These days, it feels like the movie industry is stuck in a loop of remakes, sequels, and prequels. Studios seem to think that reproducing the same stories over and over is the way to make money, but is that really what audiences want? More often than not, the answer is no. What really is needed is something fresh, something original. The film industry should be putting more energy into new ideas instead of relying on the same old formula.
Take remakes for example, Hollywood has the habit of taking classic movies that people already love and try to redo them. The problem with this is the remakes rarely ever live up to the original films with the original nostalgia. A prime example is the 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot. Fans of the original had high hopes, but it ended up falling short. Then there’s live action Disney “The Lion King.” It was visually stunning, but it lacked the heart and emotional punch of the animated classic. Remakes like these end up tearing down the hearts of fans by not living up to the original movies. It’s a sign that studios aren’t taking the creative risks they should be.
Filmmaking is all about telling new stories in unique ways. The best movies are the ones that offer something unexpected, something different. Think about films like “Inception,” “Get Out” and “Interstellar.” These aren’t sequels or remakes–they’re original, creative stories that pushed the boundaries and made critics think. They’re the kind of movies that stick with viewers long after the credits roll. When studios choose to remake a film instead of trying something new, they miss out on what all viewers and critics are looking for these days, which is originality.
Sequels and prequels aren’t much better. Some big franchises like Marvel have managed to expand into their worlds successfully, but often sequels start to feel repetitive. Take “Transformers,” for example. The first movie was thrilling, but with each new installment it becomes less and less exciting for the public. The story wasn’t really evolving, just reusing the same formula with the same characters. Prequels also have their own issues such as the later additions to the “Star Wars” prequels which had so much potential, but instead of giving depth to the story, it felt very rushed and had bad production. They were trying to fill in gaps rather than exploring the endless amounts of possibilities in the “Star Wars” timeline.
The problem isn’t just about a few movies; it’s about the bigger picture of things. When studios focus too much on these familiar franchises, they start to overlook new voices and fresh ideas. Independent filmmakers who have original stories to tell are often overlooked and struggle to get their ideas out to the world because of lack of funds. When Hollywood continues to go back to the same old formula, it blocks the public from a variety of great films that are shown. It seems as if they are stuck in a cycle of safe bets that will make them money instead of being bold and risking money like how movies used to be.
This trend also affects how audiences relate to the movies. When people are constantly given remakes and sequels, it is very easy to become disconnected and not feel any sort of connection to the films. There’s a need for something real, something that feels almost personal and authentic. Movies like “Wonder” and “The Blind Side” capture the human experience in a way that makes people fall in love with the movie because of how genuine and emotionally rich the movie is. On the other hand, remakes and sequels often make viewers feel like they’re watching something that is attempting to fill their hearts again like the original film or films, but in reality, it is tearing down the love they once had for not only the film itself but the personal connection to it. Audiences can take a stand against these companies by leaving negative reviews on the prequels and sequels causing the film industries to lose money and be forced to not produce more additions to original films.
However, with the rise of streaming services and platforms, it has made it easier for small independent filmmakers to share with the world new ideas and hopefully new magic to the cinematic world. They can take more creative risks and deliver stories that feel more authentic and less systematic like Hollywood as of recent. So in the end, hopefully major film industries realize the backlash and disappointments with the remakes, sequels, and prequels and open themselves back up to the creative realm of filmmaking again.
