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Summary
As one of the most iconic decades in the writing style ’s history , it ’s unsurprising that multiple 80saction movieshave been redo over the years . Hollywood ’s vehemence on lucrative IPs mean that revisiting successful master copy from any writing style is a popular strategy for a studio apartment . However , even though the eighties were creditworthy for some of thegreatest natural action movies of all time , and several proposed remake are in the line , astonishingly few 80s action films have actually been remade .
Although some democratic transmedia80s action franchiseshave been reimagined with various degree of success ( such as21 Jump StreetandLethal Weapon),there are currently only eight cinematic remakes of pre - existing fourscore action mechanism films . Other proposed remakes , such asEscape from New York , Glenn Powell’sThe Running Man , and Henry Cavill’sHighlander , paint a picture that the vogue is only determine to uprise . However , even though there are presently just eight films that in full fit the criterion of 80s action at law remaking , it ’s already clear that some projects have enjoyed greater achiever than others .
80s Action Movie Remakes
Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes Score
Heat ( 1995 )
$ 187.4 chiliad
83 %
Pathfinder ( 2007 )
$ 30.8 m
9 %
The Karate Kid ( 2010 )
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
$ 359.4 m
67 %
Conan The Barbarian ( 2011 )
$ 63.5 m
24 %
Red Dawn ( 2012 )
$ 50.9 m
15 %
Robocop ( 2013 )
$ 242.6 m
49 %
Wild Card ( 2015 )
$ 6.7 m
32 %
Road House ( 2024 )
N / A
60 %
8Pathfinder (2007)
Remake of Pathfinder (1987)
A loose remake of the seminal Norweigan80s action movieof the same name , Pathfinderis a pale imitation of the original . Its repute may not be helped by the fact that theoriginalPathfinderwas Oscar - make in the Best Foreign Language Filmcategory and has the distinction of being the first full - length feature in the Sami language . The 2007Pathfinder , by line , is about as far remove from the Academy Awards as it ’s possible to get .
The original Pathfinder throw 80 % on Rotten Tomatoes
Starring Karl Urban as aLast Kingdom - like outcast caught between two worlds , the pic merge impostor - history with brutal action , pure with swordfights and fittingly fucking chivalric Viking scrap . alas , the lackluster script , full absence of character development , and turbid cinematography makePathfindera mess – reflected in its paltry9 % grievance on limited review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes .
The eighties made huge headliner out of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger and produced iconic action mechanism hit . But the X had some duds too .
7Red Dawn (2012)
Remake of Red Dawn (1984)
In some ways , Red Dawnwas a true opportunity to define a blemished but interesting original movie . Made during the height of the Cold War , 1984’sRed Dawnsaw a compounding of Charlie Sheen , Patrick Swayze , and Jennifer Grey team up to take on invading communistic forces in the United States . Despite the ludicrous assumption , the film nonetheless provided an interesting alternate look at guerilla war , especially in the post - Vietnam geological era .
By contrast , the2012Red Dawnremake failedto deliver anything like the same tier of already - clumsy societal comment . Starring Chris Hemsworth , the film replace Russia with North Korea – although the how ’s and why ’s explain the nation ’s invasion capability were notably absent . Instead of fib , the emphasis fell on sporadic set pieces and muddled action scenes . The movie ’s 15 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes is testament to the fact thatRed Dawn2012 failed to deliver on an interesting original assumption .
6Conan The Barbarian (2011)
Remake of Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Despite being in many ways more faithful to the source fabric , the 2011Conan The Barbarianremake break down to live up to the bequest of the Arnold Schwarzenegger master . Starring Jason Momoa as the titular warrior , the movie boasted an impressive $ 90 million budget , as well as high - end limited effects and an telling keep going form include Stephen Lang , Rose McGowan , and Ron Perlman . regrettably , none of these ingredients came together successfully .
The vast community of expert on Ranker are at it again , and this time , thousands have chimed in to vote on the “ Best ' 80s Action Movies ” .
While the Schwarzenegger original was praised for its surprisingly serious approach to the tale and its well - pull characters , Conan2011 endure from an underbaked script and over - reliance on bloody violence . Even though this approach path is tonally more like to Howard ’s books , it did not interpret well onto the big filmdom . Consequently , Momoa’sConanbombed at the box officeand get just 24 % positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes .
5Wild Card (2015)
Remake of Heat (1986)
Despite receiving generally damaging reviews and bombing spectacularly at the box office ( making just over $ 6 million against a $ 30 million budget),Wild Cardis generally consider as a tenuous melioration over the original film . asterisk Jason Statham , the story follows a bodyguard whose gaming debts pull the attention of the syndicate . massacre ensues as Statham does conflict with various ne’er - do - wells acrossSin City .
Wild Cardat least conflate one of Statham ’s tedious characters with some really imaginative battle scene
Whereasthe original movie , star Burt Reynolds , was criticized for a wearisome script and uncharismatic cast , Wild Cardat least immix one of Statham ’s wordiest characters with some truly imaginative fight scenes . Made in the wake ofJohn Wick , one peculiarly irregular succession see Statham take on a gang of goons arm only with cutlery . While its unedifying 32 % Rotten Tomatoes score is unremarkable , Wild Cardnonetheless boasts some redeeming moments .
4Robocop (2014)
Remake of Robocop (1987)
In some ways , remaking Paul Verhoeven ’s iconic , ultraviolent original was always go to end in disappointment . AsRobocop ’s own sequels proved , the first movie managed to charm lightning in a bottle with itssly review article of authoritarianism and consumerism , coupled with more blood thanBlade ’s vampire night club . However , whileRobocop2014 can not be defend in the same mellow paying attention , the film even so bring some interesting ideas to the franchise .
Markedlyless violent , Robocopinstead emphasize the moral quandry around AI and the societal ethical code of law enforcement . In using the machine of a man turned into a machine to explore tyrannical disposition and the bound of what justice can deliver , Robocopat least tried to stand aside from the first film ’s legacy , instead of extend a fierce rehash . The celluloid ’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 49 % indicates that , while it was n’t a total success , it was certainly better than other similar remake attempts .
3Road House (2024)
Remake of Road House (1989)
One of the effective 80 action movie remake release so far , Road Househas provided a likely design from which other task can learn . Instead of taking a story that ’s universally beloved , such asRobocop , the motion picture revisit a film that , while democratic enough to guarantee an interview , also underdelivered first meter around , Although the Patrick Swayze original has a cult following thanks to its OTT vehemence and often - amusing dialog , there ’s little doubt thatthe Jake Gyllenhaal reimagining represents a significant betterment .
Not all remake are good , and most are quite the polar but there are pile of legal action film remakes worth watching .
Road Housemakes several bright changes to the original , including turning Dalton into a UFC fighter with a believable background , rather of turning bouncers into small-scale incomprehensible celebrities . The action scenes are also more glibly choreographed , with Conor McGregor allow for a surprisingly magnetic supporting presence . With a 60 % score on Rotten Tomatoes , Road Housemay not be a chef-d’oeuvre . However , it sure as shooting leaven that there can be justification for remaking apopular fourscore action pic .
2The Karate Kid (2010)
Remake of The Karate Kid (1984)
Despite being far less bombastic than many stereotypical fourscore action movies , The Karate Kid ’s emphasis on martial art and handwriting - to - hand combat – despite its free-enterprise setting – makes it a prime example of a flick that blends the bound between military action and sportsman . The original is justly celebrate as a classic , even spawn the much - loved continuation seriesCobra Kaidecades after its release . However , while the 2010 remake has failed to attain the same status , it is nevertheless a desirable inclusion in the franchise .
Despite diminish short of the original ’s aroused intensity , The Karate Kidwas still praised for its impactful tale and subtle twists on the original narrative
Jaden Smith is a disarmingly vulnerable presence at the spirit of the account , while Jackie Chan surpass as Mr. Miyagi replacement Mr. Han . Despite falling curtly of the original ’s aroused volume , The Karate Kidwas nonetheless praised for its impactful tale and subtle eddy on the original narrative . With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 67 % and a near-$360 million global box office , the movie did more than enough to apologise its existence .
Several awe-inspiring activeness film helped revolutionise the action genre with groundbreaking limited effect , engaging fight scene , and original stories .
1Heat (1995)
Remake of L.A. Takedown (1989)
Often cited as one of thebest movie remakesin any writing style , Michael Mann’sHeatarguably follow because it moves out from the original film ’s explicit activeness root . WhereasHeatis as much a part study , juxtapose Al Pacino ’s hard - boiled detective and Robert De Niro ’s conflicted criminal , L.A. Takedownfocuses much more on the action - heavy rip-off elementsof the level . The outcome is that the remaking far overstep the pilot in almost every agency .
WhileHeatfeatures many iconic dramatic scene – notably the fabled restaurant sequence between De Niro and Pacino – the movie ’s action mechanism credentials are on full showing in its heroic heist shootout sequence . The combining of volatile activity , electric writing , and excited astuteness makesHeata license classic – reflected in its impressive 83 % on Rotten Tomatoes . GivenL.A. Takedown ’s status as a telecasting motion-picture show , it may not be as explicit an 80saction movieremake as other projects . Nevertheless , Heatstands psyche and shoulder joint above other examples in the genre .
