While perusing Reddit the other day, I came across an interesting question: “Why doesn’t Hollywood remake bad movies instead of rehashing the good ones?” It struck a chord with me because it’s something I’ve often wondered myself. There are so many movies out there that were critical or commercial failures but had great potential. So why don’t studios ever take those underperformers and try to give them the second chance they deserve?
After diving into the topic, I think the answer is multifaceted. But before we get into the why, let’s pause for a second and imagine what could be.
Think about films like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), which was a colossal mess despite having a killer concept: literary heroes coming together to fight evil. Or how about Waterworld (1995), a film infamous for its overblown budget and execution but could have been a fantastic post-apocalyptic saga in more capable hands. And let’s not forget Battlefield Earth (2000), a sci-fi movie that could probably shine today with better direction, modern CGI, and a tighter script.
These movies bombed for a variety of reasons—bad scripts, miscasting, outdated special effects—but the bones of a great story are there. So, if they’re ripe for improvement, why do studios shy away from giving them another go?
The Safety Net of Success
When a movie is bad, people move on. The excitement and fanbase never materialized, and the brand doesn’t have much value. So, when Hollywood is looking to make a return on investment, it’s far safer to remake a film that was already popular. Films like The Lion King (2019) or Aladdin (2019) didn’t just have great stories; they had decades of goodwill. People grew up loving them, and even if the remakes weren’t perfect, they cashed in on that nostalgia.
Bad movies don’t have that built-in audience, so studios are taking a much bigger gamble. Why would they remake a flop like Catwoman (2004) or Wild Wild West (1999) when there’s no guarantee people will even care enough to give it a second chance?
Nostalgia as a Selling Point
Another key reason is the emotional attachment audiences have to classic films. When studios remake a movie like Ghostbusters (2016), they’re not just selling a new movie—they’re selling memories. People go to see these remakes because they want to feel that same sense of wonder or excitement they felt with the original. Often, bringing their family or friends along for the ride, and creating a multi-generational flick.
Bad movies, on the other hand, don’t have that nostalgia factor. No one is clamoring for a reboot of Gigli (2003) or The Love Guru (2008). Even if they could be improved, they don’t have that emotional hook that studios rely on to draw crowds.
The Risk Factor
This brings us to perhaps the biggest reason Hollywood avoids remaking bad films: it’s just too risky. In an industry where movies cost millions (sometimes hundreds of millions) to make, there’s a lot on the line with every project. Studios want a sure thing—or at least something that looks like a sure thing.
Remaking a bad movie means studios would have to convince both investors and audiences that this time the story will be better. They’d have to overhaul the script, rework the characters, and in some cases, completely re-imagine the world-building. And even after all of that, there’s no guarantee it will work.
For example, The Last Airbender (2010) was a disaster. But could a remake—done with care and respect for the source material—be a success? Probably. However, convincing a studio to fund that second chance, after the first one failed so spectacularly, would be an uphill battle.
Should Hollywood Take the Risk?
Hollywood’s tendency to stick to what’s safe often means that bad movies remain buried, even when some of them deserve a second chance. But in the rare instances when filmmakers do take the plunge and remake a flop, the results can be surprising. After all, storytelling is all about potential, and a failed film is sometimes just a missed opportunity waiting for the right creative team to bring it to life.
So maybe it’s time for studios to start looking at the flops on their shelves and asking: What if?
Ryan Reynolds: A Case Study in Remaking a Flop
If you’re still wondering whether it’s worth giving a flop a second chance, just look at Ryan Reynolds’ journey with Deadpool. Before the Deadpool we all know and love took over the box office in 2016, Reynolds had experienced some significant stumbles.
His first attempt at playing the character was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), where Deadpool was butchered beyond recognition, leaving fans outraged. That, coupled with the colossal failure of Green Lantern (2011), could have easily sidelined his superhero career for good. But Reynolds saw the potential in the character and relentlessly fought to do Deadpool justice. After years of persistence, and with the support of fans, he finally got it right.
When Deadpool hit theaters, it was everything fans had been waiting for: funny, irreverent, violent, and most importantly, true to the spirit of the comics. Reynolds didn’t just ignore his previous missteps; he actively poked fun at them within the film itself, acknowledging both the flaws of his previous Deadpool portrayal and Green Lantern. This clever self-awareness only strengthened his connection with the audience, turning past failures into an ongoing joke rather than a career-ending stain.
The success of Deadpool is a perfect example of how taking a failed concept and reworking it can result in something extraordinary. The same goes for movies that bombed on their first try—just because a film flopped doesn’t mean its potential is gone forever. All it takes is the right vision, the right approach, and, in some cases, a bit of humor.
What This Means for Other Flops
Could something like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) follow a similar path? Absolutely. Much like how Reynolds identified what went wrong with the first Deadpool and turned it into something brilliant, a skilled director could take the raw potential of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and transform it into a well-executed hit. The concept of literary heroes teaming up is a great one—it just needs the right combination of modern effects, a sharp script, and a team that understands what audiences want from that kind of film.
If anything, the success of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool proves that Hollywood should think twice before writing off a flop entirely. A second chance—done right—can turn a failure into something iconic.
So maybe it’s time for studios to stop fearing past mistakes. After all, some of the best stories come from second chances.
On top of all this, movies often flop because they feature highly creative stories or ambitious characters, but the director or studio struggles to fully bring that vision to life.
The original Reddit post also has some great comments from people on the subject.