A new version of an existing film, song, or other creative work; or the act of creating such a new version. Often updates older works with modern technology or contemporary perspectives.
Compound word from 're-' (again) + 'make,' appearing in English by the late 19th century. The entertainment industry sense developed with the rise of cinema, as studios began remaking silent films as 'talkies' and later updating older movies with new technology.
Remakes reveal our complex relationship with the past - we simultaneously want to preserve beloved stories and update them for new audiences. Interestingly, some of cinema's most celebrated films are actually remakes, like 'The Maltese Falcon' (1941), which was the third version of the story, showing how remaking can sometimes perfect rather than diminish original concepts.
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