Best movie reboots ranked

Reboots, whether they're total remakes, prequels or sequels, have the power to revive a film's legacy, giving us a chance to relive movies from the past or explore them from a totally new angle. One reboot we can't wait to see is "Overboard" starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez, which hits theaters on May 4, 2018. To celebrate its release, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at some of our favorite reboots over the years and ranking them from best to even better. Keep reading to find out which film made it to our No. 1 spot…

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No. 26: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle"

It was the reboot we didn't know we needed! 2017's "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" was not only a huge box-office success but the fourth-highest grossing film of the year! It also ended up being a major delight. The family-friendly flick starred some of our favorite faces including Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan and Jack Black, who cracked us up and warmed our hearts.

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No. 25: "Flatliners," 2017

This was one of those movies that just had to get a second wind. In 2017, director Niels Arden Oplev debuted his version of the sci-fi thriller "Flatliners" starring Ellen Page, Nina Dobrev, Diego Luna and James Norton. The reboot is visually more artistic but the storyline, which is actually a sequel to the first, comes alive with strong performances by the new cast and the reemergence of Kiefer Sutherland, who starred in the original in 1990. Too bad the new version bombed at the box office.

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No. 24: "The Parent Trap," 1998

While nearly everyone agrees that Disney's first stab at "The Parent Trap" in 1961 was a fun family film, it just seemed to come to life even more in the 1998 reboot starring Lindsay Lohan. It's hard to believe, but this was Lindsay's first movie role and she knocked it out of the park playing a set of twins who grew up apart only to find each other while at the same summer camp (seriously, her British accent for one of the girls is on-point). Once the girls realize what's happened, they scheme to trade places and bring their divorced parents back together.

No. 23: "Planet of the Apes," 2001

Since "Planet of the Apes" was originally filmed in 1968 (and a slew of sequels followed), it was due for a facelift with the 2001 reboot starring Mark Wahlberg. The sci-fi film, directed by Tim Burton, pits evolved apes against humans in a fight for dominance, with humans living in cages much the way apes do in our modern world. While fans and critics widely panned the movie, we loved how it managed to turn the myth of human superiority on its head.

No. 22: "King Kong," 2005

With the original "King Kong" premiering in 1933, the 2005 reboot was long overdue (think of all the cool CGI effects we've developed since then). Starring Naomi Watts as actress Ann Darrow and Jack Black as an over-eager producer who risks his cast and crew's lives to film on notorious Skull Island, the re-imagined version of this strange love story between a gigantic gorilla and a woman is one we adore.

No. 21: "The Mummy," 2017

There are a surprising number of "The Mummy" movies out there. The 1999 version starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz was loosely based on the 1932 version, which was more about a mummy waking up and stalking a woman than terrorizing humanity. The 2017 version starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella, however, put a frightening new spin on the story, giving us a sexy, action-packed adventure with a wink of comedy.

No. 20: "RoboCop," 2014

Most of us are old enough to remember the first "RoboCop" in 1987 but wise enough to realize the 2014 reboot was way, way better than the original. Starring Joel Kinnaman as a cop shot down in the line of duty who's robotically reassembled and used for deviant purposes, this film manages to keep us entertained and secretly terrified that half-human robots are in our future.

No. 19: "The Magnificent Seven," 2016

As far as westerns go, the semi-original "The Magnificent Seven" in 1960 was pretty standard fare, although it's still considered one of the classics. Thankfully, the 2016 reboot added something the earlier film was missing: diversity. With Denzel Washington taking the lead and a lineup of actors that includes Chris Pratt, Byung-hun Lee and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, we got to see a far more inclusive group work together to kick thieves' butts into oblivion. That's something we need more of in the world.

No. 18: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," 2014

We'd be monsters if we didn't mention the 2014 remake of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," which had its first non-animated incarnation in 1990. Not only were Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo and Donatello way cooler-looking this go-round, but the plot, which of course involved the Ninja Turtles emerging from the sewers to slay evil, was solid. It didn't hurt that saucy Megan Fox and comedy star Will Arnett rounded out the cast.

No. 17: "The Italian Job," 2003

Based on the 1969 movie by the same name, "The Italian Job" is almost nothing like the original and trust us when we say that's a good thing. Aside from involving a heist in Italy, the 2003 reboot starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron is a different movie altogether. In the update, we lose the British comedy angle and gain an action-packed thrill ride involving deception, revenge and a whole lot of gold.

No. 16: "Freaky Friday," 2003

Did you know there have actually been three versions of "Freaky Friday"? The first happened in 1976, the second in 1995 (as a made-for-TV movie) and the final (and we think best) version in 2003 starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The movie, which is based on a mom and daughter somehow switching bodies one strange (and freaky) Friday morning, gives teen daughters and their mothers all the juicy satisfaction of showing one another what life's really like in one another's shoes.

No. 15: "The Thomas Crown Affair," 1999

While we had our hands up for the 1999 reboot of "The Thomas Crown Affair" starring Pierce Brosnan as a playboy bachelor who gets a thrill out of stealing valuable works of art, it was just as arresting as the 1968 original. Still, the stakes seemed a little higher with the 1999 version (maybe we just loved the way Rene Russo charmed the pants right off of Pierce). Word on the street is there's another reboot in the works starring Michael B. Jordan.

No. 14: "Blade Runner 2049"

"Blade Runner" but with Ryan Gosling? Sign us up! "Blade Runner 2049" debuted in 2017 and starred Ryan Gosling as an assassin who uncovers a 30-year-old secret, which leads him to track down original blade runner Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford). The flick garnered great reviews but strangely that didn't translate to the box office. We guess sci-fi Ryan isn't for everyone!

No. 13: "Dawn of the Dead," 2004

First released in 1979, "Dawn of the Dead" got a second chance at life with the 2004 reboot starring Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames. Before TV's "The Walking Dead" stole our DVR space and hearts, we got our necessary zombie fix with this terrifying thriller that kept us on the edge of our seats wondering, Would the survivors become members of the living dead — or would they live to see another day?

No. 12: "Hairspray," 2007

Nothing gets us grooving like the 2007 musical reboot "Hairspray" starring Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron (plus John Travolta as Nikki's mom). Based on the 1988 film of the same name, the movie follows an identical storyline — a young, overweight woman who finds herself suddenly famous bravely uses her newfound popularity to break the social norms of 1962 and get people of every color on the dance floor.

No. 11: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," 2005

Everything we loved about the 1971 fantasy "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" got a hit of weird wonderfulness with the 2005 Tim Burton-directed reboot "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp. While the original film could never be replaced, the remake offered us a look into Wonka's childhood (oddly satisfying) and gave us updated child characters who modern audiences could more easily relate to. Plus, Tim's known for his dark and hauntingly beautiful films and this one didn't disappoint.

No. 10: "Father of the Bride," 1991

Chances are you never even realized the 1991 movie "Father of the Bride" starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley was a reboot of the 1950 original (where Elizabeth Taylor played the young blushing bride-to-be). For obvious reasons, we absolutely loved this remake, which was as funny as it was heartwarming. Plus, keeping it 100 percent real, we still haven't watched the original so we don't have much to compare it to.

No. 9: "Star Trek," 2009

The 2009 reboot of "Star Trek" starring Chris Pine as a young Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock was exciting because it wasn't another remake of the original from 1979, nor was it a sequel (or even a brand-new crew). Instead, it was a prequel to the first movie and finally gave fans a chance to learn how a young, gutsy Captain Kirk came to take command of the Starship Enterprise. Plus, there was an awesome cameo by Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original films and TV series.

No. 8: "Ghostbusters," 2016

In 1984's "Ghostbusters," we got to see an awesome movie with four funny guys using weird science stuff to kick otherworldly butt. So it's only right that in 2016, we got the chance to see another awesome movie, this time featuring four hilarious women also using proton packs and ecto-goggles to slay the supernatural realm. Forget what the naysayers have told you, this movie was brilliant and did the word "reboot" proud.

No. 7: "It," 2017

Trust us when we tell you that the 2017 "It" remake — starring Bill Skarsgard as the terrifying, murderous, shape-shifting clown Pennywise who preys on children — is way better than the original two-part miniseries that aired in 1990. Not saying Tim Curry didn't make an impressively scary villain back in the day, but there is just so much more depth to the newest incarnation of this film that the old one can't compare. This movie is scary, but it's also highly entertaining.

No. 6: "The Amazing Spider-Man," 2012

Most reboots have a few decades between them and the original, but 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man" starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker only waited one before splashing its web across the big screen. While many of us weren't expecting a re-imagined telling of the 2002 hit film starring Tobey Maguire, what we got was a pleasant and highly entertaining surprise. Some of the basic details in the story changed (like how Uncle Ben died and how Peter shoots webs from his suit, not his body) but the storyline is similar to the original, paying more attention to the mystery surrounding Peter's parents' deaths. There's more depth and while we still have love for the Tobey version, this one is our new fave.

No. 5: "Casino Royale," 2006

The 1954 televised version of the 007 hit "Casino Royale" was an exciting adaptation of the book by Ian Fleming, but the 2006 film version, starring hunky British actor Daniel Craig as James Bond, turned the heat up several notches. While both versions center around a high-stakes poker game that's gambling on more than money, there was a backstory and intensity in the reboot that keep us thoroughly shaken and happily stirred.

No. 4: "Ocean's Eleven," 2001

Yes, we are about to tell you that "Ocean's Eleven" starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and a host of other Hollywood hotties is even better than the 1960 original ("Ocean's 11") starring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and other members of the infamous Rat Pack. (Please don't hurt us.) The smarter script uses vengeance instead of simple greed to motivate the stars to rob a host of casinos (making us want them to succeed) and, hate to say it, but the acting is way better, by leaps and bounds.

No. 3: "True Grit," 2010

The Coen brothers' 2010 reboot of "True Grit" based on the 1969 western originally starring John Wayne was a champion on the big screen. While the updated version, starring Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges, closely follows the same story of a young girl who convinces a U.S. Marshal and his sidekick to find the man who murdered her dad, the action (including some gun-happy shoot-outs) is more intense than ever. The gunslinging Wild West never looked so good.

No. 2: "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," 1999

Although "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" isn't a traditional reboot in the sense that it tells an earlier story, the 1999 prequel did manage to revive the "Star Wars" franchise and give an entire new generation the chance to pledge allegiance to the Jedis (or Siths). And, let's be honest, the new storyline was absolutely riveting (there's no need to bring up Jar Jar Binks). Starring Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson, the film showed the evolution of Anakin Skywalker as he morphed into the evil Darth Vader, while diving head first into a cosmic space opera that was as visually rich as it was methodically executed. Plus George Lucas, who wrote and directed the first three films, returned for this reboot, meaning it didn't lose any of the story details in translation.

No. 1: "Scarface," 1983

When it comes to reboots, few can ever claim to be as enthralling and visceral as 1983's "Scarface" starring Al Pacino. Based on the 1932 movie of the same name, the film manages two near impossible tasks: being relevant to a new generation while sticking closely to the original story. The remake successfully does both, giving Al's character, Tony Montana, a connection to Cuba and the wave of immigration that hit the States during the 1980s while maintaining that same psychotic, explosive temperament that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The movie also successfully transitions from the Prohibition era with its Al Capone-like mobsters to the world of modern drug trafficking and a newer, flashier kind of gangster who inspires both awe and total terror.