From Mean Girls to Wicked, Moana 2 to Gladiator 2, Hollywood has recently been thriving off of movie remakes and sequels. In fact, of 49 movies scheduled for release in 2024, more than half of the films were sequels or remakes. 

But movie remakes and sequels aren’t new to Hollywood. In fact, filmmakers have always enjoyed recreating popular movies throughout history. For example, the most remade movie in history is A Christmas Carol, first adapted in 1938, with over 100 versions available to date. 

“This year, so many remakes are getting made, like How to Train Your Dragon, [which] I’m excited for. It’s fun to see movies I [watched] when I was younger, and I’m watching them right now,” junior Tina Ghasedi said.

Both in the past and even more today, movie remakes and sequels have become a staple in Hollywood. But what has created this explosion of remakes and sequels? And do these movies even work on watchers?

Strategic Appeal

For filmmakers, recreating or adding to a plot that consumers are already familiar with provides the opportunity of an extremely profitable strategy. The preexisting fan base and popularity of the original film guarantees some level of consumer interest and an eager audience. Making up 41 of the 50 highest-grossing movie films of all time, remake and sequel films are clearly statistically successful. It is for this reason that popular film franchises like The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars are able to consistently generate billions of dollars in revenue.

More recently, the Wizard of Oz spinoff, Wicked, and the sequel to the Gladiator film, Gladiator 2, were released on Nov 22. Both films have already seen a massive wave of success, bringing in a combined first-weekend box office sale of $270.2 million globally. The success of Wicked and Gladiator 2 is in part due to the notoriety of their predecessors. 

“If the original movie is successful, has a following and did a really good job in the box office initially, then there’s a demand for another one,” marketing teacher Evan Stern said.

To maximize profit, filmmakers will sometimes attempt to revitalize attention to the original film. Often, movie watchers must watch the original movie as a prerequisite to understand the sequel. Knowing this, filmmakers will sometimes rerelease the original movie right before the release of the sequel. For example, on Nov 11, the original Gladiator film was rereleased in UK theaters, 11 days before the sequel’s release, bringing in a profit of $129,000.

Furthermore, while filmmakers can cut production costs and time in many ways, like reusing or adapting preexisting scripts, animations and sound effects, sequels and remakes tend to have much higher budgets. The success of the original film attracts eager investors who anticipate another successful film. For example, the first Fast and Furious movie had a budget of $38 million, but by the seventh and eighth films, the budgets exceeded $190 million.

This proven formula of leveraging the success of the original movie, along with strategic marketing and investment, has cemented movie remakes and sequels as a dominant force in the movie industry. Filmmakers are attracted by the prospect of recreating and exceeding the success and profitability of original films. However, the effectiveness of movie remakes and sequels must be analyzed more closely to accurately weigh the consequences and benefits.

Pros

Influencing audience expectations, nostalgia plays a huge role in the pros of remakes and sequels, helping them succeed. Essentially, consumers like watching movies that feel familiar to them.

In particular, Marvel movies are highly successful at capturing nostalgia, meeting and exceeding consumer expectations. For example, the four Marvel films that are part of the Avengers series generated an astonishing $6.68 billion total, with the fourth installment, Avengers: Endgame, raking in $2.8 billion to become the second-highest grossing film of all time. 

When the Avengers movies are examined closely, key factors are seen to contribute to their success. Firstly, the films build on the same character relationships and dynamics established in the first movie. While new characters are introduced as the series progresses, the characters are seen as an addition to a larger team, blending into a pre-established unit. Secondly, the films continue to develop the same themes of heroism and teamwork. As a result, while the plot is different in each movie, the audience is still able to resonate and connect with the films. 

Marvel is able to be successful because they are very deliberate and purposeful in the movie-making process. All Marvel movies are part of an interconnected universe where each individual film is consistent and impactful to a larger narrative. Each movie is planned by the writers years in advance to fill a necessary and vital role. 

Likewise, movie remakes and sequels are beneficial when movie producers are intentional. Sequels are able to address plot gaps or unanswered questions that the first film left, supporting the integrity of both films. For remakes, producers can reinvent classic stories to be innovative and more relatable to modern audiences. When this happens, the film is able to resonate with the audience and invoke nostalgia. 

Not only should filmmakers be intentional with their plot, but also throughout all elements of production, from set design to casting actors.

“I’ve noticed a lot of theater pieces are coming to Hollywood and they’re grabbing famous actors from [the past],” Ghasedi said. “It’s really cool that they’re remaking it with old actors but they’re keeping everything original.”

In the end, successful remakes and sequels bring contributions and impacts that exceed the individual film. It’s not just about the remake or sequel doing well in the box office, but what it means for the industry and the world.

Cons

However, when remakes and sequels are created for the single intention of profit, they are often unable to meet the expectations of consumers. In the case of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, the fifth installment in the Indiana Jones series, ​​$387.2 million was spent on production, making it one of the most expensive movies of all time. Yet, the film failed to recoup costs at the box office, creating a $134.2 million loss for Disney. 

A similar situation could arise for the producers of Wicked, Universal Pictures, if the film does not match anticipated results. Investors have poured money into the film, with cost estimations for the two-part production exceeding $500 million. In addition, Universal Pictures has invested significant time and energy for the film’s ad campaigns, starting in February at the Super Bowl and securing more than 400 brand partnerships. 

As remakes and sequels continue to be released, their budgets rise to staggering levels, creating significant financial risks that could lead to disaster — just as it did for Indiana Jones. While remakes and sequels are perceived as low-risk guaranteed moneymakers, the astonishing amounts of money that film companies spend raises the stakes. Companies have to work even harder, spending more money on campaigns, to break even — and minor setbacks pose great threats.

These films not only create a very expensive and risky endeavor for Hollywood, but also reflect its unsustainable and superficial priorities where profit is valued over creativity. Instead of exploring unique ideas and supporting originality, studios and producers shut down ideas that they view risky or unprofitable and choose to conform to Hollywood’s trends with familiar, reused ideas. 

“Some sequels don’t need to be made or aren’t made very well. A sequel is beneficial if it’s nostalgic to the first one,” Stern said. “If it’s a movie that I really liked, then maybe it could go forward; but if [filmmakers] make [the movie] because they’re struggling to think of an original idea and it’s not necessary, then I wouldn’t be as interested.”

While it’s hard for filmmakers to predict what consumers will actually enjoy, success ultimately comes down to the purpose and intent of the film writers. There are reasons why the original film was successful, whether it be the cast, plot or action. Moviemakers must consider if the remakes and sequels they are producing truly serve a purpose. Does there need to be a second, third or fourth movie? Is the plot truly adding and building on the previous stories? Or is the remake simply a superficial ploy to gain more profit?