Hollywood has always been a melting pot of global ideas, and for decades, Western studios have looked across the Pacific for their next big blockbuster. From terrifying curses that ruined our sleep in the early 2000s to Oscar-winning crime sagas, Asian cinema has been a massive, often uncredited, creative engine for Hollywood.
But cultural translation isn’t always easy. While some remakes capture the magic of the original and adapt it brilliantly for a Western audience, others miss the mark entirely. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Hollywood remakes and look at 30 films that originated in Asia.
The Akira Kurosawa Influence: Shaping Westerns and Action
Long before the term “remake” carried a negative stigma, Hollywood was borrowing heavily from the legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. His masterful storytelling transcended cultural boundaries, laying the groundwork for entire Western genres.
- The Magnificent Seven (1960 / 2016) – Arguably the most famous example, John Sturges took Kurosawa’s epic Seven Samurai (1954) and seamlessly transported it from Feudal Japan to the American Wild West.
- Last Man Standing (1996) – Bruce Willis starred in this prohibition-era action film, which is a direct remake of Kurosawa’s Yojimbo (1961).
- The Outrage (1964) – A Western adaptation of the groundbreaking Rashomon (1950), exploring the unreliability of truth.
- Living (2022) – Even recently, the Oscar-nominated British drama starring Bill Nighy beautifully adapted Kurosawa’s heartbreaking classic Ikiru (1952).
The J-Horror Boom: When Hollywood Got Scared
If you grew up in the early 2000s, your nightmares were likely sponsored by Japan. Following the massive success of The Ring, Hollywood rushed to buy the rights to almost every Asian horror film available. The analytical takeaway here? Asian horror often relies on atmosphere, unresolved grief, and psychological dread, whereas Hollywood tends to lean into jump scares and exposition.
- The Ring (2002) – Remake of Ringu (1998). It set the gold standard for how to adapt a Japanese horror concept for the US box office.
- The Grudge (2004) – Adapted from Ju-on: The Grudge (2002), maintaining the original director, Takashi Shimizu, to keep the authentic dread.
- Dark Water (2005) – Based on Dark Water (2002).
- Pulse (2006) – Remake of the deeply unsettling Kairo (2001).
- One Missed Call (2008) – Adapted from Chakushin Ari (2003).
- Apartment 1303 3D (2012) – Remake of Apartment 1303 (2007).
The Rise of Korean Cinema: Emotional Depth and Twisted Thrillers
Before Parasite made history, South Korean cinema was quietly supplying Hollywood with complex, emotionally charged narratives. Korean films are famous for their sudden tonal shifts—blending extreme violence with deep sorrow, or quirky comedy with genuine romance.
- The Lake House (2006) – Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunited for this time-bending romance, a remake of the poetic Korean film Il Mare (2000).
- Oldboy (2013) – Spike Lee attempted to remake Park Chan-wook’s masterpiece Oldboy (2003). It proved that some Korean revenge thrillers are too visceral and unique to be successfully Americanized.
- The Uninvited (2009) – Based on the brilliantly twisty A Tale of Two Sisters (2003).
- Mirrors (2008) – A remake of the supernatural thriller Into the Mirror (2003).
- My Sassy Girl (2008) – Hollywood tried to capture the magic of the beloved 2001 Korean rom-com of the same name, though it lost much of its quirky charm in translation.
- Possession (2009) – Based on the Korean psychological thriller Addicted (2002).
Hong Kong, Thailand, and Beyond: Crime, Action, and Scares
While Japan and Korea dominated the remake market, other Asian countries provided incredible source material, particularly in the crime and action genres.
- The Departed (2006) – Martin Scorsese finally won his Best Director Oscar for this gritty Boston crime epic. It is a remake of the masterful Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs (2002). Scorsese expertly replaced the distinct triad culture of Hong Kong with the Irish mob dynamics of South Boston.
- The Eye (2008) – Starring Jessica Alba, based on the terrifying 2002 hit by the Pang Brothers (Hong Kong/Singapore).
- Bangkok Dangerous (2008) – Nicolas Cage starred in this remake of the 1999 Thai action film of the same name. (Fun fact: The original Thai directors, the Pang Brothers, also directed the remake!)
- Shutter (2008) – A remake of the iconic 2004 Thai horror film Shutter.
- 13 Sins (2014) – Adapted from the dark Thai thriller 13 Beloved (2006).
- The Echo (2008) – A remake of the terrifying Philippine horror film Sigaw (2004).
Anime and Creature Features
Adapting animation to live-action is notoriously difficult, yet Hollywood keeps trying, drawn by massive built-in fanbases.
- Ghost in the Shell (2017) – A visually stunning but narratively simplified remake of the philosophical 1995 anime masterpiece.
- Death Note (2017) – Netflix’s controversial take on the brilliant 2006 Japanese anime/live-action films.
- Godzilla (1998 / 2014) – The legendary Kaiju originally created in 1954 has seen multiple American iterations, with the MonsterVerse finally finding the right balance of scale and awe.
Heartwarming Dramas
It’s not all scares and guns. Sometimes, Hollywood looks to Asia for stories that tug at the heartstrings.
- Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009) – This tearjerker starring Richard Gere is a remake of the 1987 Japanese film Hachikō Monogatari, based on a true story.
- Eight Below (2006) – Based on the 1983 Japanese hit Nankyoku Monogatari (Antarctica).
- Shall We Dance? (2004) – Another Richard Gere film, remaking the charming 1996 Japanese movie Shall We Dansu?.
- Midnight Sun (2018) – A teen romance based on the 2006 Japanese film Taiyou no Uta.
- The Secret (2007) – A thriller-drama remade from the 1999 Japanese film Himitsu.
The Verdict: Does Hollywood Do It Better?
Ultimately, the success of a remake comes down to understanding why the original worked. Films like The Departed and The Ring succeeded because they respected the core themes of their Asian counterparts while effectively translating the cultural context for a new audience. However, films that simply copy the plot without the soul often fall flat.
The next time you sit down to watch a Hollywood thriller or a sweeping romance, do a quick search—you might just find out its roots lie half a world away in Tokyo, Seoul, or Bangkok.
