The 11 Best Franchise Reboots, From 'The Mummy' to 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

Hollywood studios are very fond of rebooting tired old franchises in hopes of turning over a few more bucks. Too often these reboots are an insult to the original's name, but not always. These 11 reboots prove that sometimes a do-over is just what the doctor ordered.

'The Mummy' (1999)

"The Mummy" is a smart, adventuresome update to a classic monster movie franchise. Though honestly, we love this movie more because it's the worthy Indiana Jones sequel we didn't get in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." It's just a shame Universal had to go and ruin a good thing by rebooting again with the 2017 movie.

'Ocean's Eleven' (2001)

"Ocean's Eleven" retained the basic formula of the 1960 original - the coolest actors in Hollywood hang out and try to rob a casino. But this version got a much better story out of the deal. The sequels are a lot of fun, too, even if at best they merely repeat what worked in this one.

'Batman Begins' (2005)

As bad as 1997's "Batman & Robin" was, it's a wonder Batman still has a movie career to speak of. Fortunately, WB immediately won over jaded fans with this masterful reboot, one which emphasized Bruce Wayne's troubled psychology and applied a much-needed dose of realism to the franchise. Even better, it paved the way for "The Dark Knight," a sequel still regarded as one of the best superhero movies ever made.

'Casino Royale' (2006)

You could argue that just about any Bond movie is a reboot, given how little continuity is shared between films. Regardless, "Casino Royale" ushered in a bold new era for a once-stagnant franchise. It gave us one of the best Bonds ever in the form of Daniel Craig and gave Agent 007 the origin story he deserved.

'Star Trek' (2009)

After two lousy "Next Generation"-centric sequels in a row, a fresh start was just what the "Star Trek" series needed. This 2009 movie managed to toe the line between reboot and prequel, introducing a brand new take on the classic Enterprise crew while still maintaining ties to the Trek fans know and love.

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (2011)

The "Planet of the Apes" franchise has the unique distinction of playing home to one of the worst and one of the best reboots of all time. This movie made up for the dreadful mess that was 2001's "Planet of the Apes." This origin story offered fans a glimpse of a world on the cusp of ape takeover, and it also introduced one of the greatest CGI creations in movie history - Andy Serkis' heroic chimpanzee Caesar.

'X-Men: First Class' (2011)

Subsequent movies would show that this movie is technically more prequel than true reboot. But whatever you want to call "X-Men: First Class," this movie deserves credit for reviving a superhero franchise that was in dire straits after "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "X-Men Origins" Wolverine." "First Class" showed us the genesis of Charles Xavier's mutant school, but its true appeal lies in its exploration of the Xavier/Magneto relationship.

'Dredd' (2012)

Like most comic book movies in the '90s, "Judge Dredd" really didn't do justice to the source material. Fortunately, the second time turned out to be the charm. "Dredd" is a charmingly stripped-down superhero movie, one that takes place inside a single building (a la 'The Raid') and pits the titular lawman against a ruthless crime boss.

'Marvel's Daredevil' (2015-2018)

"Daredevil" may not have been the worst Marvel movie of the '00s, but it does feel like the one with the most wasted potential. As Netflix proved, maybe this is one character inherently better suited for television instead. Marvel's Daredevil gave us everything we didn't get in the Man Without Fear's cinematic debut - epic fight scenes, deep, brooding characters and villains every bit as fascinating as the hero. As an added bonus, this series also gave us the most well-realized version of The Punisher in live-action.

'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015)

While it technically has an official place in the "Mad Max" timeline, for all intents and purposes, "Fury Road" is a reboot. It's got a new actor in the lead and seeks to be as streamlined and accessible as possible. It's also a useful reminder that George Miller is one of the finest action movie directors of all time, full stop.

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017)

This "Spider-Man" reboot owes a debut to "Captain America" Civil War" for getting the ball rolling, but any way you slice it, "Homecoming" is a vast, vast improvement over Sony's "Amazing Spider-Man" series. It's funny. heartfelt and surprisingly dramatic at times. It also isn't afraid to be the rare Marvel movie with lower, more personal stakes.