Movies Hollywood should remake after The Lion King — and those that should never be touched

With fans divided on The Lion King’s new look and more than 100 remakes reportedly in the works, here are the movies Hollywood should never touch and those they should.

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Hollywood has always been obsessed with remakes but it seems to be taking it to another level this year with the likes of Dumbo, Hellboy, Aladdin, Pet Sematary, The Lion King and Charlies Angels lobbing on to the big screen in quick succession.

In fact, various movie websites reckon there are more than 100 planned remakes or reboots in the works over the next few years.

Some of these will sadly never get made — and some of them will get made but probably shouldn’t have.

So, to make the task easier for Hollywood’s inspiration-starved moguls, here’s The Sunday Telegraph’s list of the 10 films that should be remade — and the 10 that should not be touched.

REMAKE

1. World War Z (2013)

The 2013 Brad Pitt zombie film managed the rare feat of being almost completely different from the book. The book, by the way, is probably the best zombie novel ever written and so deserves a complete remake. This time its sweeping scope needs to be captured in probably two parts, the first subtitled The Great Panic and the second The Long Road Back. Given what happens in China and India play key roles in the book, maybe it’s time to tap those countries for funding.

Brad Pitt in World War Z, a film vastly different to the original novel on which it was — sort of — based.

2. Electric Dreams (1984)

This 1984 movie about a shy geek who uses his computer to woo the girl of his dreams — only for the computer to fall in love with him and try to take over his life is very dated. With today’s technology, this is crying out for a remake. Maybe Amazon or Google could sponsor it — or would that reveal their evil master plans for us all …?

3. Alexander (2004)

One of history’s greatest generals might have vanquished the Persians but he met a horrible end at the hands of Colin Farrell’s haircut and Angelina Jolie’s hammy acting. Surely he deserves a sweeping swords and sandals epic worthy of his legacy.

Angelina Jolie, Colin Farrell and THAT wig in a scene from Alexander.

4. Green Lantern (2011)

Ryan Reynolds took a beloved superhero and made supervillains around the world applaud in stunned wonder with the way he took him down. Luckily Reynolds has since moved on to Deadpool, while superheroes are super-hot, so the time is right to dust off Green Lantern and make him shine again.

Ryan Reynolds’s superhero career got oof to a bad start with the terrible Green Lantern.

5. WarGames (1983)

This 1983 classic saw a young Matthew Broderick nearly start World War III by hacking into the Pentagon using a computer set-up that today’s teens would find absolutely hilarious. Basically it’s bigger than his bedroom. With armed drones patrolling our skies and defence systems on a hair trigger, this is ripe for a remake using today’s tech.

6 . The Running Man (1987)

Arnold Schwarzenegger took this intelligent thriller with political overtones from Stephen King and turned it into a tidal wave of R-rated testosterone. Time to lose Arnie in dodgy yellow Spandex and remake this properly.

Arnold Schwarzenegger ruined The Running Man with his dodgy yellow Spandex.

7. Rambo (1982)

Another clever, anti-war, anti-violence novel got hijacked, this time by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone’s Rambo 5 will reportedly close the book on his version of the character, so let’s go back to David Morrell’s source material and save the character from Sly.

8. The Last Starfighter (1984)

This 1984 sci-fi cult classic was let down by some dodgy special effects. The tale of a teen video games whiz recruited to save a distant planet from invasion could be done so much better.

9. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Another 1980s favourite that is crying out for an update. This time the group of teenagers can be forced to give up their phones during detention and discover something about life and themselves by doing so.

Eighties favourite The Breakfast Club could do with a technology update.

10. Logan’s Run (1976)

This time we go back to the Seventies for this film about a society of beautiful people with just one catch — you get euthanised when you turn 30. Today’s looks and age-obsessed society is not a million miles away from that nightmare, so this is a timely (so to speak) remake.

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

1. Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Sure, the effects could use a bit of a boost and it wasn’t that close to L Frank Baum’s book but you’re never going to recapture the magic or the wonder, so please don’t try. Watch 2013’s Oz The Great And Powerful to see why. Let armies of flying monkeys descend on anyone who thinks they can do it better.

2. Out Of Africa (1985)

You’re not going to get actors with the power and presence of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford to create that much chemistry on screen. Any attempt to do so would be like going up to a sleeping lion on the savanna and slapping it in the face. While slathered in chicken gravy.

No modern starts could harness the chemistry of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out Of Africa.

3. The Godfather (1972)

Three Oscars, including for Best Actor (Marlon Brando) and Best Picture, plus three nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Who would want to try to remake that? Not even for an offer you couldn’t refuse …

4. Back To The Future (1985)

Yes, the special effects are dodgy. Yes, its predictions about 2015 were miles away from the truth. But, as Marty McFly discovered to his cost, if you go back and try to change the past, bad things can happen.

The dodgy special effects of Back To The Future don't warrant a remake of this beloved classic.

5. Casablanca (1942)

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman took this simple story, one of dozens of war movies that had been rushed out in 1942, and turned it into a classic. You could film it in colour but you couldn’t add any more colour to the story. Don’t make it again, Sam.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, widely regarded as one of the best screen romances ever made.

6. Citizen Kane (1941)

This movie made Orson Welles a superstar and holds an astonishing 100 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. How can you beat that? You’d be on a slippery sled to disaster.

7. Taxi Driver (1976)

Robert De Niro inspired a million impersonations with his character. It also had a brilliant Jodie Foster and a surprisingly brilliant Cybill Shepherd. Who could step into De Niro’s skin? Don’t even try it. Hey, I’m talking to you, Hollywood.

8. Rocky (1976)

Rambo might need a remake but don’t go near Rocky. The original film had a lightness of touch and a sense of humour that was sadly missing in many of the sequels. Let it stand undefeated.

Sylvester Stallone in the original — and untouchable — Rocky movie.

9. Jaws (1975)

The movie that inspired millions to stop swimming in the ocean. Again, by today’s standards the rubber shark is pretty dodgy. But the music, the suspense and the acting … you can’t top it. Anyone who tries it should be fed to the … well, you know.

10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The original was a mind-bending sequence of ideas, topped off with a mad computer called HAL. You could update the effects but could you recreate the masterpiece of Stanley Kubrick? It’s more likely to end up with the metaphorical equivalent of a pack of apes howling as they tried to smash up something they did not understand.