15 Remakes of Classic '80s Movies You'd Totally Pay to See
Hollywood loves a good remake, even if moviegoers don't always agree. By now, it might seem like every big '80s franchise has gotten the remake treatment, from "RoboCop" to "Ghostbusters." But there are still plenty of fan-favorites left. And whether or not a potential remake might be good, we all know you'd pay money to see new takes on these old favorites.
'Flash Gordon' (1980)
"Flash Gordon" is one of numerous '80s movies that existed mainly to cash in on the popularity of "Star Wars." Which is ironic considering that the original comic strip and movie serials were among George Lucas' biggest inspirations in the first place. We'd like to see how a modern and slightly less campy "Flash Gordon" movie would turn out. Though maybe keep the Queen soundtrack?
'The Shining' (1980)
Stanley Kubrick's take on "The Shining" ranks as one of the greatest horror movies of all time, but it's not a particularly faithful adaptation of the book. There's room for a more overtly supernatural take on the source material. And with the sequel, "Doctor Sleep," headed to theaters in the near future, the demand for a new version of "The Shining" will only increase.
'Krull' (1983)
"Krull" is a cult favorite, sure, but it's not actually a very good movie. Wielding the coolest, most impractical weapon in the universe doesn't exactly make up for subpar acting, writing, and dates SFX. In other words, there's plenty of room for a remake to improve on the original in this case.
'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension' (1984)
"Buckaroo Banzai" was a movie far ahead of its time, blending sci-fi, action, comedy, and romance in a way that critics and audiences couldn't quite handle back in 1984. We think there'd be a much bigger audience for a contemporary remake. Director Kevin Smith was previously attached to a TV reboot, though that project seems to have fallen by the wayside.
'The Last Starfighter' (1984)
"The Last Starfighter" is another shameless "Star Wars" clone, but one that's attracted a fanbase all its own over the years. "Rogue One" screenwriter Gary Whitta is currently penning a pseudo sequel/reboot, and we hope the project pans out. If "The Last Starfighter" can make it as an off-Broadway play, surely there's room for a new movie.
'Romancing the Stone' (1984)
Maybe the best alternative while waiting for "Indiana Jones V" is to look to another beloved movie about a hat-wearing adventurer, one with a knack for getting in and out of trouble. A "Romancing the Stone" remake could easily thrive in today's market. All you need is a globe-trotting storyline and two costars with solid chemistry.
'The Breakfast Club' (1985)
It might seem like sacrilege these days to attempt a remake of a John Hughes comedy, but we could see this one working. Why not bring together five up-and-coming young actors to form a new "Brat Pack" and see what happens? The real question is whether the soundtrack can live up to the original.
'Clue' (1985)
We're always up for a good murder mystery, especially one with a strong sense of humor. "Clue" was also notable for toying with the concept of multiple endings, something far too few films have ever attempted. We'd like to see what a modern remake could do on that front.
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986)
Countless '80s kids looked up to Ferris Bueller, even if most days they felt like a Cameron. It's time to revive this teenage everyman hero and remind moviegoers how important it is to take a day off and enjoy life every now and then. The trick is finding a teen actor with the same affable, easy charm as a young Matthew Broderick.
1986-Flight-of-Dragons1
"Flight of Dragons" was an ambitious aniamted fantasy film, but there's only so much you can accomplish on a TV movie budget. We'd love to see someone take a crack at a modern remake. "The Hobbit" showed us how fearsome one dragon can look on the big screen, but what about an entire realm of dragons?
'Highlander' (1986)
"Highlander" may be cheesy, but it delivers a great blend of swordfighting, romance, time raveling ennui, and fantasy. Sadly, none of the sequels have ever lived up to the original. It's high time for a reboot, especially with "Outlander" muscling in on the "time traveling Scottish love story" turf.
'Howard the Duck' (1986)
"Howard the Duck" is an obvious contender for the worst comic book movie ever made. But it also debuted in a time when no one was making good comic book movies. We'd all be morbidly curious to see Howard get another shot at Hollywood stardom, right? Especially after his cameos in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies.
'Labyrinth' (1986)
On one hand, the prospect of remaking "Labyrinth" without David Bowie or Jim Henson seems like a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, we'd sure like to see some enterprising filmmaker give it a shot. The recent comic book spinoffs have proven that this fantasy universe has potential to grow. And supposedly, the co-writer of "Guardians, Vol. 1" is working on a rebootquel.
'Willow' (1988)
"Willow" is another '80s movie that only found its audience with time and hindsight. We'd like to think today's audiences would be much more receptive to a remake, particularly in this post-"Lord of the Rings" landscape. Just, maybe rethink some of those wigs next time around.
'The Abyss' (1989)
"The Abyss" was one of the first true showcases for the power of CG effects in film. We can only imagine what James Cameron or another director could accomplish with today's technology. Even if the remake turns out to be a dud, at least Fox would finally get around to releasing the original on Blu-ray.
