Remakes are nearly impossible to escape today — especially if you watch enough TV and movies. But before the remakes came the original, which is always hard to beat. Here’s a look at the actors in the old and new versions of the most iconic titles in pop culture: 2.
Ralph Macchio in 1984’s The Karate Kid: Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in 2010’s The Karate Kid: 3.
Gene Wilder in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory: Johnny Depp in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 4.
Tim Curry in the 1990’s It: Bill Skarsgård in 2017’s It: 5.
Keanu Reeves in 1991’s Point Break: Luke Bracey in 2015’s Point Break: 6.
Hayley Mills in 1961’s The Parent Trap: Lindsay Lohan in 1998’s The Parent Trap: 7.
Brandon Lee in 1994’s The Crow: Bill Skarsgård in 2024’s The Crow: 8.
Kevin Bacon in 1984’s Footloose: Kenny Wormald in 2011’s Footloose: 9.
Sissy Spacek in 1976’s Carrie: Chloë Grace Moretz in 2013’s Carrie: 10.
Aileen Quinn in 1982’s Annie: Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx in 2014’s Annie: 11.
Tim Curry in 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Laverne Cox and Ben Vereen in 2016’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again: 12.
Rod Serling in 1959’s The Twilight Zone: Jordan Peele in 2019’s The Twilight Zone: 13.
Nick Castle in 1978’s Halloween: Tyler Mane in 2007’s Halloween: 14.
Ricki Lake in 1988’s Hairspray: Nikki Blonsky in 2007’s Hairspray: 15.
Melissa Joan Hart in 1996’s Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Kiernan Shipka in 2018’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: 16.
Jason Hervey, Olivia d’Abo, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Fred Savage in 1988’s The Wonder Years: Dulé Hill, Laura Kariuki, Elisha Williams, and Saycon Sengbloh in 2021’s The Wonder Years: 17.
Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, and Holly Marie Combs in 1998’s Charmed: Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz, and Sarah Jeffery in 2018’s Charmed: 18.
Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, and Drew Barrymore in 2000’s Charlie’s Angels: Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott in 2019’s Charlie’s Angels: 19.
Finally, Anthony Perkins in 1960’s Bates Motel: Freddie Highmore in 2013’s Bates Motel: Are you typically a fan of the original or remake? Share your thoughts in the comments!