The 1990s gave us some unforgettable movies, but many of them were remakes of earlier films, sometimes decades old. Think your favorite 90s movies were originals? Here are popular 90s movies we didn´t realize were remakes.
1. The Birdcage (1996)
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane brought laughs in this remake of the 1978 French-Italian film La Cage aux Folles.
2. Cape Fear (1991)
Martin Scorsese´s thriller starring Robert De Niro was a darker remake of the 1962 film with Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum.
3. Sabrina (1995)
Harrison Ford starred in this romantic reboot of the 1954 Billy Wilder classic, originally featuring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.
4. The Father of the Bride (1991)
Steve Martin´s beloved comedy was a remake of the 1950 version starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.
5. The Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Though it gained cult popularity in the 90s, it was a remake of a 1960 low-budget horror comedy.
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6. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
Pierce Brosnan´s suave thief was first played by Steve McQueen in the 1968 original.
7. A Perfect Murder (1998)
This sleek thriller is a reworking of Alfred Hitchcock´s Dial M for Murder (1954).
8. The Nutty Professor (1996)
Eddie Murphy´s hit comedy reimagined Jerry Lewis´s 1963 original with a modern twist.
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9. The Parent Trap (1998)
Lindsay Lohan´s breakout role remade the 1961 Disney classic starring Hayley Mills.
10. Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Baz Luhrmann´s MTV-styled update used the original Shakespearean text but was a bold remake of countless earlier adaptations.
11. The Jackal (1997)
This spy thriller starring Bruce Williams was based on The Day of the Jackal (1973), though it diverged significantly in plot.
12. Les Misérables (1998)
Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush starred in this take on Victor Hugo´s novel, which had been adapted several times before.
13. Diabolique (1996)
Sharon Stone starred in this remake of the French psychological thriller Les Diaboliques (1955).
14. Flubber (1997)
Robin Williams’ bouncing invention was a reimagining of the 1961 Disney film The Absent-Minded Professor.
15. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
Inspired by the 1962 French short film La Jetée, this sci-fi mind-bender became a ’90s classic.
16. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Though reimagined as a Tom Cruise action franchise, it was based on the 1960s television series. This franchise continued to a very long time of Mission: Impossible movies from Tom Cruise.
17. The Addams Family (1991)
While technically based on the cartoon, the film leaned heavily on the popular 1960s TV show´s influence. Today is one of the best classics people prefer to watch, and it was remade into a TV show.
18. Ransom (1996)
Mel Gibson´s thriller was a remake of the 1956 film Ransom!, both centered on a high-stakes child kidnapping.
19. Cruel Intentions (1999)
This steamy teen drama is a modern-day retelling of the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, previously adapted into Dangerous Liaisons (1988).
20. Meet Joe Black (1998)
Brad Pitt´s mysterious Death-in-disguise role is a reimagining of the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday.
Explore more vintage content:
If you´re into movie history and surprising remakes, check out more vintage Hollywood content and see how today´s hits borrow from the past. These 20 popular ’90s films were actually remakes of earlier classics, and you didn´t know it. Check out 16 Legendary Movie Swords that Became Icons On Screen, or 19 Wildly Unrealistic Things Portrayed in Movies.
