How Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion and others have played as a safe ploy across the movie industry.
For decades on end now, America’s spectacle of a film industry has provided the world with hits like the Jurassic Park series, Star Wars, Harry Potter, 007, The Matrix, Marvel, and every other superhero movie that falls underneath it, just to name a few. And while the overwhelming captivation many of these film franchises produce towards us viewers is quite extreme, at the end of the day, more than 10 Spiderman movies all telling somewhat of a similar plot is quite derivative and says a lot about the current age of creativity.
However, underneath this operation to re-invent films of great popularity, is a much more deceptive quiver of tactics brought on by some of Hollywood's biggest moguls. Media corporations like Disney, Comcast, Paramount, and WarnerBros Discovery each possess rare treasures of extensively copyrighted and protected characters that they know sell big bucks. Although, until they finally lock some of these stories back into their vault, Hollywood is at a stall. A stall in which Peter Parker is endlessly re-created into Spiderman. One where James Bond is still facing foes and nearly escaping death as we know it. A Hollywood that is branded off of “timeless tales” instead of a new founded generation of stories.
To begin, let's look into the revolution of Hollywood, and one era that truly changed the game.
Up until the sort of renaissance of Hollywood film culture, movies really were quite limited to certain topics and genres. Horror was still suspense and gothic comedy. Action and Sci-Fi were not nearly as large of genres as they were to become. Musicals were just Broadway spoofs. And Westerns or Dracula were some of the best Hollywood could offer.
Fast forward to a period surrounding the 1960’s- 70’s. This was the rebirth. Described as the second golden-age of Hollywood, this re-invention of American film culture observed the wonders of storytelling through a variation of genres and cinematic techniques. Some of history's greatest films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Godfather Trilogy were produced during this period. Meanwhile, some of Hollywood’s greatest directors like Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Stanley Kubrick emerged during the 70’s in particular. The changes studios made to grow the playing field amongst Hollywood films paved the way in which new ideas were both generated, and sought after. Rather than seeking profit off of another wild west white man’s story, Hollywood began to steer in a new direction. A more diverse direction in the topics it addressed, and in the style of films that were made to be adventure getaways for viewers.
With films such as Jaws, Star Wars: A New Hope, Rocky, and more arising in the late 1970’s, the 80’s made for an interesting decade in which the length of this rejuvenation of film culture would be tested. And of course, out spurred E.T., Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, The Shining, Do the Right Thing, and The Princess Bride. Each proved worthy and carried on the torch of innovation to the 90’s.
Then came Pulp Fiction, Schindler’s List, Toy Story, Jurassic Park, and The Matrix. With a healthy spree of ideas illuminating the box office, companies then took it upon themselves to stop, and move backwards. So, rather than enlisting new projects to be the center of their attention, they looked back upon old successes and went from there. Soon came The Dark Knight, Casino Royale, and Spiderman Sequels. While not all of their remakes were flops, they most definitely lacked the sort of originality needed to become a stand-alone film.
That’s where things go wrong. That’s where this sort of renaissance of film culture ends. And it's all thanks to this perpetuated idea around the claim that people want to see the movies they grew up with now with their children. That people want nostalgia more than they want originality. Well in fact, that claim is false. There is no evidence that shows a lack of creativity amongst rising film-makers, or a lack of interest amongst Americans. And this is seen across a whole separate landscape. Just look at TV shows. In current day television, with new hits like Ted Lasso, Stranger Things, and Squid Games, nostalgia isn’t prevalent. People aren’t just watching Stranger Things so they can remember what the 80’s felt like, they’re watching it because of the imagination that comes with its incredible world of Sci-Fi creatures and realms. They’re watching it because of its tackling of major issues through a new and universal lens. And that’s the same with many of the movies that we remember from Hollywood’s renaissance. Only the constant remakes aren't a symbol of their timelessness, they’re a symbol of corporate greed and the desire to capitalize on humans’ love for great storytelling from the past. You can’t recreate the feeling that a film brings you by creating a sequel, but you can recreate greatness by opening the door for more ideas.
While Hollywood might continue to create copies of its favorites from the past, it's the movie-gowers and viewers that make the difference. So next time you’re headed off to see the latest installment of Top Gun or Jurassic Park, remember that you’re a small part in the decision between letting the studio decide between a brilliant proposal, and the latest Spider-Man trifle.
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