Top Gun shines as iconic, still keeping the love of many an original fan. With Top Gun: Maverick recently released and already garnering attention as possibly the better of the two Top Gun movies, it raises the possibility of other past favorites that deserve a chance to shine again.
Taking a movie that had its heyday in the '80s and refreshing it for today’s audiences without losing the luster of the original might seem like a challenge three decades later. Still, both Top Gun: Maverick and Prime Video's Coming 2 America have proven it’s a challenge worth undertaking. A large part of the magic is seeing the original cast bring their chemistry back to the screen. Pair that with a fresh plot to harmonize with the original, and out pops a winner. But what movies are worthy of such an honor? Here are a few contenders.
What Happens to The Princess Bride After She's Done Being a Bride?
So beloved is the 1987 movie The Princess Bride that during the 2020 lockdown, a host of Hollywood actors reenacted and filmed the story in chapters out of their own homes. While the production certainly illustrates the willingness of Hollywood to get behind the story, it isn’t a new movie to carry on the legacy. Many of the cast, including Cary Elwes (Westley), Robin Wright (Princess Buttercup), Mandy Patinkin (Iñigo Montoya), and Wallace Shawn (Vizzini) are all still active in Hollywood. Perhaps if tempted by the proper continuation of Westley and Princess Buttercup’s story, they would return to reprise their roles.
In the original movie, Westley and Buttercup face trials to prove that true love conquers all. But love comes in many forms. They’ve tackled romantic love; what next?
Fast Times at Ridgemont High’s Teens Aren’t So Different From Today’s
The 1982 coming-of-age comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High summed up the teenage experience in all its awkward glory. Of course, this is a concept that never gets old. Whether screenwriters choose to take a storyline involving the children of previous characters Coming 2 America-style or reprise the adults in a fresh light, social awkwardness never dies. Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Robert Romanus are all currently active in Hollywood. And while Judge Reinhold and Phoebe Cates don’t have any current projects listed, perhaps they would agree to the right story. It never hurts to ask, especially when the fans would love to see them again.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Have a Whole New Generation to Corrupt
In 1988, Steve Martin came to the screen as the delightful con-man Freddy Benson. He went into a hilarious lopsided partnership with the polished con artist Lawrence Jamieson, played by Michael Cain. Both assume that the other is their arch-rival while completely missing the mark. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels left viewers rolling as the two undermined, sabotaged, and double-crossed each other at every turn, all while pretending civility.
Since Martin and Cain are still filming works, perhaps they’d be willing to consider returning to those roles. After all, Cain's Jamieson spent the movie grooming Martin's Benson to be a suave and sophisticated confidence man. How delightful would it be to see them groom the next generation?
Surely Flight of the Navigator’s Max Needs To See How Humanity Has Changed
Disney isn’t afraid to dive into its archives and dust off old concepts, breathing new life into them. Sometimes these fall flat, especially with many of their rather forced animated sequels. But sometimes, they make magic -- Disney pun intended. They’ve already proved they can revamp a good sci-fi idea by updating the 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain and releasing 2009’s Race to Witch Mountain. Surely they could take the 1986 alien encounter flick, Flight of the Navigator, and bring it back to life.
Flight of the Navigator has a very different spin on the concept of alien and human interaction, time travel, and who needs who. Though, its underlying message of sameness is just as relevant as ever. A reboot was announced in September of 2021, directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, but it is unclear if any of the original cast will make an appearance. The core cast, Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, and Sarah Jessica Parker, are all still busy in Hollywood, so Disney wouldn’t have to go back in time to grab their actors.
The Last Unicorn Won the Battle, But What About the War?
The 1982 animated feature The Last Unicorn has a devoted following and is currently being adapted for the stage and as a live-action film. As exciting as this is, a direct sequel to the first film could still be worth exploring. The original movie boasted an impressive cast of actors, including actor Jeff Bridges as Prince Lir, Mia Farrow as Unicorn, and Alan Arkin as Schmendrick, the magician. Seeing how the movie was animated and the core actors are still working, making a sequel could be as easy as finding the right plot. No aging needs to be addressed as far as the characters are concerned since they are voice actors. So the characters could pick up their story the very next day with little difficulty. After all, the red bull was driven into the ocean, but what fear keeps the beast there?
Twins: Pushing the Envelope of Genetic Possibility in the Name of Comedy
It seems the successful reboots of movies like Top Gun: Maverick haven't gone unnoticed because other much-loved '80s flicks are currently slated to get the Top Gun: Maverick treatment. One of those movies is 1988’s comedy about long-lost brothers, Twins. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito are reuniting, not just with each other, but they have another long-lost sibling. They’re Triplets. It’s currently in pre-production with no announced release date due to the unfortunate passing of its director, Ivan Reitman. In March 2022, Schwarzenegger reassured fans that the project is still on once they find a new director, which is good news since not only does the cast include Schwarzenegger and DeVito, but Eddie Murphy and Tracy Morgan are onboard, too. Now that’s a lineup of comedy gold.