Monster Movie Remakes

Godzilla isn't the first movie monster to return to theaters with a vengence.  In fact, monster movie remakes are a mainstay of Hollywood.  Here are just a few classic monsters that returned to take another bite out of the box office.

'Godzilla' (1954) (2014)

Ever since Godzilla's first film appearance back in 1954, this giant beast has returned time and again to terrorize the planet.  No longer confined to Japan, Godzilla is now about to claw its way through the Big Apple.

'Frankenstein' (1931) (1994)

It's alive!  It's alive!  Mary Shelly's classic story has been remade so many times that, just like the monster, they could probably make an entirely new film out the discarded pieces of all of the others that came before it.

'Dracula' (1931) (1992)

It is a good thing Dracula doesn't age, because the way film executives keep bringing him back, he will be making a killing at the box office for years to come.

'The Wolfman' (1941) (2010)

It is amazing that even after all of these years the Wolfman still hasn't gone gray.  That is probably due to the fact that whenever there is a full moon there is at least one Hollywood executive thinking "maybe we should bring back the Wolfman."

'The Blob' (1958) (1988)

Consuming everything in its path, The Blob can't be stopped - and neither can Hollywood's desire to keep remaking this 1958 classic.  Though it hasn't been seen on the big screen since 1988, you can rest assured that at some point The Blob will return to consume a theater near you.

'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' (1958) (1993)

Hell hath no fury like that of a 50 foot woman scorned!  She was as stomping mad back in 1958 as she was when Daryl Hannah played her in 1993!  For any actress brave enough to play the role in the future, beware!  Those are some mighty big shoes to fill.

'The Fly' (1958) (1986)

In the 1958 classic, a scientist accidentally turns himself into a fly.  Amazingly, in 1986, another scientist, this time played by Jeff Goldblum, did the exact same thing.  Too bad Jeff didn't see the original 1958 film, otherwise he might have chosen a different experiment.

'The Thing' (1951) (1982)

The Thing has returned time and again since 1951 to terrorize scientists and military men stationed at a remote Arctic outpost.  If there is one lesson to be learned it is this - fending off a blood-thirsty alien organism takes about 90 minutes.

'King Kong' (1933) (2005)

As far as remakes go, it doesn't matter which skyscraper King Kong climbs in New York City, the outcome will always be the same - box office gold!

'The Mummy' (1932) (1999)

It is a good thing that the Egyptians knew how to preserve a body for life in the future, because with the success of The Mummy films, it looks like this cloth covered corpse will be coming back to life on screen again and again.

'Invaders From Mars' (1953) (1986)

The Invaders From Mars first tried to take over the minds of the inhabitants of a small town back in 1953, then returned to do the same thing in a 1986 remake.  Knowing alien life forms (and Hollywood executives), you can almost count the days until the aliens return to invade a theater near you.

'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951) (2008)

When an alien visitor and his giant robot first visited Earth in 1951, they warned us to live peacefully or they would destroy the earth.  Obviously, the human race didn't listen because they returned in 2008 to tell us the same thing all over again.  Let's hope that they don't stop warning us just two visits.

'Piranha' (1978) (2010)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water!  These man eating fish first devoured fans back in 1978, only to return in 2010 to sink their teeth into audiences all over again.

'Little Shop of Horrors' (1960) (1986)

This 1960 film taught us that raising a man-eating plant isn't something a person can do on their own - they actually need help of others... mainly to serve as food.  In 1986 the man eating plant was back and its appetite was even bigger - though not nearly as big as the fans who just couldn't get enough of this cult flick.

'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956) (2007)

If you ever discover that your neighbors are being replaced with emotionless aliens, don't worry - you may simply be living in one of the many remakes of this classic 1956 film... we hope.

'Not of This Earth' (1957) (1988)

Aliens coming to earth seeking blood can only mean one of two things:  either their planet is dying, or this is another remake of the classic 1957 film.