All 10 Twilight Zone Episodes That Have Been Remade

Published Sep 13, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once.

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The Twilight Zone is one of the most influential TV shows of all time, and as such, it’s not surprising that some of its episodes have been remade, either in its reboots or its movie adaptation. Among the best TV shows of all time are some sci-fi and horror shows, one of them being The Twilight Zone, which blended both genres with a touch of drama, fantasy, and some rare comedic occasions. Created by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone originally aired on CBS from 1959 to 1964 for five seasons.

As an anthology series, every episode of The Twilight Zone told a different story with a different cast, although over time the show built its own list of frequent collaborators. The Twilight Zone’s stories stood out for their twists and endings with a moral, often leaving the audience with a lot to think about. Some of the best episodes of The Twilight Zone have become part of pop culture thanks to their quality, impact, and longevity, so much so that some of them have been remade.

The remake treatment hasn’t been just for some of the best Twilight Zone episodes, as other, lesser-known episodes have also been remade. Remakes are always tricky, as they are rarely at the same level as the original story, but in the case of the remade episodes of The Twilight Zone, some actually were better than the original, even fixing some mistakes, while others fell into the curse of remakes and weren’t good.

Shadow Play (Season 2, Episode 26)

Remade In The 1985 Reboot

Based on Charles Beaumont’s short story “Träumerei”, “Shadow Play” is the story of Adam Grant (Dennis Weaver), a man found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Grant has an unusual reaction to his sentence, as he tells those present that he’s dreaming, and if he dies, everyone will cease to exist. Although initially ignored, district attorney Henry Ritchie and newspaper editor Paul Carson begin to notice details and impossibilities that make them suspect Grant might be telling the truth.

“Shadow Play” is one of the most nightmarish stories of The Twilight Zone, and it was remade in the show’s 1985 reboot, starring Peter Coyote as Grant. However, as every episode of the 1985 reboot had two segments, the remake is a lot shorter and doesn’t quite have the same impact as the original version.

The Night of the Meek (Season 2, Episode 11)

Remade In The 1985 Reboot

Written by Rod Serling, “The Night of the Meek” is a Twilight Zone Christmas episode, and because of that, it has a slightly different and lighter tone. “The Night of the Meek” follows Henry Corwin (Art Carney), a man working his seasonal job as a department-store Santa, who, desperate due to his financial condition and that of many others, makes a Christmas Eve wish that comes true.

The episode was remade in the show’s 1985 reboot as simply “Night of the Meek”, with Richard Mulligan as Corwin, and telling the same story, also with a lighter tone than most episodes.

A Game of Pool (Season 3, Episode 5)

Remade In The 1985 Reboot

“A Game of Pool” is the story of pool shark Jesse Cardiff (Jack Klugman), who is convinced he would be the best pool player of all time if it wasn't for the memory of James Howard “Fats” Brown. Jesse says he would do anything to play against Fats, a wish that immediately comes true, but the game comes with a deal: if Jesse wins, he will be the greatest pool player who ever lived, but if he loses, he must give up his life.

“A Game of Pool” was also remade in the 1985 reboot of The Twilight Zone, but with a twist. The remake uses the original ending intended for the first version of the episode, but it can be argued that it doesn't have the same impact.

Dead Man’s Shoes (Season 3, Episode 18)

Remade In The 1985 & 2002 Revivals

“Dead Man’s Shoes” introduces viewers to Nate Bledsoe, an unhoused man who takes the shoes of a man named Nate, who was dumped in an alley after a mob hit. Nate soon discovers that wearing the shoes infuses him with Nate's personality and memories, and so he sets out to find his girlfriend and go after the crime boss who killed him.

“Dead Man’s Shoes” was remade twice, first in the 1985 reboot as “Dead Woman's Shoes”, in which Maddie (Helen Mirren), a shy thrift store employee, tries on a pair of high heels that make her confident, assertive, and vengeful. The 2002 remake was titled “Dead Man’s Eyes”, and it follows a widow obsessed with bringing her husband’s killer to justice, and she finds out that she can see her husband’s life, including the events that led to his death, through his glasses.

Kick the Can (Season 3, Episode 21)

Remade In Twilight Zone: The Movie

“Kick the Can” takes viewers to Sunnyvale Rest Home to meet retiree Charles Whitley (Ernest Truex), who is convinced that he has found the secret to youth: if he acts young, he will become young. Failing to convince his best friend, Ben, of his theory, and believed to be losing his mind, Charles invites other residents to play kick the can with him at night, with surprising results.

“Kick the Can” was remade in the film adaptation of The Twilight Zone, in the segment directed by Steven Spielberg. The key difference is that the main character, Mr. Bloom (Scatman Crothers), is a recent arrival in Sunnyvale, and he invites some of the residents to play kick the can with him, with surprising results. Both versions are some of the most heartwarming but also heartbreaking Twilight Zone stories.

The After Hours (Season 1, Episode 34)

Remade In The 1985 Reboot

Written by Rod Serling, “The After Hours” follows Marsha White (Anne Francis), who is looking for a gold thimble in a department store. Marsha is directed to the ninth floor, where there’s nothing but a gold thimble and one saleswoman. The strange behavior of the saleswoman and the elevator operator unsettles Marsha, but the store manager doesn’t believe that she bought something on the ninth floor because it doesn’t exist, and Marsha grows increasingly anxious when she notices strange movements from the mannequins in the store.

“The After Hours” was remade in the 1985 reboot of The Twilight Zone, and though it follows the same premise, it leans more towards suspense, with Marsha’s reaction to the story’s big twist being a lot different.

Eye of the Beholder (Season 2, Episode 6)

Remade In The 2002 Revival

“Eye of the Beholder” is widely regarded as one of the best Twilight Zone episodes of all time, and as such, it was chosen for a remake. “Eye of the Beholder” is the story of Janet Tyler, who lives in a world very different from ours. Janet has undergone a cosmetic procedure, her 11th and last, as it’s the maximum number legally allowed by the State, and it’s all so she can look normal. Unfortunately, the procedure fails, but the episode has a huge surprise twist for the audience.

“Eye of the Beholder” was remade in the 2002 Twilight Zone revival, and it stays true to the original episode, even though it follows Serling’s original script a lot more faithfully.

It's A Good Life (Season 3, Episode 8)

Remade In Twilight Zone: The Movie

Based on Jerome Bixby’s 1953 short story of the same name, “It’s A Good Life” introduces viewers to one of the most terrifying Twilight Zone villains: six-year-old Anthony Fremont. Anthony has godlike mental powers, such as mind-reading and the ability to banish people from town. This has forced everyone around him to always think good things so Anthony won’t make them disappear or take more things away from them, as he has already isolated the town from the rest of the universe and blocked TV signals and more.

“It’s A Good Life” is the only Twilight Zone episode to get a remake and a sequel, and the former happened in Twilight Zone: The Movie. The remake follows young teacher Helen Foley, who ends up at the house of Anthony, where she discovers that everyone and everything in the house is under Anthony’s disturbing mind control. It’s different from the original episode, though the main concept and essence remain, and both are worth watching.

The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street (Season 1, Episode 22)

Remade In The 2002 Revival

“The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” is regarded by many as the best Twilight Zone episode, but not even the best one could have been safe from being remade. Written by Serling, “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” takes viewers into the title street, where, after a mysterious shadow passes over it, the residents suspect an alien invasion, and they gradually and increasingly fall into collective panic and begin to distrust one another.

The episode was remade in the 2002 Twilight Zone revival as “The Monsters Are On Maple Street”, but instead of the fear of an alien invasion, the episode is about the fear of terrorism. The remake isn’t as good or as popular as the original version, but it’s one of the best stories of the 2002 revival.

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (Season 5, Episode 5)

Remade In Twilight Zone: The Movie & The 2019 Revival

One of the most well-known episodes of The Twilight Zone, even by those who have never watched the show, is “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” Based on Richard Matheson’s short story of the same name, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” follows Robert Wilson (William Shatner), a man who, six months earlier, had a nervous breakdown on a plane and is now on a flight for the first time since that incident. However, Robert sees a gremlin on the wing outside his window, but no one believes him, not even when the creature begins to mess with the plane’s engines.

“Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” was remade in a segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie, following the same story as the original episode, and later in the 2019 revival, this time with some big changes. Instead of a gremlin, the protagonist, journalist Justin Sanderson (Adam Scott), finds an MP3 player in front of his seat that plays a mysterious podcast that tells the tragic fate of the flight he’s on. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” is a rare case where the story only got better with every remake, as they knew how to modernize it.