Five directors who remade their own movies and got it right the second time

Given the immense effort required to create any film, the decision to revisit and remake an old classic is not one taken lightly. Yet, over the years, countless adaptations of beloved films have emerged—some managing to breathe new life into the original, while others fall short, leaving audiences questioning why they were made at all.

However, only a select few filmmakers have taken the bold step of remaking their own work, revisiting their creative past to reimagine and breathe new life into an idea that already exists. This rare endeavour offers a unique opportunity to refine or reinterpret their original vision, though it’s a path not often travelled.

What could drive someone to revisit their own work unless they were determined to improve upon it or compelled to offer a fresh perspective that feels urgently relevant to their current worldview? It’s a bold move, often fuelled by a desire to refine the original or reframe it in a way that resonates more deeply with contemporary themes or personal growth.

So, to unpack this, here are five directors who remade their own movies and surprisingly improved them.

Five directors who remade their own movies:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (Alfred Hitchcock, 1936)

In 1934, Alfred Hitchcock directed his first iteration of The Man Who Knew Too Much, following a murder in the Swiss Alps and a subsequent assassination attempt at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It made a star out of Peter Lorre as the villain, which also marked his first English-speaking role.

However, Hitchcock expanded on this story with his remake in 1956, with the original clocking in at 75 minutes and the sequel being two hours, as well as moving the location to Marrakech. After a few more years of directing, Hitchcock uses his famous ability to build tension and makes a masterful sequence out of the end scene in the esteemed concert venue, using the sounds of the crashing cymbals to his full advantage in an utterly dramatic action sequence. 

LA Takedown (Michael Mann, 1989)

While Michael Mann is perhaps more well-known for Heat, it started with humble beginnings as a television movie written about a group of bank robbers with many signs of potential. However, the project naturally demanded a bigger scale of production and was not fully realised with an unknown cast, but showed signs of promise with Mann’s iconic song choices and action sequences.

The movie was remade under the title of Heat in 1995, with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro leading the helm in this sweeping epic of crime and misdemeanour that showcases the grit and grunginess of Los Angeles. It’s one of the most celebrated projects within Mann’s filmography, and remains as a timeless action-thriller and classic tale of cat and mouse.

Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 1997)

The original Funny Games was released in 1997 by Austrian director Michael Haneke, with another sick story that acts as a commentary on our exploitation of violence for entertainment. It’s a truly gripping and horrendous story, with the audience forced to watch this picture-perfect family in a series of ‘funny games’ and torture.

However, the original film was shot in German, and the director wanted to reshoot it in English in order to reach a wider audience, casting Naomi Watts and Tim Roth in the 2007 remake. Despite the sheer terror constructed in the first one, many have recognised the second version as being superior, praising Watts’ for her truly chilling performance as her family is torn to pieces before her very eyes.

Irma Vep (Olivier Assayas, 1996)

Irma Vep is one of Olivier Assayas’ most iconic films, which follows one actor’s journey as she dives into the chaotic production of the infamous silent classic Les Vampires. However, the film becomes an allegory and meta-criticism about the film industry itself, with the actor being sucked into the world of egotistical directors, complicated interpersonal relationships and power dynamics on set.

But despite the critical acclaim lauded for this project, Assayas recently remade the film as a television series in 2023, with Alicia Vikander reprising Maggie Cheung’s infamous role. Some have interpreted this version of the story to be a criticism of the first one, with the director commentating on his own work and the cyclical nature of filmmaking. Even though it is risky, the decision to publicly reflect on and evaluate his work is a bold move, and something that hasn’t been attempted by any other filmmaker.  

Frankenweenie (Tim Burton, 1984)

Tim Burton originally made his hit film Frankenweenie as a live-action short in 1984, with Shelley Duvall in the lead role of this endearing black-and-white horror. However, the director was not quite finished with the story and returned to his roots in 2012 with an animated version of the creepy tale, starring long-time collaborator Winona Ryder, elaborating on the gothic style he had created in The Corpse Bride.

Burton also draws influence from Nosferatu and the darkness of the first movie, but with a playful undertone that appealed to the fan base he had garnered in the time since.

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