Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

6 Reasons That Remakes, Reboots And Sequels Are Totally OK

You may have seen the infographic above posted in a number of places some time last year, lamenting the fact that high-grossing movies in today’s cinematic landscape tend to be attached to stories already in the public consciousness—that there is less quality, original filmmaking coming out for audiences to consume. The only way that may be true is of course if we eliminate the entire independent film system which thrives on the original screenplay and low budget production of original and often off-the-wall material. By that metric, there are more original stories being told on film than ever. The movies making the most money, however, are the tentpole pictures usually tied to a successful introductory film like Iron Man or Pirates of the Caribbean. Building on the success of a hit is obvious less work for a bigger payoff, aka the American Dream.
This article is over 11 years old and may contain outdated information
[h2]6) There are plenty of success stories[/h2]

The Amazing Spider-Man

Recommended Videos

Lots of Hollywood movies flop. The notion that maintaining movie franchises is a safer option for the big studios to pump out every year is a financial decision that they’ve determined to be most profitable. But there are still John Carters and After Earths that come from original material or unproduced source material that are magnificent failures. Everyone loves their Inceptions and Loopers but part of the beauty and worth of these movies is their rarity. It’s also probable that there would be no Inception without Christopher Nolan rebooting the Batman story, updating it for a slick and cynical generation, and doing so with clear and abundant appreciation for the source material rather than snobbish perfunctoriness.

If we look at the movies themselves, trying to ignore the “this shouldn’t have been made!” attitude that plagues so many responses to contemporary blockbusters, there has been some gorgeous work done to artistically reimagine stories and characters that the filmmakers obviously love just as much as the biggest fanboy or girl. Marc Webb’s reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man is a masterful retelling of the Peter Parker origin tale, done with more heart and teenage realism than any movie previous. Likewise, Man of Steel may not be the image of Superman that exists in the hearts and minds of many, but Zack Snyder’s technical precision and narrative subtlety is a worthy companion to the mythological pantheon of Superman, and cinematic history as a whole. This is something remakes at their best can and will do.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy