3 Perfect 1990s Movies That Are Impossible To Remake

In a wasteland of remakes and revivals, it’s impossible to know whether the Hollywood suits understand that some ‘90s classics are too sacred to touch. Lately, it seems like the studios care more about their quarterly shareholder reports than preserving the legacies of masterworks. Yet, the entire point of a remake should be to improve upon the source material, and there are select few flawless films that would be entirely impossible to improve upon; movies so singular that even the idea of trying is sacrilege.

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A psychological horror that swept the Oscars, a feminist road adventure, and an urban spaghetti western; the three films below are too perfect to be replicated. Each is a groundbreaking achievement of cinematic alchemy featuring a once-in-a-generation script, ensemble, and director’s vision. No matter how advanced modern moviemaking gets, lightning doesn’t strike twice, and every attempt to bottle it again usually ends in disaster.

3) The Silence of the Lambs

Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs was one of the first genre films to transcend its label entirely. Written by Ted Tally and based on Thomas Harris’s novel, it paired Jodie Foster as agent-in-training Clarice Starling with Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of the sophisticated serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Together, they created a hypnotizing psychological tension that redefined the thriller and horror genres. The film became the first (and to this day only) horror movie to win Best Picture, and just the third film in Oscar history to sweep the “Big Five” awards. Its impact on pop culture and modern horror is immeasurable, influencing everything from Zodiac to The Babadook and tons more elevated genre films.

While The Silence of the Lambs has never been explicitly remade, Hollywood has attempted to revisit its world multiple times. Various prequels and sequels have been produced, including Red Dragon, Hannibal, and CBS’s 2021 series Clarice. While they vary in quality, none have managed to capture the magic of Demme’s original; further evidence that no one should ever attempt an actual remake.

2) Thelma & Louise

Upon its release, Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise was revelatory, transgressive, and tragic, becoming a critical and commercial smash hit. Written by Callie Khouri (who won an Oscar for her script) and starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as a pair of gal pals on the run, the film executed its complex dual protagonist narrative impeccably, a feat shared with very few films. It was shot largely on location in the American Southwest, a production technique that major studios have developed an allergy to in the past decade. And on top of all of that, its feminist perspective was something not widely represented at the time. These elements spun into a perfect storm of genius and timing that could never be replicated today without corners being cut and edges being softened.

Yes, it’s true that a Thelma & Louise Broadway musical is currently in development, but remaking the movie would be a mistake. Despite whispers of a Beyoncé and Lady Gaga reboot, the film’s legacy has thankfully remained intact. In an interview with IndieWire, Geena Davis herself said of the film, “It must never be remade,” noting that it “holds up more than others” and there’s “no need to revisit it.” And she’s absolutely right, the story is too bound to its moment in time, to the fear and exhilaration of women taking freedom by force in a world refusing to grant it. Even if Ridley Scott revisited it now, given his hit-or-miss filmography of the last few years, it may lack the danger and freshness that made the original iconic.

1) Pulp Fiction

Practically embodying the impossibility of imitation, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is one of one. The idiosyncratic crime thriller defined indie filmmaking as something with no set rules, and it also redefined what a hit film could look like. It featured non-linear, interwoven timelines, legendary needle drops, and iconic monologues from John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. Countless directors have tried to bottle the formula, from Go to Smokin’ Aces, but as Roger Ebert wrote in his review of Go, the “Sundance generation” spent years trying to riff on Tarantino’s “quirky sex and violence, pop culture expertise, and ironic profundity.” Nobody has ever come close.

Not that Tarantino would ever allow it, but to remake one of the most original films ever made would certainly be an act of futility, and even blashpemy. Pulp Fiction is so brilliant because every scene functions as its own short film, with no wasted moments or filler to build toward the “good parts.” Every moment is the good part. Even Tarantino himself hasn’t been able to replicate its mesmerizing structure with the same precision since. Pulp Fiction reshaped film language and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. A remake would have nothing to fix and nothing to gain.

Which other classic ‘90s films are untouchable? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!