The movie industry is as busy as ever, spending and making billions of dollars each and every year. Despite the changing times, similar praises and criticisms have been directed toward Hollywood since its beginnings. It has been hailed as a modern form of entertainment and has spawned a huge industry, but the culture of Hollywood also has its criticisms, especially in regards to cases of exploitation and the way celebrities affect self esteem and body image. Additionally, a new criticism has befallen Hollywood in the past decade as it pumps out movie after movie. It seems now that the film industry has firmly chosen profit over entertainment, appealing to existing fan bases who they know will provide them with viewership. The most recent blockbuster films and most popular TV shows all seem to be adaptations, sequels, or remakes, from the the recent musical remake of Mean Girls and the adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to television adaptations like Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Much of this media is “good” and enjoyable despite its use of recycled material, but some also feels like cheap cash grab. However, no matter its quality, this constant barrage of remakes and sequels begs the question: Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

There is always a hype when a new remake comes out. Many times, the original movie was a staple from the older generation’s childhood, modernized for a younger audience. Remakes are profitable because they appeal to multiple audiences across different generations, which is likely why corporations can’t get enough of them. One of the most prominent examples of this is live action Disney remakes. Disney seems set on remaking every one of their classic animated movies, to mixed results. Some remakes were received at least relatively well, including Cinderella (2015), Aladdin (2019), and Maleficent (2014), while others incited fierce internet controversy, including The Lion King (2019) and Mulan (2020), though the recent controversy involving the 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid is not to be ignored. Of course, there are some remakes that become more popular than the original movie, for example the modernizations of Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap, but they are few and far between. So why do big corporations like Disney continue to make remake after remake, despite how hit-or-miss the reception of these movies often are? In my opinion, it is not for nostalgia at all, but almost solely for profit. Corporations often don’t care about controversy, in fact, controversy is free advertising. However, what they can count on is fans of classic movies flocking to the theaters to try and capture moments from their childhoods.

Another moneymaker used by the film industry is book adaptations. It’s incredibly common to see a trailer for a new movie or show that is plastered with the words “based on the bestselling book.” Of course, adaptations are not always just for profit. It is the dream of many authors to see their books adapted to the big screen, and to see the scenes they’ve imagined in their head so many times being created right in front of them. Some of the most beloved film franchises of this century, including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and The Hunger Games, are well-known book adaptations. However, the more recent surge of adaptations is likely a direct result of the success of the aforementioned series, and though there are some good adaptations out there, many are created to appeal to an existing fanbase, oftentimes without much author involvement. Similar to remakes, adaptations are often greenlit because they have a guaranteed viewership in the existing fanbase of the books they are based on. With adaptations, the industry doesn’t have to worry about whether or not people watch it, which guarantees profit even if the film or show is badly received, and many adaptations are badly received. Readers of a popular book series will not hesitate to criticize every detail of an adaptation, and many times their criticisms are valid. There are some books that, despite being popular, are too long or complex to be made into a movie, and pacing issues, incorrect characterization, and missing context are only a few of the issues common with the attempt to convert every popular books series into a movie or show. Adapting a book into a movie is risky and likely to end in widespread criticism, and it’s clear that the industry is aware of this. For example, Disney+ didn’t renew season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians until the entire first season had aired and it was clear that the reception was generally positive. However, even if a movie adaptation flops, the industry knows they will still profit off of the initial watch of the dedicated book fanbases.

The third prominent trend in the film industry as of late are the endless sequels of popular film and television franchises, most notably Marvel and Star Wars. Both franchises were very popular and well received when they began, and both are still running today. Marvel, more specifically, the era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that began with Iron Man in 2009, has had a dedicated fan base since its beginnings, and though its audience still remains large, several criticisms have been leveled against the franchise, often by the fan base itself. Some claim that the franchise has lost heart, and that they are still pumping out movies and miniseries solely for profit, while others claim that the movies should have ended after Endgame, the epic Marvel crossover from 2019. Similar complaints have been leveled at the Star Wars franchise, with fans complaining that recent series such as Boba Fett were boring and uninspired. As a fan of both franchises, I agree with many of the complaints. Marvel, Star Wars, and other large franchises are popular for a reason, whether that be their interesting characters and plots or introduction of new ideas, but the film industry needs to learn when they’ve milked an idea to its end.

In conclusion, I do not think there is a lack of creativity in the film industry, only a lack of allowing creativity to be utilized. There are plenty of people with creative, unique ideas, but these original ideas are often cast aside in order for an adaptation, remake, or 10th sequel to be the next Blockbuster. The film industry works mainly for profit, and though there are many people in the industry who believe in creativity, larger corporations would rather maximize profit. The aforementioned trends in film and television exist because of the security of an existing fan base. Building an audience for a show or movie is difficult, but an existing audience is a guarantee for viewership. However, despite the focus on profit in film, it is my belief that there is still hope for creative people to make their visions known. If people keep fighting for their ideas, maybe someday soon those at the top will see that there is room for new talent and new ideas, and audiences will be able to recognize projects with heart.