What does Remake mean?
Remake refers to a new film or television production that recreates or retells an earlier production — typically using the same story, characters, and general structure as the original, but with a new cast, updated production values, and sometimes a contemporary setting or cultural context. A remake is distinct from a reboot in that it typically acknowledges and recreates a specific earlier version rather than establishing a new franchise continuity. Remakes are one of Hollywood’s most reliable commercial strategies, leveraging the familiarity and affection audiences have for existing stories.
Example:The studio commissioned a remake of the classic 1980s family adventure film, updating it with contemporary visual effects and a diverse new cast of child actors while preserving the original’s story structure and emotional beats.
Example: The child actor’s agent noted that the project was a remake rather than an original, which meant audition panels would likely compare her reading to the iconic performance in the original film — a different kind of pressure than auditioning for a completely new role.
Did you know?
Some of Hollywood’s most celebrated films are remakes. The Wizard of Oz (1939) was the fourth film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel. Scarface (1983) is a remake of the 1932 original. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) remade the 1960 Rat Pack film. Ben-Hur has been filmed at least five times. The practice of remaking successful stories is as old as cinema itself.
You can also find “Remake” and related terms in this category: Distribution and Exhibition.
