How to Bet on Film Remakes: Success or Flop?

Film remakes are incredibly common in Hollywood. Movie studios love remaking classic films to cash in on existing name recognition and fanbases. But betting on whether a remake will succeed or flop can be risky. Here’s an in-depth guide to betting wisely on film remakes.

Evaluate the Source Material

The success of a remake often depends heavily on the reputation and popularity of the original. For example, remaking a universally beloved classic like The Godfather would be extremely risky. Diehard fans of the original would be very hard to please. Any changes made would be scrutinized and potentially rejected. Meanwhile, remaking a more obscure or poorly received film allows more creative freedom without the pressure to live up to lofty expectations.

When assessing the source material, look at both the initial critical reception and long-term fan reception of the original. Did reviewers praise it as an instant classic? How have audiences viewed it over time? A badly received film that has aged poorly is much safer to remake than a highly acclaimed, enduring classic. The more esteem the original is held in, the harder it is to remake well.

Assess the Level of Change

After evaluating the source material, think about how radically the remake will diverge from the original. A remake that is practically a shot-for-shot retread is unlikely to leave much of an impression. But drastically altering the premise, tone, or story can also alienate and anger fans of the original.

Analyze how much the remake plans to depart from or honor the source material based on director statements, casting choices, trailer footage, and more. In general, moderate levels of change tend to be the safest path. Stick to the core of what made the original work, but update surface elements like visual style, pacing, dialogue, etc. Avoid drastic reinvention unless the original was obscure or widely disliked.

Look at the Talent Involved

The director and cast attached to a remake can make all the difference in terms of quality and audience reception. For example, Elizabeth Banks directing the 2019 Charlie’s Angels remake inspired little confidence from critics and audiences based on her limited resume. Meanwhile, respected veteran David Fincher directing the 2011 remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo did inspire confidence.

Similarly, an A-list cast like the team of Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones for the 2016 Ghostbusters remake signaled a bigger budget production with comedic star power compared to hiring a batch of unknown actors. In general, the higher the acting and directorial pedigree, the better chances the remake has of being a well-made film.

Proven talent provides a major boost, while untested directors and actors are a gamble. Examine filmographies and past box office draws to predict potential.

Consider the Release Date

The legacy of the original can be fresh or faded in audiences’ minds depending on how much time has passed between films. Remaking Spider-Man just five years after the Tobey Maguire trilogy wrapped up was deemed too soon by many fans. There hadn’t been enough time for nostalgia to build up when The Amazing Spider-Man launched. Meanwhile, decades separated classics like Scarface and Ocean’s Eleven from their slick, modernized remakes.

In general, a healthy distance of 10-30 years allows nostalgia to build for the original while also welcoming a new generation of viewers who may be unfamiliar with the predecessor. Be wary of remakes that seem to be rushing to capitalize on a previous iteration’s success while it’s still fresh. Give it time to build mystique.

Watch the Trailers and Marketing

Once trailers, clips, posters and other promotional material from the remake release, pay close attention to the public response. Are viewers excited by the remake’s new direction and stylistic choices? Or do they complain that it ruins the memory and integrity of the original?

Monitoring social media chatter, trailer view counts, presale ticket numbers and more can indicate if buzz is positive or negative. Trailers that get strong enthusiastic reactions typically foreshadow box office success.

Research the Production History

Often, behind-the-scenes issues with a remake’s production will reflect in the finished product. Remakes that go through extensive reshoots, director changes, or major rewrites mid-production often struggle to find their creative footing. News reports about significantly troubled productions are a big red flag.

For example, the extensive reshoots and editing delays on the 2019 Hellboy reboot reflected major behind-the-scenes confusion. This resulted in a finished film that critics lambasted as an incoherent mess. On the flip side, smooth productions with few publicized issues demonstrate careful planning and a guiding vision.

Consider Genre Trends

Some genres lend themselves better to remakes than others when trends shift. As special effects technology improves over time, outdated visuals become more noticeable. This allows sci-fi and fantasy films rich with effects to benefit from modern upgrades. Updating the effects makes their worlds more immersive. But stagnant genres like comedy rarely benefit creatively from remakes. Jokes and comedic sensibilities evolve swiftly over relatively short time periods. Retelling identical stories or using the same dated jokes in a remake tends to fall flat.

In general, factor genre into expectations. Genres tied to ever-advancing technology and visuals have better remake potential than purely story and character driven genres unconcerned with flashy visuals. The genre’s reliance on evolving technical elements versus unchanging narrative elements impacts its adaptability.

Compare Budget Size

In many cases, remake success comes down to throwing enough money at the concept to ensure high production values. Some of the Disney live-action remakes of their classic animated films cost over $100 million to produce. The lavish budgets allow grand visual spectacle lacking in the originals. But some remakes fail to sufficiently increase the budget compared to the original.

The budget needs to be scaled up to match both inflation and the original’s reputation. Low-budget remakes of high-profile source material rarely go over well. Pay attention to budget increases rather than staying frugal. Big vision demands big money.

By thoroughly researching these numerous factors, you can make much better-informed guesses about whether upcoming remakes have a good chance of succeeding or failing financially and critically. Avoid knee-jerk reactions to remake announcements or dismissals. Dig deeper into talent involvement, production history, marketing response, and more before placing bets on remake results. An educated bet stands the best chance of paying off.