These Action Remakes Are Better Than the Original

Remakes are a contentious subject among movie fans, with many seeing the modernization of classics as a misstep and useless endeavor, an attempt to nostalgia bait on an existing property. Yet, for every handful of bad remakes, a few manage to outdo (or respectfully pay homage to) the original. When it comes to action remakes, things can get slightly more tricky, with cinema constantly pushing the boundaries of the genre and coming out with new and exciting ways to convey car chases, shoot-outs, and all manner of fisticuffs.

These ten remakes may not always be better than their original, but they pushed the action in new and exciting ways, making them worthy of the attention of action movie fans.

10 13 Assassins (2010)

Remake of 13 Assassins (1963)

Taking place during Japan’s Edo Period, 13 Assassins shows a nation in decline under a ruthless and sadistic lord protected by the Shogun. When it is announced the lord is to be promoted, fears lead to the potential of a civil war, which leads to the hiring of a samurai, Shimada Shinzaemon, to assassinate the corrupt lord before he gains greater power and influence. Shimada gathers 12 other warriors to take out the lord who is traveling under the protection of 200 men.

A Long, Grueling, Bloody Battle Brought to the Screen

Eiichi Kudo’s original 13 Assassins is a classic in its own right. Yet, it pales in comparison when it comes to the action that Japanese auteur and madman Takashi Miike crafted in his 2010 remake.

13 Assasins boasts one of the longest action sequences in all of cinema, with a 45-minute battle making up the ‘climax’ of the production. Here, a small group of 13 men kills 200 through a long fight with traps and hand-to-hand combat, all expressed in real-time chaos to create an unforgettable spectacle. Beyond the action, the movie also carries Takashi Miike’s signature absurd humor, making for an action-packed, sensational take on a Japanese classic.

Stream 13 Assassins (2010) on Hulu, Fubo, or Peacock

9 Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Remake of Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

Randall “Memphis” Raines (Nicolas Cage) is thrust out of retirement as a car thief when his brother Kip’s life is threatened. To make amends, Randall must steal 50 high-end cars in one night. Calling on other skilled car thieves, including his former partner Sara “Sway” Wayland (Angelina Jolie) and mentor Otto Halliwell (Robert Duvall), Randall begins a series of thefts to save his brother while also hunting down the car that has alluded him throughout his career, a 1967 Shelby GT500.

New Model or Classic?

Putting a new layer of polish on a classic does not always mean it will be the better movie. While Dominic Sena’s 2000 remake of H.B. Halicki’s 1974 car chase action film modernized the action with a more sleek Hollywood style, the two are up for debate about which is better.

Those who want a bit of flash will likely favor the 2010 version of Gone in 60 Seconds, though for car purists, the classic models on display and the heavy use of stunt work to push the car-chase scenes will make the original the way to go. Both films sit close to one another on IMDB, with the 1974 version holding a 6.3 and the 2000 version having a 6.5.

Stream Gone in 60 Seconds (2010) on Apple TV+ • Stream Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) on Hoopla, Tubi, Plex, or Pluto TV.

8 Ambulance (2022)

Remake of The Ambulance (2005)

Drawn into his adoptive brother’s scheme to rob a bank to pay for the mounting medical bills for his wife, Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) finds himself drug into a desperate chase as the two try to flee with hostages in tow. In their escape, they hijack an ambulance containing an injured police officer and an EMT. A high-speed chase, prolonged shoot-outs, and the constant struggle to keep the hostages ensures there is never a dull moment in Ambulance.

A Frantic Chase Around the Streets of LA

Ah, Michael Bay, offering style in abundance, has not always served the divisive director well. However, in the case of Ambulance, he built on the original in a pretty explosive way, with the runtime between the two being 136 minutes to the original’s 80 minutes.

Michael Bay packed in much more action than the Danish film, which works in his favor; it catches the director at his best, hitting those over-the-top notes that are equally preposterous as they are exciting. The original does offer a more compact, character-focused action/drama, but Ambulance is one of Michael Bay’s best.

Stream Ambulance (2022) on Starz

7 The Departed (2006)

Remake of Infernal Affairs (2002)

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) are two men on the opposite spectrum, both working a dangerous job. Billy is an undercover cop who has infiltrated the mob, while Colin is a career criminal planted in the Massachusetts State Police as an informant. When both men’s identities are threatened to be revealed, they must struggle with old and new allegiances and try to stay alive.

Two Outstanding Movies With a Different Approach

Fans of The Departed should watch Infernal Affairs and vice versa. Both are acclaimed action thrillers backed by a strong script and great performances, all done by the best directors in their respective countries. Infernal Affairs sheds a lot of light on cultural elements of China and the criminal world, with action delivered in a stylized, fast-paced manner.

For the adaptation, Martin Scorsese may have stripped back the action to something more raw and gritty, but under his direction, The Departed’s action sequences have a shocking realism to them. While we prefer Scorsese’s approach to action, don’t sleep on Infernal Affairs.

Rent The Departed on Apple TV or Amazon • Stream Infernal Affairs on Max or The Criterion Channel

6 The Mummy (1999)

Remake of The Mummy (1932)

American adventurer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) leads a group on an archaeological expedition to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead. Rick awakens an ancient curse, awakening Imhotep’s mummy, who begins hunting down all those involved in the expedition to restore himself to his former glory and awakes his lover, Anck-su-namun.

A New Take on a Horror Classic

The original 1932 The Mummy was a landmark horror film, seeing icon Boris Karloff in one of his most memorable roles. However, the appeal of the original will rest with fans of gothic horror and the Golden Era of cinema, with the 1999 remake being vastly more modernized and stylized than its source.

Off the back of a career-defining performance from Brendan Fraser, director Stephen Sommers managed to imbue the classic story with horror, action, and comedy backed by stunning special effects (for the era). Drastically different films, but there is no arguing that 1999’s The Mummy turned the classic into a spectacle that fans of action cinema adored.

Rent The Mummy (1999) on Apple TV or Amazon • Rent The Mummy (1932) on Apple TV or Amazon

5 Scarface (1983)

Remake of Scarface (1932)

Scarface follows the rise of Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who arrives penniless in Miami only to rise and become one of the most feared and prolific drug dealers in the USA. With an unforgettable performance from Al Pacino, the Brian De Palma classic crime-thriller shows the rise and downfall of the screen’s most iconic gangsters.

Sensational Crime Thrillers Made Decades Apart

Many may not be aware that Scarface is a remake, even though the 1932 film was also a sensational hit at the time of its release. Still, the movies have plenty of differences, with Biran De Palam changing the period and location: 1920s Chicago for the original and 1980s Miami for the remake. Moreover, the original has a more noir vibe, suiting the roaring 20s, while the remake is immersed in the ’80s drug and criminal culture.

Both movies have their merits, but Brian De Palma’s Scarface, with scenes like the club shootout and the final showdown, gives the film an easy edge for action fans. Also, it is hard to overlook just how iconic a performance Al Pacino gives throughout the production.

Rent Scarface (1983) on Apple TV or Amazon • Stream Scarface (1932) on Watch TCM

4 True Lies (1994)

Remake of La Totale! aka The Jackpot! (1991)

Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a man living two lives. To those around him, he is a dull computer salesman, yet this is a ruse to hide his real career, an elite secret government agent working for Omega Sector.

Harry’s life is upended while on the trail of stolen nuclear weapons; he learns that his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) is cheating on him, looking for excitement lacking in their relationship. Harry stages a spy mission for his wife in an attempt to save the marriage, but it soon becomes entangled with his current assignment.

Peak ’90s Arnold Schwarzenegger Gold

True Lies is an entertaining action-comedy released at the height of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s success as an actor. His pairing with Jamie Lee Curtis was also perfect for delivering the comedic beats between the action sequences. Comparing the two is a bit of a double-edged sword, with the original French film considered to handle its female lead with a bit more respect and crafting a more balanced story between the two leads.

Still, True Lies is much more action-heavy and over-the-top than the original, and there is a lot of fun to be had with the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic.

Stream True Lies on Hulu

3 The Gunman (2015)

Remake of Le choc (1982)

Trying to live a reformed life, former special officer Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) has found a simple life working for an NGO in Congo, helping build wells. However, the crimes of his past, assassinating the minister of mining to push for a renegotiation of contracts in the Congo, catch up with him when he is attacked by a hit squad orchestrated by his former boss to hide his own criminal activities. This pushes Jim to go on the run, who tries to reconnect with people from his past in a bid to save them as well as himself.

An Assassin on the Run

Differing slightly in story, the most notable difference between the 1982 film Le Choc and 2015’s The Gunman is the approach to action. Both have shocking moments of action, but The Gunman is more polished and action-focused. In contrast, Le Choc offers a balanced experience, with the drama and action having equal emphasis.

While different in approach, with some plot differences, The Gunman is easily the better pick here, with Le Choc being an entertaining but forgettable outing compared to the explosive and engaging Sean Penn-led 2015 remake.

Stream The Gunman on Tubi

2 Walking Tall (2004)

Remake of Walking Tall (1973)

Looking to escape the past and find a new life in his hometown, Chris Vaughn (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), returns to small-town Washington. When he arrives, he learns that the local mill has been closed, and a casino run by his old rival is now the town’s major source of income. After discovering that the Casino is a front for drug dealing, Vaughn manages to get the job as the local sheriff and begins cleaning up his hometown.

Early Action Rumblings From The Rock

The Rock has become a cinema staple, with Dwayne Johnson’s career highlighted by phenomenal performances. However, Walking Tall came when he was still trying to break out in movies, and the lackluster sequel reflects that time frame. Based on a true story, the original Walking Tall sticks close to its inspiration to deliver a well-executed drama backed with gritty, realistic bouts of violence. Comparatively, Walking Tall (2004) is a cliché action movie with little substance.

Going bigger does not always mean better, but the action in Walking Tall is certainly more flashy and constant in the remake, and those looking for an entertaining film they can tune out to and enjoy will prefer the 2004 version.

Stream Walking Tall (2004) on Showtime • Stream Walking Tall (2004) on Showtime or Plex

1 Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Original: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

After returning home to find that her husband has transformed into a zombie, Ana (Sarah Polley) flees her home and ends up escaping the chaos to take refuge in a mall. Here, she meets other survivors, and they spend their days trying to eke out a meaningful existence with the constant reminder of the dead who make their way into the complex. As time passes, the group realizes they must escape with rising numbers of undead and outside forces encroaching on their safe haven.

An Impressive Remake of One of the Most Influential Horror Movies

George Romero’s (1978) Dawn of the Dead is one of the most influential horror movies ever made, so the idea of a remake was met with a degree of trepidation up to its release. However, Zack Snyder and James Gunn delivered, sticking close to the source but crafting a more action-focused and violent feature than the original.

Horror fans love both versions for different reasons, and both should be considered essential viewing. Still, the 2004 combination of action/horror in Dawn of the Dead is more pronounced and constant than the more paced and drama-focused original. Watch both!

Stream Dawn of the Dead (2004) on Starz • Rent Dawn of the Dead (1978) on Amazon