Top 20 Sci-Fi Movies That Deserve a Remake

#20: Fantastic Voyage (1966)

At the time of its release, this 1966 film was one of the most expensive sci-fi movies ever made. It follows a team of military officers and doctors who use brand-new technology to shrink themselves to microscopic size so they can enter a mans body and remove a fatal blood clot. If that plot sounds familiar, its because there was a Magic School Bus episode with a very similar storyline. Critics raved about Fantastic Voyages special effects and the movie even won an Oscar for them. However, after 60 years they look pretty dated. Both James Cameron and Guillermo del Toro have been in talks to direct a remake. With some Hollywood A-listers and cutting-edge special effects, that sounds like summer blockbuster potential.

#19: Zone Troopers (1985)

Its World War II with aliens, and luckily, theyre on our side. In this low-budget 80s flick, a group of American soldiers stationed in Italy discover a crash-landed spaceship with a sole survivor. Its pretty campy, but it seems to be self-aware about that fact. The movie is begging to be remade as a straight comedy or even a satire in the vein of Starship Troopers. Better yet, lets get Roland Emmerich to make it a totally sincere war movie with all the battles and explosions you could ask for.

#18: The Astronaut's Wife (1999)

Johnny Depp plays an astronaut who goes to space where something mysterious happens to him. When he comes home, hes a changed man. Hes aggressive and confrontational, and immediately impregnates Charlize Theron with twin alien babies. The best thing the critics could say about this box-office bomb was that it was moderately diverting. Ouch. It was unfavorably compared to Rosemarys Baby and was slammed for being too slow and predictable. It wouldnt be hard for a remake to improve on the original, and in the right hands, it could become a terrifying psychological sci-fi thriller.

#17: Demolition Man (1993)

Reviews of this Sylvester Stallone vehicle were extremely mixed. Sly plays a cop who gets cryogenically frozen in 1996, then awakened in 2032 to hunt a deadly killer. He discovers that in the future, crime and violence have been mostly eliminated, but everything fun has been outlawed in the process. Critics and audiences couldnt decide whether the movie was meant to be a satire if it was, it went over a lot of peoples heads. It was still a box office success, and it has its share of fans. A remake could fix the tone and make the satirical elements sharper. We might even be able to get Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock to reprise their roles.

#16: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Captain Nemo, Jekyll and Hyde, the Invisible Man, and James Moriarty all in one movie? This adaptation of Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neills comic series should have been a smash hit. In reality, it turned out so bad that it made Sean Connery quit acting, and director Stephen Norrington hasnt made another movie since. Its badly written and poorly paced, and some of the plot contrivances make no sense. Rumors of a reboot have been circulating since 2015, and its past time to make it happen. With the right budget and cast, this movie could be extraordinary.

#15: Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

Widely considered the best adaptation of George Orwells classic dystopian novel, this film was lauded by critics. They praised John Hurts performance and the depth and beauty of the production. It doesnt need a remake to improve it, but a new adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four would be more timely now than ever. With political division skyrocketing in many countries, Orwells ideas are as relevant and important as they were when his book was published. A reboot would undoubtedly resonate with modern audiences, whether or not theyre already familiar with the story. Just dont make us wait until 2084 for it.

#14: Forbidden Planet (1956)

This movie was groundbreaking when it came out. Not only was it the first film set on an exoplanet, it was also the first to feature a starship that could travel faster than light. Prior to its release, robots had mostly been depicted as rolling garbage cans, but Forbidden Planet has a walking humanoid robot named Robby. These are just some of the things that made the film so innovative and influential. However, it is very much a product of its time. In 1956 Robby looked futuristic; now, he looks kind of goofy. And you might notice that the ships crew is disturbingly homogeneous. This movie deserves a modern update to reflect how far humanity has come in the 70 years since its release.

#13: Repo Man (1984)

This sci-fi black comedy satirizes everything that made the 80s the 80s: Reaganomics, consumerism, nuclear power, you name it. Critics ate it up, calling it one of the best films of 1984. Its still extremely entertaining to watch, but imagine a remake that takes aim at todays politics and culture. It could be brilliant. Technically, Repo Man has already gotten a gender-swapped reboot in the form of 2009s Repo Chick, which no one saw. And it has no relation to 2010s Repo Men. That means its due for a true remake.

#12: They Live (1988)

Another 80s classic that satirizes consumerism, John Carpenters They Live takes a very different approach from Repo Man. Instead of comedy, it leans into the horror of materialism and conformity. It follows a man named Nada, who learns that most of the people in power are aliens who have hypnotized everyone else into shopping, breeding, and maintaining the status quo. The critics were hard on this movie when it was released, but it quickly developed a cult following. Its themes are still extremely relevant, and an updated remake set in the modern era would have a lot to say. And while were at it, lets remake Carpenters first feature film, Dark Star. With a real budget behind it, it could be a beautiful and terrifying space odyssey.

#11: Flash Gordon (1980)

This 1980 sci-fi action superhero comedy was based on a 1930s comic strip, which followed a handsome young athlete recruited into an interplanetary war. The source material was completely sincere, but the movie version goes full camp. Its bright, colorful, and often totally ridiculous. A self-aware, multichromatic sci-fi set in space, filled with quirky characters, and based on an obscure comic? That rings some bells. This concept was absolutely made for James Gunn. Give him a huge budget, a charismatic male lead, and complete control over the final product, and youll have cinematic gold.

#10: Masters of the Universe (1987)

If He-Man can be rebooted into a Netflix series, why not shoot again for the silver screen? The original Masters of the Universe was a big deal back when it was announced in the late 80s. This was a hugely successful toy line and animated series, so catching the Prince of Eternia and his pals in a live action movie was something exciting for teens and young kids. Action star Dolph Lundgren makes for a fitting He-Man, while Frank Langella puts in a seriously powerful performance as Skeletor. The OG may have been a box office bomb, but we love it enough to give a new version the green light.

#9: Howard the Duck (1986)

Speaking of box office bombs, there are few 80s movies more infamous than this early Marvel misstep. Actually, we may say misstep, but we have a lot of love for Howard, and it turns out were not alone. His cameo at the end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy drove fans wild with rumors that the extra-terrestrial mallard might get his own stand-alone film. This hasnt happened yet, of course, but were still holding out hope that Marvel might want to put right what once went wrong. A PG-13 or even a hard R-rated adventure in space might be just the ticket.

#8: Sphere (1998)

You know Michael Crichton, the man who gave us Jurassic Park? He wrote a bunch of other great books, and one of them was Sphere. Its a trippy sci-fi/psychological thriller that follows a crew of scientists exploring a mysterious spaceship discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Unfortunately, its 1998 movie adaptation was not good. It has a dismal 13% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics described it as derivative, poorly paced, and overly explanatory. The source material is so brilliant, its begging to be remade. Can we please get Steven Spielberg on this as soon as possible?

#7: Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Disney has announced a reboot of this classic multiple times, including as far back as 2009, but so far, nothing has materialized. This is a shame, because many older movie goers who grew up with the House of Mouse have fond memories of this one. The films groundbreaking CGI effects have aged pretty well, all things considered, and wed be excited to see how theyd look with updated technology. Flight of the Navigator dealt with some heavy adult themes, but did so with tons of heart. A remake would have to strike the perfect tone with a script worthy of the original.

#6: Soylent Green (1973)

If youve never seen the original, you may be surprised by the level of prescience in Stanley Greenbergs script. The mentions of global warming, environmental devastation, and dying oceans sound a lot like our present reality. That said, a new Soylent Green just seems to make sense, especially since the first one took place in the far-off future of 2022. The only question is how to craft a shocking twist when many viewers already know how the original ends. A remake would have to update Thorns final revelation .

#5: The Ice Pirates (1984)

You may never have heard of The Ice Pirates, especially if youre not a child of the 80s. Heck, even todays retro-themed TV channels and streaming services rarely place The Ice Pirates in heavy rotation. Thats a shame, since this charming (and slightly raunchy) sci-fi adventure used to be a cable TV staple back in the day. It takes place in the future, when water is so hard to find that its more valuable than gold. Like so many 80s movies, The Ice Pirates is more than a little corny, but it successfully balances outer space action with a heavy dose of humor.

#4: Barbarella (1968)

Jane Fonda has done an astonishing amount of great work throughout her career, but some people will always know her as Barbarella. For better or worse, Fonda defined the comic book character for the 60s generation. The film is a hyper-sexualized pop-art bonanza and a feast for the eyes even if it doesnt always make sense. A modern remake could lean into Fondas own progressive views and social activism, putting a woman behind the camera and bringing in a strong and confident female lead. Whats Greta Gerwig doing right now? Perhaps shes ready to put a feminist spin on Barbarella just as she did with Barbie.

#3: The Black Hole (1979)

Disney was taking a real chance back in the late 70s and early 80s with its forays into PG-rated territory. And they were largely successful, producing classics like Tron and The Black Cauldron. The Black Hole was another one from this time period. It revolves around a human crew exploring deep space and coming across an abandoned ship that harbors some terrifying secrets. A remake could be a great fit for Disney+, where the brands serious-minded content like Andor has done well. It could even be adapted anime-style, à la Netflixs Godzilla series. The possibilities are endless.

#2: Logans Run (1976)

Theres a reason why the legacy of Logans Run has endured longer than many other 70s sci-fi movies. For starters, it has a great plot, following a renegade assassin whos on the run from a dystopian society that euthanizes its citizens once they reach the age of thirty. Its influence can be seen in plenty of other movies, from In Time to The Island to The Hunger Games. It also has a striking visual aesthetic, one thats simultaneously kitschy and cool: a true time capsule of 1970s style. The theme of hyper-fixation on youth and beauty is even more relevant in the Instagram age, so now seems like the perfect time to reboot it.

#1: Time After Time (1979)

The story is simple: H.G. Wells develops a time machine, only for Jack the Ripper to steal it and travel to modern day America. If that sounds a little absurd, it is, but its also incredibly entertaining. The three leads Wells, the Ripper, and love interest Amy Robbins carry the film, and theyre clearly having a good time doing it. Our society has long been obsessed with true crime and cold cases, so having the Ripper walking among us is a wonderfully frightening thought. Plus, the time travel element lends itself to so many interesting possibilities. So, what are you waiting for? Get on it, Hollywood!

Which of these movies would you most like to see remade? Let us know in the comments.