Between live actions, remakes, and adaptations (ahem, ‘Wuthering Heights’), it seems like most “new” movies are not actually new anymore. So when I saw on Instagram that there is going to be a remake of 13 Going on 30, a classic romcom that is perfect as is, I started to speculate about why there are so many unnecessary remakes, and how it is changing the film industry.
My first possible reason was that maybe we have just run out of ideas, but when thinking about recent original screenplays, like Sinners and Sentimental Value, I came to the conclusion that filmmakers can come up with new ideas, but they just aren’t. This becomes glaringly clear when thinking about Disney movies. According to an article from The Guardian, Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution at Disney, said that these films are “the market reality of what consumers are looking for.”
However, there has been some general discontent on social media – the trailer post for the live action Moana had many negative comments. One user said, “I mean, at this point is Disney just using their animated films as storyboards? Not seeing the point when the original was so great.” This discourse comes specifically from the fact that people think the live action remake is unnecessary and too soon, as the original animated film came out 10 years ago, and its sequel came out only two years ago.
There are so many amazing sequels, remakes, and adaptations, but not every film should be one, and the rise in unoriginal films is changing the industry. According to an article from Medium, in 2000, 40.9% of films were original, which dropped to 18.6% in 2024. The percentage of non-original films rose from 59.1% to 81.4%.
While the exact reason for this increase in unoriginality is unclear, there is speculation that it is due to competition from streaming platforms, industries trying to meet viewers’ expectations, or simply that the current creators with their foot in the door are “running out of new ideas.” Film is a difficult industry to make a name for yourself, but it seems like a good solution would be to incorporate new people into the industry.
More likely, I would assume that these production companies are most focused on what will surely make money: sequels and remakes of past hits. While these movies are likely still bringing in money, they are also leaving many people unsatisfied. The fact of the matter is that the film industry is losing the creativity it once had, which is also decreasing the provocativeness that comes with new and important ideas.
At the end of the day, art, including film, is an important medium for activism and making people think, but also simply for fun and entertainment. But none of these things will be effectively done if the industry stops coming up with new and creative ideas. I have little doubt that the 13 Going on 30 remake will be well-made, and it definitely will be watched. But I personally would much rather watch an original, new romcom – or just rewatch the iconic original – and I think many people would agree.