Alijah Xverious Associate Opinions

If you took a snapshot of the movie scene right now, it would be safe to say we’re in a cultural recession. Directors are afraid to take risks, old storylines and tropes are recycled, classics are remade, and fandoms are revived from beyond the grave. Some die-hard fans argue that remakes win over new fans and connect with modern audiences, while others counter by saying that they hinder creativity and crowd out new plotlines and ideas.

To put it simply, filming a remake is the most convenient thing for filmmakers. There is security in making a movie with a built-in audience instead of a new film that has to find one. It is cheaper to market and more likely to be well received, and as long as that remains true, studios will continue to recycle movies rather than experiment with new ideas.

Many of this year’s releases are remakes and sequels. Take The Devil Wears Prada 2. Nobody asked for it, the reviews were average, and it still made a fortune because the original cast showed up and people remembered how much they liked the first one. The studio has already hinted at a third. A lot of remakes and revivals are just copies that add nothing new, leaning on recognizable faces, familiar quotes, and a few cameos instead of audience demand. These are the types of films that make audiences roll their eyes at another reboot announcement.

All of this makes things harder for original films. Studios only have so much money, marketing space, and theatre screens, and when established franchises take most of it, original films get whatever is left. A recognizable title can fill seats before anyone knows if the movie is any good, like Practical Magic 2, while an original must win people over first. That isn’t to say every sequel or remake is a waste. Some improve on the original, and some introduce a good story to a new generation. The problem is when recycled plots take the place of creativity.

Studios will keep recycling old stories as long as audiences keep paying to see them. If we want more original films, we must give them a chance instead of automatically returning to the same franchises. That being said, my advice is that for every remake or revival you watch, you should go watch a niche indie film. It might be the only way to stop another Scary Movie from coming out (hopefully).