Nice question FF, and great thread, folks.

I agree with you FF, that a name for such a category of films (films that are not exact remakes but share silimalr plots or storylines) should exist. Maybe we should create one?? How about 'filmkins'...for kinship of films or filmhoods? We might pronounce the latter as 'fil-moods'. Any takers?

tsuwm, thanks for pointing out that not so subtle difference between metamorphosis and transformation.