10 Great Hollywood Remakes of International Horror Movies – Ranked
Welcome to Ranking Horror. Yesterday, we explored 10 Incredible International Horror Movies Ruined by Hollywood. Today, it’s only fair we flip the script a little and highlight 10 great Hollywood remakes of international horror movies.
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It’s easy to point out all the terribly remade horror films Hollywood has produced over the past 20 or so years; especially those attempting to capitalise on trends like J-Horror and France’s splatter horror films Inside and Martyrs. But what happens when Hollywood actually hires a director who loves the source material and wants to do it justice?
All the movies on this list are legitimately great films. Depending on whether you watched them before the original versions, you may even prefer some of these titles to their originals. These movies deserve praise for brilliantly recapturing what made the original versions great. Let’s take a look at 10 great Hollywood remakes of international horror movies.
| Rank | Movie Title (Year) | The Remake Success |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Let Me In (2010) | Romantic Vampire Horror for the Ages |
| 2 | The Ring (2002) | The Blueprint for J-Horror Translation |
| 3 | Nosferatu (2024) | A Century-Late Gothic Triumph |
| 4 | 13 Sins (2014) | Faithful Dark Comedy and Suspense |
| 5 | Speak No Evil (2024) | A Visceral Upgrade with a Killer Lead |
10. We Are What We Are (2013) – A Dreary and Dark Family Legacy
- Director: Jim Mickle
- Cast: Julia Garner, Bill Sage
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- IMDb: 5.9/10
Why it Ranked: We Are What We Are (Somos lo que hay) was a Mexican horror movie that didn’t attract much attention upon its 2010 release. The remake leans more heavily into the dark and dreary reality of the teen girls’ lives and the difficulties arising from their peculiar way of existing. Directed by Jim Mickle, the film manages to feel quite different from its Mexican inspiration despite a very similar plot. The acting is notably more solid in the remake, with Julia Garner providing a standout performance that helps it stand independently as a quality piece of cinema.
Synopsis: After their mother passes away, two sisters are forced to take over the family’s ancestral traditions. As a torrential rainstorm threatens their small town, local authorities begin to uncover clues that lead back to the family’s disturbing and cannibalistic secrets.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Tubi
9. Quarantine (2008) – A Frantic Found Footage Nightmare
- Director: John Erick Dowdle
- Cast: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris
- Runtime: 89 minutes
- IMDb: 6.0/10
Why it Ranked: John Erick Dowdle’s remake of REC managed to translate a lot of what worked with the original without messing with the formula too much at all. While it is essentially a shot-for-shot remake, it manages to recreate a lot of what made the original great. It sits lower on the list as it is perhaps the least remarkable title here, but it remains a very competent and legitimately scary found footage entry that holds up well.
Synopsis: A television reporter and her cameraman follow a team of firefighters into an apartment building on a routine call. They soon find themselves sealed inside by the government as a mysterious and violent virus begins to turn the residents into feral killers.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Max
8. The Grudge (2004) – Translating J-Horror Dread with Authenticity
- Director: Takashi Shimizu
- Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr
- Runtime: 91 minutes
- IMDb: 5.9/10
Why it Ranked: An incredibly smart decision was made to stick with Takashi Shimizu in the role of director for this rehash of the J-Horror classic. This meant he could translate his vision as he saw fit. Featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lead, The Grudge is a very competent remake that delivers on the same traits that made the original great. It’s slow, brooding, and extremely creepy. It is a perfect example of how to handle an international re-imagining by keeping the original creator involved.
Synopsis: An American nurse living in Tokyo is exposed to a supernatural curse that locks its victims in a powerful rage before claiming their lives. The curse spreads from person to person, creating a chain of horror that began in a house where a tragic murder occurred.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Peacock
7. Funny Games (2007) – A Sadistic and Clinical Retelling
- Director: Michael Haneke
- Cast: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth
- Runtime: 111 minutes
- IMDb: 6.6/10
Why it Ranked: Since Michael Haneke directed this version himself as a shot-for-shot copy, nothing at all is changed. The only notable difference is that it benefits from a fantastic cast. Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are excellent, and Michael Pitt turns in a worryingly convincing role as a sadistic killer. It remains a powerful way of pointing an accusatory finger at the media’s obsession with violence. Some people still prefer the Austrian original but, in reality, there is little to separate them.
Synopsis: A wealthy family arrives at their lakefront holiday home only to be visited by two soft-spoken young men. What begins as a request for eggs soon turns into a terrifying night of psychological and physical torture as the duo forces the family to play sadistic games.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Max
6. Suspiria (2018) – A Weird and Wondrous Descent into Witchcraft
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton
- Runtime: 152 minutes
- IMDb: 6.7/10
Why it Ranked: Luca Guadagnino adds even more weirdness and gore, along with a liberal helping of nudity and sexuality, to the already trippy world of Dario Argento’s Suspiria. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Mia Goth, and Dakota Johnson, this remake stands up against the original in a much stronger way than many like to admit. It is a bold, abstract, and grizzly journey that deserves praise for its ambition.
Synopsis: A young American woman joins a world-renowned dance company in Berlin in the 1970s. As she rises through the ranks, she begins to realise that the academy’s artistic directors are actually a coven of witches with a dark, ritualistic purpose.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
5. Speak No Evil (2024) – A Legendarily Brilliant Performance
- Director: James Watkins
- Cast: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis
- Runtime: 110 minutes
- IMDb: 6.9/10
Why it Ranked: James Watkins’ remake might even surpass the original, here, by throwing in a legendarily brilliant performance from James McAvoy. Surprisingly, this version actually fixes a lot of viewer complaints about the Danish version of Speak No Evil, including an ending that was far more well received. It retains the uncomfortable social tension of the source material while ramping up the thrills, making it an incredibly enjoyable Hollywood effort.
Synopsis: An American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a British family they met on holiday. What begins as a dream getaway soon warps into a psychological nightmare as their hosts begin to test the limits of their politeness.
Where to Watch: Theatres Only, Amazon (Pre-order)
4. 13 Sins (2014) – A Faithful Translation of Thai Dark Humour
- Director: Daniel Stamm
- Cast: Mark Webber, Ron Perlman
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- IMDb: 6.3/10
Why it Ranked: Daniel Stamm manages to capture almost everything that made the Thai version of 13 Game of Death great. For the most part, 13 Sins is a very faithful copy that translates the dark comedy elements perfectly; keeping the mood fairly light while still retaining the ability to shock. The mystery element is just as entertaining and the story just as compelling as its inspiration, making for a very impressive Hollywood remake.
Synopsis: A man buried in debt receives a mysterious phone call informing him he’s on a hidden camera game show. If he completes 13 increasingly sinister and illegal tasks, he will win a massive fortune; but the game soon takes a life-threatening turn for him and his family.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Hulu
3. Nosferatu (2024) – Robert Eggers’ Gothic Masterpiece
- Director: Robert Eggers
- Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- IMDb: 6.8/10
Why it Ranked: Helmed by the well-regarded director of The Witch Robert Eggers, this remake comes over 100 years after its inspiration. While it suffers from a bit of a laborious pace, Nosferatu is still a great example of a remake done well. It respects the benchmark set by the 1922 original while bringing a modern sense of dread and visual splendour to the tale of Count Orlok.
Synopsis: A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, spreading untold horror in its wake. The film reimagines the classic story with Eggers’ signature attention to historical detail and atmosphere.
Where to Watch: Theatres Only, Amazon (Pre-order)
2. The Ring (2002) – The Blueprint for Successful J-Horror Remakes
- Director: Gore Verbinski
- Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson
- Runtime: 115 minutes
- IMDb: 7.1/10
Why it Ranked: Gore Verbinski’s retelling of Ringu was, arguably, just as good as the original. Very little of what made the movie so great, and so damn scary, was lost in translation. With Naomi Watts in the lead, it remains a great Hollywood remake and is, for some people, a preferable option to the original thanks to its high production values and effective scares.
Synopsis: A journalist investigates a mysterious videotape that seemingly causes the death of anyone who watches it one week later. As she watches the tape herself, she must solve the mystery of the girl in the well before her seven days are up.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Paramount+
1. Let Me In (2010) – A Romantic and Brutal Modern Classic
- Director: Matt Reeves
- Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz
- Runtime: 116 minutes
- IMDb: 7.1/10
Why it Ranked: Surprisingly, Let Me In captured almost everything that made the original Swedish film great. Sticking to the source material and producing a romantic horror movie for the ages, Matt Reeves produced an utterly fantastic version that balances dark storytelling and psychological horror perfectly. It is a rare remake that manages to hold onto its soul while being accessible to a wider audience.
Synopsis: A bullied 12-year-old boy develops a friendship with a mysterious girl who has moved in next door. As they grow closer, he begins to realise that his new companion is a vampire and that her presence in town is linked to a series of gruesome murders.
Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Tubi
Not All Remakes Are Created Equal
There we have it: 10 times Hollywood actually bothered to show a little respect to international cinema. While it is far easier to complain about the lazy, cash-grab rehashes that litter the genre, these films prove that a remake can actually be a worthwhile endeavour when handled with care. From the heartbreaking atmosphere of Let Me In to the clinical cruelty of Funny Games, these directors managed to translate more than just the dialogue, they translated the dread.
Hopefully, this list has given you a few titles to add to your watchlist, or perhaps inspired you to finally check out the original versions. If you enjoyed this look at the better side of Hollywood’s “recycling” habits, why not check out some of our other horror rankings? I’ll be back soon with more deep-dives into the scares that stick with you. Stay spooky.
🎥 Quick Picks: Remake Rewards for Your Vibe
- 🏆 The All-Time Best: Let Me In (2010)
- 📼 The Blueprint: The Ring (2002)
- 🩸 The Gritty Reimagining: Speak No Evil (2024)
- 🏰 The Gothic Masterpiece: Nosferatu (2024)
- 📞 The Faithful Translation: 13 Sins (2014)
