For many, the 1980s was the best possible decade to live in. The level of excitement, enthusiasm and creativity in pop culture was bursting in a way that has never been seen since, and may never be seen again. Throughout the decade, fresh filmmakers were dropping hit after hit into theaters, creating a lifetime's worth of pop culture references.
Over the years we've seen a number of 80s films get the remake treatment, some for better, and others for worse. However, there are some 1980s movies that simply can't get remade today, due to their content, aesthetics or decade-centric approach. Here's 10 that will forever be tied to the 80s, and nowhere else.
10 Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Any attempt to remake Ferris Bueller's Day Off will be met with disaster, for obvious reasons. It's a timeless comedy classic beloved by new generations who get to watch Matthew Broderick behave like a complete smartass, while planning a day off from school. The movie sums up what most kids in the 1980s were thinking, when focusing on your young adult future was far less important than enjoying your youth.
Whether it's the iconic Ferrari, the nostalgic set pieces or Broderick's natural smashing of the fourth wall, Bueller has a look and feel that cannot be duplicated. Those who try may end up making themselves look quite foolish.
9 Back To The Future
Another classic franchise set in concrete thanks to its principal actors is Back To The Future, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. The natural chemistry between the two is undeniable, and it would be almost impossible replicate in a remake.
Part of the charm of Back To The Future lies in how absurd the premise is, which is precisely what audiences loved so much about 1980s cinema. Imaginations ran wild, and few truly cared about the probability or realism of the movies they were watching. These days, the mechanics of time travel demonstrated in the franchise would earn the ire of quantum physicists everywhere, not to mention armchair eggheads.
8 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
It's a safe bet that nobody has what it takes to replicate the sheer emotion and wonder of the original E.T., even modern-day Steven Spielberg. The movie's most gripping feature is its ability to draw the audience in and make them see the unfolding events through the eyes of the inner child within us all.
E.T. should be left off the rack when it comes to remakes, and never touched. The closest we've ever come is a recent Holiday Reunion commercial by Xfinity, which reunited original star Henry Thomas with his puppet co-star, and it was absolutely wonderful. Let's leave it at that.
7 Explorers
The science behind Explorers had already gone so far out on a limb that the branch snapped, way back in 1985. It was thoroughly unbelievable, and absolutely impossible, but it remains a classic of fun storytelling with a positive message for kids wrapped up in the throes of their imaginations.
What child hasn't stared up at the stars and wondered what was out there? That was clearly the intention for director Joe Dante, who crafted a less-than-perfect, but still memorable and uplifting tale of kids reaching for the stars.
6 Labyrinth
Netflix's Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance proved without a doubt that Jim Henson's advanced puppets could make a spectacular comeback, but that's not enough to greenlight a Labyrinth remake. So much of that film is time-locked in 1980s pop culture that it deserves to stay there, and enchant new audiences.
One of the film's major selling points was obviously the presence of David Bowie as the main villain. Toss in musical pop numbers that could only work within the confines of 1980s cinema, and Labyrinth would lose all of its wonder, charm and zeal if one decided (unwisely) to remake it.
5 Short Circuit
While a movie about a robot who suddenly gains sentience after being struck by lightning doesn't seem out of the realm of remake possibility, it's doubtful it would have the same cultural impact as the original Short Circuit did. Once again, the movie is coated in a glossy layer (maybe two) of 1980s aesthetic and style, making it hard to duplicate.
A remake would undoubtedly attempt to recapture the comedic elements of a naive robot learning about life for the first time, but it would lose all its heart and soul in the process, turning it into a shell with little in the way of substance.
4 UHF
It would be almost impossible to do a remake of 'Weird' Al Yankovic's UHF without Yankovic himself involved. Even then, the chances of it approaching anywhere near the madcap lunacy and hilarity of the original are slim to none. UHF came out at the height of 1980s commercialization and brand awareness, mostly concentrated through the living room TV.
Today's massive shift to digital streaming platforms gets rid of any social commentary found in the original, which focused on syndicated TV, commercial breaks and colorful media personalities. Besides, YouTube has more than enough crazy to go around, perhaps enough to stand toe-to-toe with the original UHF and emerge the nuttier of the two.
3 The Last Dragon
While The Karate Kid was responsible for bringing martial arts to a whole new generation of kids, it was nevertheless a movie about a kid struggling with bullying and self-confidence. The Last Dragon doesn't care about any of that. It's a straight up, westernized kung-fu flick, complete with mysticism and comedy, galore!
Cheesier than a double plate of nachos, The Last Dragon is impossible to remake without looking obvious. It takes itself seriously, even if it's having fun at the same time. Good luck replicating this formula. Keep this one in 1985, where it belongs!
2 Iron Eagle
Most who grew up in the 1980s remember Iron Eagle for its spectacular dogfighting scenes, massive explosions and a hard rock soundtrack that drove its high level of excitement and action. It takes the best facets of a 1980s action movie, strips out the blood, and focuses on exhilarating action in the vein of Top Gun.
Coincidentally, these are all reasons why Iron Eagle would never get a remake. Much of today's war is waged through economic sanctions, proxies and alliances, leaving good old fashioned military engagements out to dry.
1 Spaceballs
If anyone thought about remaking Spaceballs, they'd best steer clear. Parody films haven't been in fashion for at least 10 years at this point, and few can do it as well as Spaceballs. This good natured knock on Star Wars was blessed with a superb cast, great writers, and the masterful direction of comedy legend Mel Brooks.
There's been a severe drought in the silver screen comedy world for a long time, and it's hard to say if anyone truly has the talents to remake Spaceballs in some way, shape or form. The lackluster audience reception to Disney's sequel trilogy would get hammered mercilessly by such a remake, which was never the point of the original.
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