Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Program for Bay Area high school students, an intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
A few months ago, my best friend invited me to watch the movie “Project Hail Mary.” This would’ve been her third time in a month. I guess she was just a huge fan of Ryan Gosling, but I can’t watch any movie repeatedly. It seems I have to anyway, because Hollywood keeps giving us the same stuff over and over.
Remember the last time a brand new movie concept was introduced? Neither does the film industry. These days, studios are convinced that audiences will line up for anything with a familiar title. Between endless franchises, recycled plots and live-action remakes, movies have become a waste of time.
One of the clearest examples of Hollywood’s creativity crisis is the endless output of sequels, reboots and spinoffs. The “Fast & Furious” franchise is already up to its 12th movie. Instead of creating stories that become the next generation’s classics, studios choose what audiences already know. This strategy may be profitable, but it reveals how Hollywood is recycling old films.
Hollywood has also become heavily dependent on adaptations. Many of the biggest movies today are based on books, comic books or video games. While the adaptations themselves aren’t terrible, the overwhelming reliance on existing creations suggests that film productions are more interested in financial security than artistic evolution.
Book series such as “Off-Campus” by Elle Kennedy and “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” by Holly Jackson have paved their way to screens because, apparently, the New York Times Bestsellers list has become Hollywood’s to-do list.
Another factor contributing to Hollywood’s lack of originality is nostalgia. Studios understand that audiences have emotional connections to movies from their childhood, and they capitalize on those feelings whenever possible.
In 2021, Disney released “Encanto,” an original, animated film that became a hit worldwide. Since then, however, Disney has released sequels and adaptations based on what fans already love. “Zootopia 2,” “Freakier Friday” and the just-released “Toy Story 5” are prime examples. Nostalgia can be enjoyable, but when it becomes the foundation of the industry, creativity is bound to die.
Supporters of the industry argue that Hollywood still produces innovative films and that adaptations do not automatically indicate a lack of originality. Some sequels and adaptations have expanded on their original film in fun ways. “XO Kitty,” a spin-off show of Jenny Han’s series, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” became a show that reached No. 1 on Netflix. However, those are rare exceptions.
At the end of the day, you should demand more than leftover blockbuster movies. Movies are supposed to introduce us to new worlds and characters instead of repeatedly escorting us to the same ones. If studios want people’s time and money, they should have to earn it with something original.
Chloe Dao is a member of the class of 2029 at Santa Clara High School.
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