Recently, sequels and remakes flood movie theaters, proving the lack of and need for original films in Hollywood.
In the past year, “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Despicable Me 4,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Dune: Part Two” took the top five spots for the highest grossing films of 2024, according to Box Office Mojo. The financial success of these sequels, franchises and remakes explains why so many get produced. But it doesn’t justify the absence of original stand-alone films.
Since most films coming out are extensions of beloved movies, it’s difficult for them to compete with the original and stand on their own. With the exception of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” few new films become culturally impactful. Using the revenue from successful sequels and remakes to produce more original movies could help iconic films return to Hollywood while breaking up the endless number of sequels being released.
Despite the constant amount being released, sequels, spin-offs and remakes aren’t a problem themselves. The Box Office’s financial reports clearly show audiences enjoy watching them. That said, there comes a point where the movies picked to be remade and franchised become ridiculous. Society has reached that point.
The anticipated “Wicked” hit theaters 21 years after it first ran on Broadway, according to Playbill. “Gladiator II” comes 24 years after “Gladiator.” The successful summer blockbuster “Twisters” came 28 years after the original film. And it was just announced that “Legally Blonde 3” and “The Princess Diaries 3” will begin production 20 years after their sequels, according to IMdb.
Instead of continuing and remaking films and franchises from 20 years ago, production companies should invest in original ideas and scripts that show promise before they decide to produce the 11th “Fast and Furious” movie. While films that derive from another piece of entertainment are a way to guarantee a large amount of revenue, they aren’t necessarily what audiences want to see.
Critics and audiences love original and indie films. Movies like “Challengers,” “Hit Man,” “The Good One” and “Fitting In” were rated higher by audiences and critics than movies a part of franchises, according to Rotten Tomatoes and IMdb’s “Best of 2024” lists.
While audiences watch all of the sequels and remakes, they love originality. And critics feel the same way. In a review, critics consider a film’s “screenplay characteristics,” like if it’s a sequel, remake or adaptation before they consider a film’s Box Office earnings and budget, according to an article about film critic assessments published by the Creative Research Journal.
To bring back iconic movies with higher ratings, production companies need to disrupt the loop of sequels and remakes and start producing original films again.
