incorporating visual effects that the filmmaker had used in The Lord of the Rings films, along with standout performances by Jack Black and Naomi Watts. The film would receive positive reviews on its way to four Academy Award nominations.
9 War of the Worlds (2005)
Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, and one of the most famous science fiction stories of all time. That is quite the recipe for a remake, and one that boded well for 2005’s War of the Worlds. In addition to the spectacular effects, it is the human element of the story that helped the film achieve the success it did. This is something that Spielberg is always cognizant of including in his films.
8 Godzilla (2014)
Prior to Gareth Edwards’ 2014 remake of Godzilla, the last mainstream movie about the famous kaiju was the universally panned 1999 version. It was the tone and direction of Edwards that received the most praise upon the film’s release. For longtime fans of Godzilla, the film restored the monster to his classic roots, which eventually led to a showdown with King Kong himself.
7 Dune (2021)
2021’s Dune marks the second big screen adaptation of the classic Frank Herbert novel and excels as a feature thanks to the brilliant direction of Denis Villeneuve. While the film appealed to critics and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, its sprawling story was certainly not for everyone. Despite this, the Villeneuve-directed epic was able to do justice to the iconic novel.
6 The Fly (1986)
The 1986 remake of The Fly is the perfect example of taking a sci-fi property from the ’50s and elevating it to the times. Starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, the development of the movie’s main characters with a sprinkle of the unique David Cronenberg style helped make the movie a tremendous success. It currently sits at a staggering 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
5 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Another remade 1950s property is also another Jeff Goldblum film; this time we are talking about Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This 1978 version takes every element of the 1956 classic and elevates it to new levels, both in horror and concept, adding to the legacy of the franchise, with Variety magazine at the time declaring that the movie “validates the entire concept of remakes.”
4 Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Remaking a film by legendary director and producer Roger Corman is a tall task, but one Frank Oz was up to and succeeded at with the 1986 remake of Little Shop of Horrors. Starring Rick Moranis and featuring some of the best movie music of all time. By embracing the campy horror of the story, the movie endeared itself to audiences and has lived on as a classic ever since.
3 The Thing (1982)
The original Christian Nyby film The Thing from Another World is now widely considered to be one of the best films released in 1951. However, like other properties mentioned on this list, it benefited from an update from a contemporary director. In this case, we are referring to John Carpenter’s The Thing. Arguably one of the director’s most important films, The Thing stands out as one of the best science fiction movies of all time.
2 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
What Andy Serkis was able to do as Gollum throughout The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a breathtaking success. Serkis further elevated the craft of motion capture when he took on the role of Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a 2011 remake/reboot of the original series. New life is breathed into the franchise as a deep focus is lent to the characters of the movie, making for a compelling and resonant story.
1 The Invisible Man (2020)
The goal of any remake should be to take the original source material, elevate it stylistically, and apply it to modern times. 2020’s The Invisible Man did just that. Crafting an emotional, poignant story and pairing it with exceptional actors, the film felt fresh and even necessary. Released just as the COVID-19 pandemic was ramping up, The Invisible Man was one of the last great movies to be released theatrically before the world stopped.
