9 Cheesy ’50s Movies With Great ’80s Remakes

Between The Fly and The Thing, some sci-fi & horror films that are considered the best of all time are actually ’80s remakes of cheesy ’50s movies.

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Schlocky sci-fi B-movies were all the rage in the ’50s, and many of them have been remade with a more serious approach. And while some of these films weren’t well-received upon release, most have aged incredibly well.

Some of the sci-fi and horror films that are considered the greatest of all time are ’80s remakes of cheesy ’50s movies. Between a terrifying body horror set in Antarctica and a musical about a sentient man-eating plant, ’80s remakes are some of the most creative remakes there have ever been.

The Fly (1986)

The two versions of The Fly are almost completely different entities. There are certain ways 1958’s The Fly is better than its remake, such as the way it’s more of a murder mystery and asks some philosophical questions. But there’s no topping director David Cronenberg’s unique and disturbing vision.

Coming 28 years later, Cronenberg did what he does best by turning the original body horror into an even more disgusting-looking Shakespearean tragedy. There’s nothing remotely cheesy about the 1986 movie, and it’s instead completely mortifying and depressing. It’s one of the greatest movies viewers will only ever watch once.

Not Of This Earth (1988)

The remake of Not Of This Earth was completely critically scathed when it was released in 1988, but it has its merits. It’s almost a so-bad-it’s-good movie and just as cheesy as the 1957 original. It’s also great to watch whilst knowing all of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts.

According to the book, The Last Great American Picture Show: New Hollywood Cinema in the 1970s, the remake is the result of a bet, as director Jim Wynorski bet he could make the film with the same budget and shooting schedule as the original. It also stars former adult film actress Traci Lords and was originally planned to be a musical comedy too.

Invaders From Mars (1986)

There wasn’t much going on in the 1953 version of Invaders From Mars, and it was so bare that it didn’t even reach 80 minutes in length. The film is a typical 50s sci-fi B-movie, as it follows a child who discovers that aliens are taking over people’s minds.

There are still some cheesy elements in the 1980s movie, but for as criticized as it is, the Invaders From Mars remake is actually a masterclass in building suspense. But given that at this point even the 1986 version of the story seems a little dated now, there could be an even better 2020s remake if it was in the right hands.

The Bad Seed (1985)

Unlike all the other 1950s movies that have gotten remakes in the 1980s, The Bad Seed isn’t a sci-fi movie. Instead, it’s a psychological thriller about a nine-year-old who is a psychotic murderer. Though the movie was nominated for several Academy Awards in the acting categories, it’ll take a lot to scare even the faintest of hearts by today’s standards.

However, The Bad Seed got remade in 1985, and though it was direct-to-TV, it was extremely faithful to the source material and genuinely intense. There was a second remake of The Bad Seed that came out as recently as 2018, which starred and was directed by Rob Lowe. The movie even had a positive enough reception that a sequel was green-lit and is coming in 2022.

Crackers (1984)

Crackers is a remake of the 1958 Italian movie, Big Deal On Madonna Street. The original is a comedy crime caper that follows three common thieves who try to burgle a pawn shop in Rome. It’s an Italian classic and can still be enjoyed today, but nothing dates quicker than comedy, and some of the 60-year-old jokes don’t exactly land as they did back then.

The American remake isn’t as well known, but it’s an underrated comedy from the ’80s and sees Sean Penn in one of his rare comedic roles. It’s also just as visually pleasing as the original, as Rome is traded in for the picturesque San Francisco.

The Blob (1988)

The original The Blob is one of those movies that everybody knows about but few people have actually seen if they weren’t around during its initial release. The movie follows an alien amoeba as it gobbles up everything in sight in a small American town, and as cheesy as it is, it’s still fun to watch and features Steve McQueen’s first lead role.

The sequel came exactly 30 years later and it essentially has the same premise, only there’s one major difference. The Blob is no longer an alien amoeba, but a government experiment gone terribly wrong, and it’s filled with cynicism, more attentive, and way more detailed.

The Thing (1982)

When it comes to the scariest movies of all time, The Thing is often in the running for the very scariest, but few fans actually know that it’s a remake. The Thing From Another World was released in 1951, and it actually has an identical premise, as a crew of scientists finds a humanoid body in Antarctica, only for things to take a turn for the worst. However, the original was less scary and more like old-fashioned fun that even children could enjoy.

The remake is another grotesque horror movie, and it went as far as it possibly could with practical special effects. It was a landmark in visual effects at the time, but it was nigh impossible to be inspired by its awe, as audiences were too busy being absolutely terrified. The Thing is one of the most claustrophobic horror movies, and the 1951 original doesn’t hold a candle to it.

Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)

Though the original Little Shop of Horrors was released in 1960, the star of the movie, Jackie Joseph, stated that filming wrapped on New Years’ Eve 1959, as mentioned on The Astounding B Monster Archive. The film is a fun black comedy with a dash of horror, something that director Roger Corman does best.

But the remake, which came 26 years later, is drastically different and an impressive hybrid of several different genres. The movie combines comedy, horror, and sci-fi in one entertaining musical melting pot. It’s something that’d be hard to pull off even today. Ironically, the remake is more cheesy than the original, but also much better. However, there will be yet another Little Shop of Horrors movie, and it’s one of the most highly anticipated movie reboots.

We’re No Angels (1989)

We’re No Angels is yet another mischievous comedy starring Sean Penn, and it’s almost as if the ’80s is full of unearthed fun films with Penn in the lead. The movie follows two convicts who masquerade as priests to avoid jail time, and it’s based on the 1955 movie of the same name.

Again, the comedy in the original doesn’t entirely hold up, but the remake more than makes up for it. The 1989 movie is so much fun, as the convicts put themselves through ridiculous situations in order to avoid a ruthless prison warden and an escaped serial killer.

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