23 Classic Movies (and 7 TV Series) That Need The "Cobra Kai" Treatment
The fourth season of Cobra Kai looks to strike in only a couple of weeks, once again bringing back faces familiar to the franchise to a new generation of fans.
Yet with debut of new streaming services hungry for original content and movie studios finding success with reboots of classic IP, we've seen the Cobra Kai formula work wonders for Ghostbusters, The Mighty Ducks, Sex and the City and more as of late, with many other modern franchise continuations in the pipeline as well. But there's plenty of other big (and small) screen properties out there deserving of the Cobra Kai treatment, and we've assembled a number of potential reboots we'd like to see hit our screens in the future.
30.The Monster Squad
The Monster Squad is a cult classic by all standards, finding the bulk of its audience on VHS while impressing new viewers on streaming platforms to this day. Though a sequel to The Monster Squad has been stuck in development hell, it would be nonetheless interesting seeing a new generation of monster-hunting kids rise to the occasion in a world obsessed with creepypasta and cryptids.
29.Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero was a notable flop upon its initial release, serving as a major blemish to both star Arnold Schwarzenegger and mastermind Shane Black, whose string of action hits came to a grinding halt with this flick. However, Last Action Hero's stock has only risen in the many years since, with modern critics lauding the film's irreverence, meta-humor and over-the-top action. With Schwarzenegger in need of a career reinvention, it might be fun to revisit the world of Last Action Hero and Jack Slater in the age of streaming content, TikTok and The Fast Saga.
28.Re-Animator
Despite the film crossing its 35th anniversary in 2020, Re-Animator still remains an incredibly popular film with modern horror fans. Subject to countless "collector edition" releases on physical media and plenty of what-if stories, including those about the never-produced Bush-era sequel House of Re-Animator, the fun, no-holds-barred vibe of Re-Animator could work wonders in 2022, given the advances in medical technology and the idea of mad scientist Herbert West facing his own mortality.
27.Spaced
Though it could be infeasible for any long-term Spaced reboot, given the busy schedules of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, few British series are more deserving of a late age revisit as this hilarious, award-winning sitcom. Besides, a show that leveraged its humor on the emerging prevalence of nerd culture feels right in examining how that culture has evolved, for better or for worse, in the 20+ years since its conclusion.
26.E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Given that Steven Spielberg has exclusive approval rights on any and all E.T. related merchandise, adaptations and content, it's not much of a surprise that the film has never been given a proper sequel. However, the film's cultural relevance has remained steadfast for 40 years, and with Henry Thomas receiving a stellar comeback at the hands of filmmaker Mike Flanagan, it feels like the door has not closed on a grand return for the titular character to return to Earth and drop in on Elliott as he raises a family of his own.
25.Empire Records
Much like how Cobra Kai addresses the characters of The Karate Kid dealing with the residual fall-out of their youth, the idea of revisiting the characters of Empire Records in a world where record stores are very few and far between is very interesting. What would these charismatic yet complicated characters look like 25 years later? How would they react as adults to a music scene loaded with trap remixes, the SoundCloud rap scene and Spotify?
24.Event Horizon
There is a strange, intangible allure to the high-concept horror of the 1990s, especially something that is as epic and bloody as the space-bound fright film Event Horizon. While on the surface level it may be difficult and improbable to continue this property, there could be many interesting, terrifying places if Event Horizon went the route of Aliens, especially if Laurence Fishburne, Joely Richardson or Sam Neill could be convinced to take one more dive into intergalactic hell.
23.Buffy, The Vampire Slayer
5 years ago, one might have assumed Buffy would be a lay-up for a reboot in the streaming era. However, allegations against creator Joss Whedon and the personal troubles of co-star Nicholas Brendan have halted any considerations of a live action follow-up. Nevertheless, with a different writer at the helm, a new vision for Buffy would not only reinvigorate the careers of those involved but might help provide a new foundation for its esteemed legacy.
22.Office Space
After the film became a hit on the video and cable marketplace, there's been consistent talk of a Office Space sequel for many years, though the stars have never quite aligned. Yet following many returning to office environments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the sensibility and satire of Office Space seems deserved for a new generation of disillusioned and frustrated workers.
21.Romy and Micheleโs High School Reunion
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion was the little absurdist comedy that could when it first debuted, subsequently spawning a prequel television film and an off-Broadway musical adaptation in the years since. However, as its cult grows and its unique brand of comedy becomes the norm, a Romy and Michele story in 2022 could fill the gap that the loss of 30 Rock, Kimmy Schmidt and Parks and Recreation has left in the zeitgeist.
20.Escape from New York
Though the financial failure of 1996's Escape from L.A. likely put the nail in the franchise's coffin (at least until the eventual reboot), Escape from New York would be a perfect fit for a limited small-screen continuation, especially considering Kurt Russell has been seemingly more amenable to smaller projects as of late. With the budgets offered by streaming services, another futuristic epic starring a grizzled, older Snake Plissken could be a welcome presence in the sci-fi genre while introducing a new generation to the classic original film.
19.Xena: Warrior Princess
It shouldn't be much of a surprise that Lucy Lawless is still killing it in 2021, as she is currently starring in My Life is Murder. However, when the series announced a guest star in Lawless' longtime Xena sidekick Renee O'Connor, the hype mill began churning with Xena's loyal and vocal fans wondering if a reboot could be on the table. Luckily for them, Lawless had said pitches for a reboot have continued as late as August 2021, so the opportunity for Xena to ride again with a new audience might be quite possible.
18.Beetlejuice
It's pretty insane to think of how much of an impact Beetlejuice has made on a generation, considering its title character has fairly limited screen time in its sole theatrical outing. Nonetheless, Beetlejuice's sequel prospects have remained optimistic in the subsequent decades, and with Keaton's small-screen return in Dopesick, there's a chance that the Beetlejuice crew could reunite after Winona Ryder finishes her run on Stranger Things and Burton wraps on Netflix's Wednesday series.
17.Nightbreed
Clive Barker's Nightbreed remains as one of the biggest "what if's" in horror movie history, and when the lost footage was reinstated in the 2014 Director's Cut, fans of this cult classic rallied for the film to continue somehow, someway. While a cinematic follow-up seemed incredibly unlikely, Cobra Kai's blueprint could serve as a perfect jumping-off point for a narrative return to Midian with Boone/Cabal (Craig Sheffer) leading the march as the elder statesman for a new generation of monsters.
16.Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
In 2019, Shrunk, a Josh Gad-starring reboot of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, was announced for a Disney+ debut. With the original film's director Joe Johnston and star Rick Moranis also returning, the film has largely stalled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling conflicts. However, considering the success of Ghostbusters: Afterlife in recent weeks, Shrunk may be fast-tracked for the streamer, and should it connect with audiences as the original did, don't be surprised if a streaming spin-off series follows on its heels.
15.Malcolm in the Middle
Still a popular and culturally influential series nearly 15 years after its conclusion, Malcolm in the Middle recently witnessed a surge of relevance following its parody on Marvel's Wandavision. If the mostly-retired Frankie Muniz can be convinced, jumping into the lives of Malcolm and his family as the former deals with his life in his 30s could be a must-watch series for a certain generation.
14.Old School
While Old School was a major success for director Todd Phillips and its three leads, a sequel was proposed but never got off the ground. However, with Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell and Luke Wilson all delving into television as of late, a return to Old School, especially in an age where college cultures are changing and reforming every day, could not only be silly fun but a shot in the arm for its key performers.
13.Gremlins
While the Gremlins franchise is indeed continuing with an animated prequel series on Netflix, a recent Mountain Dew commercial featuring star Zach Galligan and Gizmo sent twitter aflame with fans hoping to see a continuation of the original, biting film series. In fact, a Gremlins series could do what Cobra Kai does best, which is invert the arc of the preceding films while expanding upon the mythology and character relationships.
12.The Fifth Element
With properties such as Blade Runner, Star Wars and Cowboy Bebop getting the reboot treatment recently, The Fifth Element feels like the odd man out in terms of sprawling, epic science fiction properties. Furthermore, it would be pretty fun to see Milla Jovovich and Bruce Willis return to the roles of Leeloo and Korben Dallas, respectively, with more time for action and familiar faces to appear in a limited series format.
11.Eerie, Indiana
With a revived fan base as a result of the series presence on streaming services, Eerie, Indiana exemplifies a facet of nostalgia often reserved for the likes of Twin Peaks and Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Though it could be difficult to bring back the bulk of the original cast, Eerie, Indiana could come back to life with a younger cast while calling back to the series' more memorable moments... and monsters.
10.Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
While Roger Zemeckis has largely given up on a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in recent years, especially as Jessica Rabbit remains one of the more controversial Disney-owned characters, a return to Toontown feels long overdue, especially after the likes of Ready Player One and Wreck-It Ralph show there is still an audience for crossover properties. Besides, the popularity of SpongeBob Squarepants and Adventure Time prove a character with the irreverence and unwavering silliness of Roger Rabbit can garner a loyal fan base in the 21st Century.
9.The Blair Witch Project
The 2016 sequel to The Blair Witch Project failed to gain much traction with a new audience, but the audience is still out there, with a 2019 video game and a 2021 Las Vegas-based escape room offering alternative experiences for fans of the property. With that in mind, if The Blair Witch Project ditched the found footage aspect and maybe returned to the franchise's "local legend" roots, a reboot in the vein of the new Halloween films could work to effectively re-establish the lore and mystery of Blair Witch.
8.UHF
Let's face it: "Weird" Al Yankovic is still a national treasure and still remains influential in the alternative comedy scene. So the idea of Yankovic reviving his cult classic comedy UHF in the age of streaming services and Patreon feels as fitting as it could be funny.
7.Community
Though Community fans received their six seasons, the prospective movie spin-off has been elusive to its rabid fans. However, with the characters having left Greendale in the series finale, there's always the go-to story mechanism of reuniting the Study Group as visiting instructors to bring back the beloved cast of Community for one-more go-round.
6.Heavyweights
With Disney+ bringing back The Mighty Ducks, enthusiasts of '90s kids cinema wondered if any others would follow suit, including the 1995 comedy Heavyweights. In many ways, a reboot bringing back some of the original cast as counselors or administrators of a new summer camp could offer a more body-positive spin on the property for a new generation.
5.The Goonies
A sequel, nay sequels, to The Goonies seemed like such a no-brainer, yet the fact is that the '80s adventure classic is still a one-and-done as of this writing. Though Richard Donner's passing in 2021 set another roadblock in a Goonies continuation, the cast reunions and script livereading since the COVID-19 pandemic has given some momentum to the potential project, which could absolutely excel if it follows Cobra Kai's model of re-examining the past (and its consequences) through a different lens.
4.Friday
Though Ice Cube has been working on a Last Friday film for the past several years, the post-pandemic theatrical landscape has made many studios hedge their bets on reboots. However, given how many characters and moments stand out from the three Friday movies, perhaps a limited-engagement streaming event would be more suited for bringing Craig, Smokey and Day-Day to a new world where weed is not only mainstream: it's becoming more legal by the day.
3.Lost
The finale of Lost still left so many unanswered questions that many fans believe that a continuation of the series is basically a foregone conclusion. Though a return to the Island, the DHARMA Initiative and flash-backs/forward/sideways would likely carry a hefty price tag, there's little denying a Lost reboot with new and old faces would be a legitimate streaming event and provide fans with opportunities to discuss and theorize about the mythology once more.
2.American Pie
Oddly enough, American Pie essentially had its Cobra Kai moment with American Reunion in 2012. However, 10 years later and a whole decade to think upon the debauchery and problematic elements of the original film, American Pie could really benefit from a small screen reboot with the original cast navigating parenthood, social media and guiding their own kids out of their own outrageous antics.
1.Mean Girls
Where are the Mean Girls almost 20 years later? According to the popular virtual reunion in 2020, many fans of this comedy classic are wondering the same. Should Tina Fey be persuaded to revisit the property, Mean Girls could really capitalize on the Cobra Kai novelty of switching the dynamics of "The Plastics" in middle life while applying its hilarious, fangs-out humor to more domestic squabbles.
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