Sometimes once isn’t enough. While many directors return to make sequels/prequels/inbetweenquels of their films, some go the extra mile and remake a film they’ve already done. Perhaps they weren’t happy with the first effort, or perhaps they’ve been offered more money, or the chance to reach a different (American) audience. Whatever the reason, the results are varied – here are ten directors who thought they could do better the second time…

Michael Mann – LA Takedown (1989) / Heat (1995)

Why do it? Because LA Takedown was a TV movie with accomplished yet pretty much unknown actors. Heat was a mega-budgeted Hollywood crime epic which brought together Pacino and De Niro while they were still at the height of their powers.

What’s different? Not as much as you think. The story is basically the same, but it’s the way Mann approaches the material that makes you realise this is a director who’s come a long way in six years. Imagine the difference between a child’s drawings and an adult’s. LA Takedown is a far leaner film in many respects, but Heat has the gravitas, the character development, and also a slightly different ending (no spoilers here though).