2. Point Break (2015)
Admittedly, Point Break is hardly a cinematic masterpiece, but the 1991 movie has a certain undeniable magnetism. Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Lori Petty, Gary Busey – it’s a classic ‘90s action thriller, buoyed by the inclusion of the allure of surfing as a plot device. A great cast and solid direction cemented its place as one of the best action movies of the ‘90s.
Exactly why anyone felt Point Break needed remaking in 2015 is anyone’s guess. Replacing Reeves and Swayze is not an easy feat, and recapturing the free-spirited surf culture of the ‘90s is all but impossible. The resulting remake was predictably pointless, complete with a washed-out color palette and a fundamental misunderstanding of what made the original movie so great.
Perhaps the Point Break remake’s biggest sin was replacing the surfing with a range of extreme sports. It took away the more grounded nature of the story, replacing it with a film transparently written to contain as many varied set pieces as possible. A flat script and an inferior cast also contributed to the remake’s legacy as one of the most pointless movie remakes in cinematic history.