IMDb Proves It: These Action Remakes Surpass the Originals — Сan’t Take Your Eyes Off Them
Even classics can be outdone — if Scorsese, Miike, or Cameron take charge.
When a remake turns out better than the original, it’s an event. Especially in the action genre, where viewers demand not only thrills but also fresh approaches, charisma, and drive. We picked 5 such cases: in each remake, the IMDb rating is higher than the original’s. Below — who outdid whom and how exactly.
The Departed (2006)
Original: Infernal Affairs (2002)
IMDb remake: 8.5 | IMDb original: 8.0
Martin Scorsese took an Asian thriller and amplified it with grit, Boston atmosphere, and three powerful actors — DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson. The remake doesn’t just retell the plot but deepens it morally and dramatically. It became a standalone masterpiece and won an Oscar.
Scarface (1983)
Original: Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932)
IMDb remake: 8.3 | IMDb original: 7.7
The 30s version is almost forgotten today, while the Al Pacino film became a cultural icon. De Palma turned the gangster story into a tragedy about power, blood, and madness, and Tony Montana became an icon for generations.
13 Assassins (2010)
Original: 13 Assassins (1963)
IMDb remake: 7.5 | IMDb original: 7.4
Takashi Miike’s new take on the classic samurai story is almost forty minutes of nonstop fighting, dirt, traps, and blood. Miike holds nothing back, and audiences loved it — against the minimalist original, the remake feels like a volcano.
True Lies (1994)
Original: La Totale! (1991)
IMDb remake: 7.3 | IMDb original: 6.2
Cameron transformed a French spy comedy into a spectacular action film starring Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Huge budget, cascades of stunts, humor, and scale took the film to another level. A remake that became a classic.
The Mummy (1999)
Original: The Mummy (1932)
IMDb remake: 7.1 | IMDb original: 7.0
If the old The Mummy is an atmospheric gothic horror, the 1999 version is a sparkling adventure. A glamorous expedition, a charismatic hero, monsters, humor, and spectacle — the remake changed the genre but hit right in the viewer’s heart.
