The Goonies is an inarguable 1980s cinematic classic, with generations having now watched and fallen in love with the film. The perfect kids' adventure story, the movie's legacy lives on in productions rather obviously inspired by it, including Netflix's hit series Stranger Things. As with most Hollywood properties, however, there's always the discussion of a remake. Even Goonies star Corey Feldman thinks that it would be a terrible idea, but there's another way to tap into nostalgia.

Many recent shows and movies have been good examples of awful remakes, but there have been just as many that honor the originals by continuing the story. This not only pleases older fans but also helps to bring in a younger, newer fanbase. Here's how some franchises have successfully circumvented the remake pitfall and why The Goonies should do the same.

RELATED: How The Goonies' Unusual TV Series Concept Was Inspired by Indiana Jones

When It Comes to '80s Nostalgia, Sequels Are Better Than Remakes

Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick

Easily the most infamous remake of an older movie, namely an '80s classic, was 2016's version of Ghostbusters. For various reasons, this film was controversial and despised by many, not to mention a box office bomb. The same fate befell the more recent Charlie's Angels, which had many thematic elements in common with the all-female Ghostbusters. The biggest mistakes that these movies made were in simply jumping on the bandwagon of these old properties while many times having little to do with them, ignoring what made them work or outright making fun of them. In the case of the latter especially, it's no wonder fans came to either outright hate or simply reject these movies.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are shows like Cobra Kai, as well as movies such as mega-hit Top Gun: Maverick, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the 2018 version of Halloween. These movies all built upon what made their predecessors work while ignoring many of the bad elements of poorly-received sequels and remakes. In some cases, they were actually made in direct response to those awful entries. This path has been a huge success, and it could work for The Goonies, too.

RELATED: Why Top Gun: Maverick Could Dominate the Oscars

The Only Way to Extend The Goonies Is With a Proper Sequel

goonies

The Goonies doesn't need a sequel whatsoever, but if Hollywood is really hellbent on raiding One-Eyed Willie's grave for another film, the least that it could do would be to make a legacy sequel to the original. Much like Ghostbusters: Afterlife, this tentative movie could showcase what happened to the original characters and their families. It would likely be focused on their children and other new kids, who go off to have their own wild adventures.

Not only would there be the nostalgia of seeing the cast return to reminisce on their escapades and truffle shuffles of old for the pre-existing fans, but young newcomers would be able to identify with the new characters. It'd also be kind of interesting if the original Goonies were now worrywart adults, afraid that their kids would get into the same mischief as they did in their younger days. If there has to be a sequel to the original cult classic, namely one that unites multiple generations with a great movie, this might just be the best way to do it.