Many people claim that movies these days seem to be lacking in originality. Plots and characters seem to be recycled more and more. Older movies and television shows are constantly being remade for today’s audience, which leads us to believe that filmmakers are simply running out of new and unique ideas. This may be happening even more than you are aware of, and it has been happening for a long time. Remakes are not a new trend. Films and ideas are constantly being reimagined. Some of your favorite classics may even be remakes. Below is a list of 10 movies that you may not have known are actually remakes.

1. "Meet The Parents"

Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro face off in this comedy classic from 2000. What many do not know is that in 1992, just a few years earlier, a film of the same name was released. The movies share the same premise and feature various similar scenarios making it a clear remake. The 2000 film earned back its initial budget of $55 million in only eleven days. It went on to become one of the highest grossing films of 2000, earning over $160 million in North America and over $330 million worldwide. "Meet the Parents" was well received by film critics and viewers alike, winning several awards and earning additional nominations. Ben Stiller won two comedy awards for his performance and the film was chosen as the Favorite Comedy Motion Picture at the 2001 People's Choice Awards. The success of Meet the Parents inspired two film sequels, namely "Meet the Fockers" and "Little Fockers," released in 2004 and 2010 respectively.

2. "Scarface"

This Mafioso classic starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a man who stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami and murders anyone who stands in is way, is in fact a remake. However, the original takes place in Chicago. The two both end the same way, with Scarface dying under the words, “The world is yours.”

3. "Delivery Man"

In 2013, Vince Vaughn starred as man whose sperm donations have led him to fathering hundreds of children. Over one hundred of these children team together to file a class-action suit for his identity to be revealed. The film also stars Chris Pratt as Vaughn’s lawyer. Many do not know that this film is a remake of a Canadian film titled Starbuck from only two years before. Both films follow the same premise, but the 2011 original lacks the remake’s star power. Delivery Man received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 39 percent based on reviews from 134 critics with an average score of 5/10.

4. "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey"

This 1993 movie about two dogs and a cat who escape from a ranch looking for their owners in San Francisco has become a timeless classic for children. The film features the voices of Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche, and Sally Field. The original was released in 1963, and follows the 1961 novel that started it all a little more closely. The 1963 film was simply titled "The Incredible Journey," and features a narrator instead of voice overs for the animals.

5. "The Tourist"

Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are two of the most critically acclaimed actors of today, so when they teamed up for this 2010 film, greatness was expected, However, the film received less than good reviews from critics. Still, it managed to receive three Golden Globes nominations and earn $278 million at the box office. Five years earlier, Anthony Zimmer, Jerome Salle’s directorial debut, was released. The films share the same premise, but the original was better received by critics, as the two main characters seemed to have better chemistry than Jolie and Depp.

6. "The Lake House"

Released in 2006, "The Lake House" is an American romantic drama directed by Alejandro Agresti and starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Christopher Plummer. Reeves and Bullock reside in the same lake house at different times, yet are able to use the mailbox to communicate with one another. The original is a 2000 South Korean movie, "Il Mare. Il Mare" is a more subtle version of the same story, just with lower production values.

7. "The Last House On The Left"

The 1972 version of this film was Wes Cavern’s directorial debut. It tells the story of two parents seeking revenge on the murderers who raped and killed their daughter. While this film was remade again in 2009, many people are unaware that the film originated in 1960. The original version was titled "The Virgin Spring." The original is an art-house film that is based on a 13^th century Swedish ballad. This 1960 version tells of the mortality of vengeance from a Catholic point of view, and does not have the blood and gore of the remake. It is more religious, and less gruesome. "The Last House on the Left" was met with mixed reviews from critics. The rape sequence has often been criticized as being too realistic to handle. Audience opinion ranked the film at a "B" level, from a scale of "A to F"; the film would ultimately gross $45,286,228 worldwide.

8. "Angels In The Outfield"

This 1994 film stars Danny Glover, Tony Danza and Christopher Lloyd. It tells the story of a young foster child named Roger who loves the worst baseball team in the major leagues. His estranged dad promises to reunite the family if the Angels make it to the World Series, so Roger decides to ask for some divine help and prays that his favorite team will turn things around. Soon, a real angel named Al shows up in response to Roger's prayers, and Anaheim's hopeless coach is shocked to see his team on a winning streak. In 1951, the original was released under the same name. It stars Clarence Brown and Janet Leigh, and the plot is slightly different. The original is about a young woman reporter who blames the Pittsburgh Pirates' losing streak on their abusive manager, who begins hearing the voice of an angel promising to help the team if he changes his ways. The 1994 version has gone on to become a classic, the title being a household name.

9. "Big"

This 1988 film tells the story of a young boy who wishes to “be big.” He is sick of being young, wishes to be older, and gets what he wishes for when he reappears with the body of an adult. Tom Hanks delivers an exceptional performance, and the film has become a classic, earning two Oscar nominations. These nominations were for Hanks' performance and the screenplay. The original version of this film is an Italian comedy titled "Da Grande." The basic premise is the same, but a lot of the plot is very different. For example, the original does not feature a Zoltar machine, and the romance is with a school teacher rather than a fellow employee. Lastly, in the original, the central character works as a babysitter rather than a toy tester. The original is very obscure, while the remake has become widely known.

10. "The Wizard of Oz"

This 1939 classic about a young girl named Dorothy who gets whisked away to the wonderful land of Oz has become a household name for quite some time, and has inspired countless remakes, for TV, movies, or Broadway. However, what many do not know is that the Judy Garland starring film is a remake itself. The first feature film was released in 1925. In this silent film version, there are a few notable differences. The Scarecrow, Tin-Man, and Cowardly Lion are not actual characters, but rather three farmhands in disguise after they were transported to the Land of Oz with Dorothy, who is revealed to be the long-lost princess of Oz. Notable for its use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, musical score, and unusual characters, over the years, the 1939 Wizard Of Oz has become an icon of American popular culture. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to Gone with the Wind. It did win in two other categories, including Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow" and Best Original Score by Herbert Stothart. The film did not gain widespread recognition until the film was re-released in 1949.

Next time you head over to the movie theater, or select a film to watch on Netflix, do some research. You might just find out that the movie you are about to watch is a remake. Though filmmakers these days may seem to be more and more dependent on those before them for inspiration, that is simply not the case. As proven by this list, movies have been being remade and rethought for years, and they will be for years to come. Twenty years from now, someone might unknowingly be watching a remake of your own favorite movie. It’s a cycle, and it is here to stay.