Hands Off the Classics: 7 1980s Icons Hollywood Should Never Remake

Hollywood's obsession with remakes isn't breaking news. But for fans, hearing about a reboot of a beloved movie usually sparks more anxiety than excitement. Will it honor the original, or will it just be another unnecessary entry that pales in comparison? Many 1980s classics are iconic not just for their stories, but for the specific cultural moment they captured. Here's why some movies should stay exactly as they are.

Director's Vision vs. Modern Machinery

When we talk about movie magic, Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is the gold standard. It's a personal story that countless films have tried to borrow from, yet none have matched its charm. The practical effects and the raw emotional bond are lightning in a bottle.

Then there's Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980). A remake could mimic the plot, but matching the haunting precision of Kubrick’s frames and the unhinged performances is nearly impossible. It's telling that Luca Guadagnino's Scarface (1983) update is no longer in development—some worlds just don't exist in the same way anymore.

The Limits of Adaptation

• Brazil (1985): Terry Gilliam's retro-futuristic satire on bureaucracy is timeless because the system only got worse. A remake is wholly unnecessary.
• Airplane! (1980): This movie survives because it never explains its absurd satire. Modern comedy's rhythm wouldn't be able to replicate its relentless joke-per-minute pace.
• Akira (1988): Katsuhiro Otomo's masterpiece proved that some stories belong to animation. Despite Hollywood chasing a live-action version for years, it remains a testament to the freedom of its original medium.