By Chris Snellgrove | Published
From Star Wars to Dune to Nosferatu, it’s clear that today’s filmmakers are very hungry to remake some of the most interesting films in Hollywood history. Because of that, it’s possible that the last year was the worst for a remake, but you’d be wrong. As it turns out, the worst year for the remake was 1998, which brought us four Razzie-nominated flops: Godzilla, Lost in Space, Psychoagain The Avengers.
For fans of the genre, the most notable movie on this dubious list is this one GodzillaMatthew Broderick’s film from Independence Day director Roland Emmerich. It ended up grossing $379 million against a budget of around $150 million, but that’s not the whole story; you see, this movie has a marketing budget the size of a kaiju that it needs $240 million at home to be considered a success.
The Rainiest Godzilla Movie Ever Made
Unfortunately, it only earned $136 million, and while it made some bank overseas, the movie’s poor reputation among critics and fans destroyed any hope of creating a lasting, unique American take on the most famous monster of them all.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a shockingly low 20 percent, with critics complaining that this lackluster film with such bad characters was a disservice to Godzilla as a brand. Such harsh reviews, and a disappointing box office, ensured that Roland Emmerich’s planned trilogy of Godzilla films died on the vine, with this 1998 stinker not receiving any follow-up films. To add insult to injury, the film was nominated for five Golden Raspberries (designed to reward Hollywood’s worst films), eventually taking the Razzie for Worst Remake or Sequel (jointly with The Avengers).
Avengers, Divide!
what am i talking about The Avengers it had nothing to do with Marvel; rather, this was a remake of the television show of the same name, which featured Diana Rigg in her prime. In this update, Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes did their best to re-advertise the stylish sexuality of the popular TV show, but all in vain. The film ended up grossing $54.7 million against a $60 million budget, turning what should have been a definitive remake into one of the biggest hits of the ’90s.
In addition to financial failure, The Avengers was also a serious dud, earning a 5 percent (yes, you read that right) on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have trashed the film, complaining about everything from its poor writing to its incredibly bad acting. So, this movie ended up with the dubious honor of getting a Razzie for Worst Remake or Sequel (hey, they couldn’t let it go. Godzilla have all the fun).
In Space, No One Can Hear “Whoa”
Another big flop from 1998 was Lost in Spacea high-flying remake of the beloved sci-fi television show from the ’60s. Earning $136.1 million against a budget of $80 million, the film was not a financial disaster as, say, The Avengers. But in an era where Star Wars Special Editions and the upcoming prequel trilogy had audiences regaled with big-budget, interstellar theatrical adventures, Lost in Space it just didn’t make enough money at the box office to warrant a sequel.
It didn’t help that the film, too, was panned by critics, earning a negative 27% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics said the film lacked the campy appeal that made the original show such a hit, and more than a few commented that it “lost its space” for a complete review of this animated mess. It ended up getting a Razzie nomination for Worst Remake or Sequel, but it “lost” (if that’s what you want to call it) Godzilla again The Avengers.
This Remake Is Completely Washed Up
The last big bomb from 1998 is a movie that should never have been made: Psychoa remake starring Vince Vaughn of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece. Director Gus Van Sant decided to film this movie as a shot-by-shot remake of the original, so it didn’t add anything new to the formula for horror fiends who crave a new scare. The film went on to gross $37.2 million against $25 million, a very small profit, and Van Sant later said he felt the film broke even after including things like promotional costs.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the Psycho the remake got a bad 40 percent (boy, you really need a shower to wash off that old smell!). Critics generally agreed that the remake felt completely unnecessary because at the same time it failed to do anything new or give any sad details to the previous Hitchcock film. Psycho then was nominated for Worst Remake or Sequel Razzie, and lost Godzilla again The Avengers.
The Year of the Worst Fix is Still Deep
There you have it, folks: even though it feels like we’re always inundated with cinematic remakes, 1998 was the year this lazy Hollywood trend hit its peak. The biggest movies and TV shows of the ’50s and ’60s were all remade in a sloppy way that only served to remind audiences of how good the source material was. The worst part of this remake taught the audience an important lesson: Ferris Bueller may have many skills, but fighting Godzilla is not one of them!
