This post will probably be a little different than what you expect from this title. The majority of posts around (probably 98%) are usually about the fact that there is not actually any originality in Hollywood.
Well, for the most part that is both true and false.
The recent announcement that there will be a remake of the Matrix movies are generally the basis of what made me decide to write this piece. Now while I don’t believe this is necessary (outside of the complete mess they made of the last film) I do see the reason.
The general consensus around the internet, if you’re paying attention. Is that everything Hollywood does lately is to remake one piece of intellectual property after another. Matrix being the most recent, the current revival of Xfiles, the reboot\sequel of 24 with 24 Legacy, the Michael Bay Transformers movies. All reboots from what’s gone before.
The problem is, that these get touted as all that they are doing in Hollywood. Which partially is true. But do you know why? Because they’re profitable. As much as movies are entertainment for the audience. For the studios making and financing these films, they are a business. They have to be run like any other business out there. This generally means that they go with established properties, with established fan bases rather than take a risk on something new that may or may not pay off, and it works.
The reason they keep doing remakes of previous IP’s is because people watch them. They go to the movies to see them, which brings in the money. The risk is still there, but it’s not as much as taking a chance on the more original stories.
Let’s use Transformers Age of Extinction for reference on this, partially because it was the last Transformers movie released, and partially because it was generally touted by critics and general public to be “so bad”.
Box Office Mojo (linked here) put the production budget of $210 Million. Between domestic (US) and international box office the total gross worldwide is a huge: $1,104,054,072.
This is current lifetime total grosses. While it may not go much more past this, it can still go up with any future DVD\Bluray sales.
The point being that it made it’s production money back, and some. That’s what the studios are going for. This is business. Plain and simple.
So, what do you do if you don’t want to see remakes, or reboots? Simple. Don’t see them in cinemas. Go to see the original story ones, in smaller cinemas. Go to the lower session screenings. Go to the film festivals. Just don’t go to the big budget reboots of the ones you claim to get so annoyed they are doing.
If people don’t go to the reboots, then they won’t bring in the money and they won’t do the reboots (well not as many anyway). Is this a hard and fast answer, with completely accurate information? No possibly not. (there I’m honest). But if the reboots stop making money, they stop making them. They will put money into other things to keep going. They will take risks to see if it influences the audience.
You have the power. Yes, you. The cinema goer.
To be clear, no I am not advocating piracy. Don’t steal the movie. Respect the hardwork of the cast and crew–especially if it’s an actor\actress you claim to love. Just don’t see it straight away. Wait until the end of the run, or on cable\sky\whatever. But pay for it.
So, the next time you see a film in cinema that’s a reboot. Stop. Think about it. Do you want to do this? How against the idea are you? Can you wait until later to see it and hope others do the same?
If the initial box office runs don’t make money. The studios will rethink their options.
Well, that’s it from me on the subject. This was mostly just because I get annoyed with seeing people complain about how Hollywood doesn’t have original ideas. I hope this has made you think, or informed you.
Remember, it’s a business for them.
Dreaming Screenwriter 