Today's entertainment industry has become obsessed with remaking or rebooting popular films from the last century and updating their stories to recapture the spark that made them so successful and memorable. Some worked, others failed spectacularly, but whether you love them or hate them, there are a few movies that are just too perfect to remake.
These classics are truly timeless, and have had a lasting impact on cinema and pop culture that continues even today. They've captivated us with their thrilling stories, and created a sense of wonder and amazement that simply can never be replicated. From epic blockbusters to best picture winners, here are ten movies that nobody wants to see a remake of.
The best American classics endure throughout history, continuously being remembered and praised for their brilliance. ' is one such example. Wildly regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, this masterpiece is a timeless tale with incredible drama and acting that still feels powerful today.
Written, directed, and starring Welles as the titular Charles Foster Kane, the story follows this revered newspaper tycoon from his ambitious rise to fame to his inevitable fall from grace. It's a heartbreaking story that looks at the dark side of seeking the American dream, showing how a lust for power and control can leave someone empty inside.

Citizen Kane
- April 17, 1941
- 119 minutes
- Orson Welles
- Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles, John Houseman, Roger Q. Denny, Mollie Kent
Directed by and starring Orson Welles in his feature film debut, Citizen Kane tells the life story of Charles Foster Kane, a self-made business tycoon partially based on William Randolph Hearst. The film tells the story of Kane's rise and fall from power, narratively framed by the sensation caused by death at the beginning and end of the film. Besides Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorehead, and Ruth Warrick also star.
The incredibly talented has captured moviegoers' attention for decades, thrilling them with his marvelous films, like , , and his magnum opus , all of which are praised today as classics. But for this list, his iconic 1985 masterpiece, , remains untouchable.
Not only one of the greatest comedies but also one of the most iconic science fiction movies of all time, Back to the Future is a magnificent cinematic achievement with perfect acting, hilarious comedy, and iconic imagery.

Back to the Future
- July 3, 1985
- 116 minutes
- Robert Zemeckis
- Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
- Bob Gale, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Neil Canton
Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.
The '80s really did kick ass, didn't they? There's no other decade you could find more bullet-soaked, testosterone-fueled, pulse-pounding excitement than this action-packed decade. Perhaps the epitome of the genre in this awesome time was , the explosive 1988 action masterpiece starring and the late in a thrilling adventure set in a high-rise office building.
, continuing to influence the action movies of today with intense violence, death-defying stunts, flawless acting, and iconic one-liners. It's an enjoyable film that gets better and better with every rewatch, and despite coming out nearly forty years ago, its moments still don't fail to entertain.

Die Hard
- July 15, 1988
- 132 minutes
- John McTiernan
- Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there's no one to save the hostages -- but him.
is synonymous with powerful directing. He is perhaps one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, a visionary visual and verbal storyteller responsible for some of the most spectacular movies in recent history. While he's made some truly remarkable pictures, it's widely considered that his non-linear 1994 crime epic is his most outstanding achievement.
It's simply perfect throughout, featuring iconic scenes and moments that showcase the absolute best of Tarantino's skills as a writer and director. It's a near-flawless masterpiece that no one other than Tarantino could have directed it so uniquely.

Pulp Fiction
- October 14, 1994
- 154 minutes
- Quentin Tarantino
- Quentin Tarantino
The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
Remaking horror movies isn't new these days; some are actually pretty good. But not all of them need to be updated because some are just perfect the way they are. Take 's frighteningly iconic 1973 , for instance. This memorable horror masterpiece is a benchmark for the genre and one of the scariest movies ever made.
This has some truly horrific moments that can never be recaptured again. The Exorcist is hauntingly unsettling and incredibly shocking, featuring some of the best acting and directing in horror history. The Exorcist is an already perfect horror film that'll continue to scare for generations.

The Exorcist
- December 26, 1973
- 122 minutes
- William Friedkin
- William Peter Blatty
- The Exorcist: Believer, Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Exorcist III
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
True classics are films that can be watched over and over again and still leave audiences truly glad they've seen them. That's what's best to describe , the beloved 1946 Christmas classic starring and . Indeed, this cherished flick remains a pop culture staple, always brought up yearly around the holiday season.
There is so much to love about It's a Wonderful Life, from the beautiful theme and messages to the emotionally satisfying ending that never fails to leave a tear in one's eye. Updating this now or later, just plain and simple, wouldn't work.

It's a Wonderful Life
- December 20, 1946
- 130 minutes
- Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
Hailed as one of the most compelling crime epics of all time, Francis Ford Coppola's is a masterpiece that has never since dwindled in popularity. An epic story of intense drama, violence, and tragedy, it's undoubtedly a must-watch for cinema lovers and those looking for a gripping story.
Few other films are more perfectly directed, written, and acted than The Godfather. It told the story it meant to tell and did it flawlessly without any weak points or dull moments. It'll continue to be praised as a true cinematic masterpiece without the need to be told again.

The Godfather
- March 24, 1972
- 175 minutes
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola
- The Godfather Part II, The Godfather Part III
Don Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son, Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.
tells one of the most incredible stories in major motion picture history. It can't be understated how important it was and continues to be to the film industry: an absolute masterpiece featuring brilliant writing, powerful direction, and some of the most captivating performances ever shown on screen.
Admittedly, there's no looking past its controversial themes and glorification of the Confederacy, and it's safe to say that it hasn't aged all too well. But it's still a memorable story and feels emotional and amazing to watch. Despite coming out more than eighty years ago, everything from the sets, wardrobes, production designs, and especially the performances still hold up well today and continue to be enjoyed.

Gone With the Wind
- December 15, 1939
- 238 minutes
- Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
- Margaret Mitchell, Sidney Howard, Oliver H.P. Garrett, Ben Hecht, Jo Swerling, John Van Druten
A sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
It could be argued that most, if not all, of 's movies are considered untouchable masterpieces. As one of the best visionary storytellers of the 20th century, he has created some memorable films that continue to fascinate cinemagoers. While there's a whole list to choose from, his glorious sci-fi classic, , can never be replicated.
For a film that came out back in 1968, its effects and striking visuals hold up superbly well today. It's a truly groundbreaking, visionary classic deserving of its status as a masterpiece, and it continues to be one of Kubrick's best examples of his talents as a powerful storyteller and revered perfectionist.

2001: A Space Odyssey
- April 3, 1968
- 149 minutes
- Stanley Kubrick
- Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke
After uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.
Lastly, Frank Darabont's is one of those cinematic achievements that can never be topped. Not only is this one of the most gripping Stephen King film adaptations, nor one of the best prison movies, but it is also one of the most perfect movies, period. From the powerful lead performances of and to the excellent writing and heartbreaking moments, this is an unforgettable story that doesn't need to be told again.
The Shawshank Redemption's reputation as one of the most iconic movies in history hasn't dwindled in recent years. It's perfect from beginning to end and features truly iconic moments and lines that continue to be talked about today. Indeed, no one wants this one redone.

The Shawshank Redemption
- Release Date
- October 14, 1994
- Runtime
- 142 minutes
- Director
- Frank Darabont
- Writers
- Stephen King, Frank Darabont
Over the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.