A film that the studios can't remake ?

[vukxfiles]

Oh my god, the Americans are making a remake of Death at a Funeral, which was produced in 2007

[Leah]

Mad Max 1&2

[AndyC]

A lot of the movies mentioned here were really products of their time, and can't be taken out of their original context without losing something. But that never stopped anybody from doing it. I'd have said Vanishing Point couldn't be remade, not just because it was a good movie, but that setting just doesn't exist anymore. Not just the clash of generations, of establishment vs. counterculture, but also the tools and methods of the police. The highway system itself isn't the same as it was then. But that didn't stop somebody from remaking it, albeit just for TV. And in trying to make it work, they turned Kowalski from a loner to a family man, implied that he survived the crash (making it more of a brilliant plan than a tragic and senseless act). Worst of all, they gave him a reason for what he was doing. The whole point of the first movie was trying to understand the seemingly random acts of this man. And the cops didn't think he was a terrorist, they were just doing what cops do - trying to stop a speeder. It all just got out of hand, leading up to an ending that leaves everyone asking "why?" All that got thrown out the window to make a superficially similar car chase movie.

So, there really are no movies that can't be remade, only those that shouldn't.

[JaseSF]

They shouldn't remake the following. Doesn't mean they won't try though:

BRAZIL
ON THE WATERFRONT
VERTIGO
CITIZEN KANE

The fact they remade THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, PSYCHO and even CASABLANCA (ripped off in numerous other films most abominably BARB WIRE shows they'll remake anything).

[Chainsawmidget]

976-Evil.  Considering that nobody actually uses 976 numbers anymore, it just wouldn't work.

Also Star Wars. 

[AndyC]

976-Evil.  Considering that nobody actually uses 976 numbers anymore, it just wouldn't work.

Also Star Wars. 

Star Wars doesn't need to be remade, just refurbished every few years.

[WingedSerpent]

Going back to the idea that many movies are products of their time..

The FX movies and The Wizard of Speed and Time.

Movies that celebrated practical effects over CGI.

[Psycho Circus]

Going back to the idea that many movies are products of their time..

The FX movies and The Wizard of Speed and Time.

Movies that celebrated practical effects over CGI.

Yeah, nobody would have a clue how to make those types of films without CGI!

[vukxfiles]

The Karate Kid was a movie of it's time in every way, but the dumbasses are producing a remake of it, and karate isn't even popular between youth anymore.

[AndyC]

The Karate Kid was a movie of it's time in every way, but the dumbasses are producing a remake of it, and karate isn't even popular between youth anymore.

And Pat Morita was one of a kind.

[Raffine]

They won't remake London After Midnight because the bad guy wasn't really a vampire and (If I recall correctly) was trying to get a family fortune by scaring people, not killing them :) ...also, no one would take the hypnosis element seriously :P

Actually, Tod Browning DID remake this, as MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935) with Lugosi as the fake bloodsucker.

[Monster Jungle X-Ray]

Mad Max 1&2

For sure. Mad Max 2 (AKA The Road Warrior) has to be the one of the most perfect action movies ever made. If remade it would probably look something like the recent Death Race.

[Mr. Bronson]

In general, most remakes are not as good as the original.

[God the Worms]

What about Micheal Bay directing a remake of Eraserhead starring Will Smith