Remakes Often Miss The Mark From The Original But That’s Okay

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Rodrigo Santoro portraying Jesus in a scene from “Ben-Hur.” The big-budget remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ was trampled under a herd of holdovers and new releases at the box office, the latest casualty in a bruising summer for Hollywood. According to studio estimates Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, the Paramount Pictures release, which cost about $100 million to make, debuted with just $11.4 million.
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Rodrigo Santoro portraying Jesus in a scene from "Ben-Hur." The big-budget remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ was trampled under a herd of holdovers and new releases at the box office, the latest casualty in a bruising summer for Hollywood. According to studio estimates Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, the Paramount Pictures release, which cost about $100 million to make, debuted with just $11.4 million. Philippe Antonello/Paramount Pictures via AP, file
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Rodrigo Santoro portraying Jesus in a scene from “Ben-Hur.” The big-budget remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ was trampled under a herd of holdovers and new releases at the box office, the latest casualty in a bruising summer for Hollywood. According to studio estimates Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, the Paramount Pictures release, which cost about $100 million to make, debuted with just $11.4 million.
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Rodrigo Santoro portraying Jesus in a scene from "Ben-Hur." The big-budget remake of ‘Ben-Hur’ was trampled under a herd of holdovers and new releases at the box office, the latest casualty in a bruising summer for Hollywood. According to studio estimates Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, the Paramount Pictures release, which cost about $100 million to make, debuted with just $11.4 million. Philippe Antonello/Paramount Pictures via AP, file

Remakes Often Miss The Mark From The Original But That’s Okay

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The remake of the classic Ben Hur isn’t seeing a good return on investment. The remake of Ghostbusters was met with tepid response. But not all new versions of movies are a waste of time at the theater. Some actually give the original a nice update. NPR’s Monkey See blog host Linda Holmes joins us to share some of her favorite and least favorite remakes. 

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