Dark Reboots: 32 Movies and TV Shows That Took a Sinister Turn

In many instances, when it comes to movies and TV shows that were previously successful, some have been able to either outshine their originals or at least make a case for their existence by transforming popular culture icons into something more complex, often darker. This is how they’ve managed to achieve success.

Batman Begins (2005)

Previously, The Dark Knight was depicted in a more humorous and exaggerated manner during the movie “Batman & Robin,” which unfortunately halted the live-action Batman film series at that time. However, Christopher Nolan brought Bruce Wayne’s alter ego back to life on the big screen and revitalized its presence in pop culture with his serious and well-received origin story titled “Batman Begins.” This was the initial installment of his outstanding Dark Knight Trilogy.

The Addams Family (1991)

Charles’ initial comic strip, titled “The Addams Family“, served as the foundation for a popular live-action sitcom and a couple of animated series that successfully preserved the unique “quirkiness”. Nevertheless, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s film adaptation and its 1993 sequel, “Addams Family Values“, took this “creepy” element to a higher level. Particularly noteworthy was Christina Ricci’s iconic portrayal of Wednesday, a character known for her morbidly detached demeanor.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Initially, any adaptations of the Archie comic books, whether animated or live-action, were designed to be comedies. The most dramatic content was found in Archie’s Weird Mysteries during the late 1990s. However, this all shifted when The CW started broadcasting Riverdale, which presented Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica’s adventures as a serious, soap opera-like exploration of adolescence.

It And It Chapter Two (2017-2019)

It’s evident that the 1990 miniseries based on Stephen King’s It instilled an entire generation with a deep-seated dread of clowns. Yet, from the very first scene of Andy Muschietti’s full-length remake of It (which is one of two chilling clown films), where Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise viciously bites off little Georgie’s arm and drags him into the sewer, it became apparent that this incarnation of the shape-shifting, fear-feeding monster was far more merciless than Tim Curry’s portrayal.

Casino Royale (2006)

In all cinematic adaptations of Ian Fleming’s MI6 agent, from Sean Connery’s portrayal to Pierce Brosnan’s, the character was a sophisticated and intelligent man who usually preferred wit over force. However, this changed with Daniel Craig’s portrayal in Casino Royale, where Bond is both smart and physically strong, and isn’t shy about using brutal close-combat against his adversaries. Since then, the James Bond films have become increasingly realistic and intense.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

For quite some time, the most well-recognized version of the magical Archie Comics character, Sabrina Spellman, was the popular ABC sitcom “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” However, that changed when Netflix introduced “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” starring Kiernan Shipka. This new series shares a similar tone to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Fly (1986)

1958 saw Director Kurt Neumann’s adaptation of George Langelaan’s short story, “The Fly,” which was a chilling creature-themed movie, featuring horror legend Vincent Price in an unforgettable supporting role. On the other hand, David Cronenberg’s rendition, starring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist undergoing a horrifying transformation into a hybrid of man and insect, and Geena Davis as his new love interest, is the epitome of cinematic body horror, encapsulating both a terrifying nightmare and a heart-wrenching romantic tragedy.

Man Of Steel (2013)

In the movie that initiated the DC Extended Universe but no longer exists, director Zack Snyder presented a more pessimistic portrayal of Clark Kent’s persona, who resorts to taking a life in a debatable scene from Man of Steel. Notably, Henry Cavill’s Superman suit featured a darker color palette than any previous live-action version.

Bel-Air (2022)

In the early 1990s, Will Smith demonstrated his charm as an actor by starring in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” TV show, playing a young man from Philadelphia who is sent to live with his affluent California relatives after having a fight. Decades later, the Academy Award winner revisited the concept for “Bel-Air”, a Peacock-exclusive series that modernizes the popular sitcom into a gritty, realistic story about growing up.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

A prime example of a successful TV reboot is Ronald D. Moore’s modern take on Glen A. Larson’s ’70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. This Emmy-winning SyFy show, which tells the story of a crew seeking Earth in a future marked by war, has earned its place among television’s top science fiction shows.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

1985’s humorous film “Teen Wolf,” where Michael J. Fox’s character receives his family’s werewolf curse, serves as a symbolic representation of self-exploration. However, the MTV series remake featuring Tyler Posey shifts focus, making the character a wolf bite victim who employs his powers to combat evil, largely abandoning the original’s comedic elements and symbolism.

Dredd (2012)

In the initial movie about Judge Dredd, a character introduced in the British comic series 2000 AD, Sylvester Stallone portrayed the title character but made the questionable decision to uncover his signature helmet. Leaving that debatable aspect aside, numerous fans consider the 2012 film Dredd, written by Alex Garland and starring Karl Urban, a significant improvement due to its gritty portrayal of the source material’s bleak depiction of a dystopian world ruled by judges who act as both judge, jury, and executioner.

Goosebumps (2023-2024)

After the 90s horror TV show, “Goosebumps,” based on R.L. Stine’s popular children’s books with a spooky twist, there were two films that took a friendlier and less frightening approach for kids. Contrastingly, the new anthology series by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller, available on Hulu and Disney+, has aimed to intensify its scares, shifting towards a more mature, dramatic narrative for teens.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

The initial film adaptation of Jack Finney’s influential novel “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” released in 1956 and featuring humans being replaced by emotionless aliens, concluded on a more optimistic note. In contrast, Philip Kaufman’s remake from 1978, starring Donald Sutherland, retains a dark and dismal atmosphere throughout, making it widely regarded as the best version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” to have come out of Hollywood.

Maleficent (2014)

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Some delightful Disney live-action remakes of animated films have chosen to explore their original stories from unique angles. Take, for example, the critically acclaimed movie Maleficent, which offers a fresh perspective on the tale of Sleeping Beauty by focusing on the story of the title villainess, portrayed by Angelina Jolie.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

The classic science fiction series known as “Planet of the Apes” depicts a future where apes rule Earth. Movies like “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” directed by Rupert Wyatt, its sequels “Dawn” and “War,” both helmed by Matt Reeves, and “Kingdom” by Wes Ball delve into how this oppressive society came to be. This was triggered by a failed Alzheimer’s cure and a global virus that led to humans regressing evolutionarily.

Evil Dead (2013)

In 1981, Sam Raimi’s groundbreaking horror film, The Evil Dead, stood out for its intense fear factor. However, the sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, offered a different take with their comical horror elements and a less serious tone. Fast forward to 2013, director Fede Álvarez chose to revisit the roots of the series and intensify what made the original chilling tale unique by incorporating some extraordinarily gruesome scenes and a more sincere narrative focusing on an addict’s struggle for detox in a remote cabin.

Cruella (2021)

In Disney lore, it’s challenging to find a more detestable villain than Cruella de Vil from the 1961 film “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” Yet, director Craig Gillespie manages to humanize this title character in his live-action film “Cruella,” featuring Academy Award winner Emma Stone. By delving into a heartrending backstory that depicts Cruella’s childhood trauma—the brutal murder of her mother—the movie compels us to empathize with her, and understand why she resorted to criminal activities.

Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey (2023)

In the year following the public domain entry of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard, the cherished children’s book character underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming a vengeful killer after his friend Christopher Robin grew up and left the Hundred Acre Wood. Known as Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, this film series, along with its 2024 sequel, may not have been celebrated as some of the finest slasher movies, but they undeniably stirred up a lot of conversation.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Initially, I thought Rob Zombie’s film version of “The Munsters” would bring a darker twist to the famous family, but it turned out to be a loyal adaptation instead. Interestingly, there was an effort by developer Bryan Fuller to create a more serious and macabre reimagining of the 1960s sitcom through his project “Mockingbird Lane”. Unfortunately, this attempt was only seen as a Halloween special on NBC, as the pilot did not get picked up.

Titans (2018-2023)

The “Teen Titans” series, centered around the DC Universe’s strongest teenage heroes, was gritty enough to appeal to young viewers yearning for an edgy cartoon. However, it later transformed into the hilariously comedic “Teen Titans GO!”, leaving some fans grateful for the live-action “Titans”, which proved to be the most adult-oriented adaptation of the original comic book to date.

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)

Originally, a full-length TV movie spin-off of the popular Saturday morning kids show, “The Banana Splits,” was produced. In this continuation, characters Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky encounter an evil witch. However, in Danishka Esterhazy’s “The Banana Splits Movie,” the friendly animal rock band becomes the antagonists as they are portrayed as ruthless slashers.

Mulan (2020)

1998’s cherished film “Mulan” continues to be seen as a powerful story about women’s empowerment, even though it shares numerous similarities with typical Disney animated features, such as enchanting plot twists and melodic breaks. The live-action adaptation by Disney, featuring Yifei Liu in the title role, is more serious war drama that lacks comedy, musical numbers, magic, and notably, Eddie Murphy’s Mushu character.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

The 1990s Mortal Kombat films might have been among the most authentic video game adaptations had it not been for the constraints of a PG-13 rating. Consequently, director Simon McQuoid’s R-rated version is widely praised as the first to truly embody the violence found in the popular one-on-one fighting game series.

Halloween (2007)

It wouldn’t have been thought possible for John Carpenter’s 1978 chilling horror masterpiece, “Halloween“, to be remade in a darker fashion. However, Rob Zombie succeeded in doing so with a contentious reboot that provides the masked killer Michael Myers (played by Tyler Mane) with a backstory of child abuse, an increased number of victims, and a more brutal modus operandi.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Disney’s real-life version of the cherished fairy tale, “Beauty and the Beast,” is known for being quite true to its popular 1991 animated version. Yet, Bill Condon’s film, featuring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, tends to make the storyline more somber by providing its characters with additional sad pasts.

Power Rangers (2017)

The TV series “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” is essentially a remade, American version of the Japanese show “Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger”, incorporating fights from the original program into its episodes. In an effort to attract contemporary viewers who prefer darker narratives, Director Dean Israelite’s “Power Rangers” film elevated the drama and provided the young heroes with more realistic background stories.

The Phantom Of The Opera (1989)

In addition to playing Freddy Krueger from the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” films, Robert Englund also assumed the role of the Phantom of the Opera, a well-known horror character from Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel, in a more brutal and graphically gruesome adaptation.

Hellboy (2019)

In simpler terms, Rob Marshall’s version of the Hellboy comic book, originally published by Dark Horse, didn’t fare well critically or financially. It doesn’t quite measure up to Guillermo del Toro’s movies. However, David Harbour delivers a captivating portrayal as the lead character, and the film justifies its R rating with some intense, gory action scenes.

Fantastic Four (2015)

In my perspective, when Tim Story initially brought the Fantastic Four to the big screen, it was filled with a theatrical flair that, unfortunately, didn’t quite hit the mark with critics. For his remake, director Josh Trank aimed to reinvent the origins of Marvel’s original superhero family in a genre-bending body horror style, but even so, he couldn’t seem to win over both critics and the audience.

The Mean One (2022)

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder what Audrey Geisel might have felt when she prohibited live-action Dr. Seuss movies, especially considering the chilling spectacle of “The Mean One.” David Howard Thornton, an actor renowned for sending shivers down spines, brings his talents to this campy slasher flick, embodying a Grinch so malicious he takes murder into account.

Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)

In the thrilling Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart’s character unites forces with a skilled hunter portrayed by Chris Hemsworth to defeat an evil queen, played by Charlize Theron.

2025-02-26 19:38