Has Hollywood Lost Its Originality?

This is a question that many industry insiders have been arguing about over the last few months.  While one side argues that the idea of original movies is a lost concept on movie makers which has resulted in the downward spiral of the movie box office, others believe the fact that a blockbuster, whether original or adapted, will not only draw people to the theater if it’s a strong story with a good plot, but, when it’s all said and done, will make money for the movie studio.  What are some of the latest movie trends?

The Original Movie 

The concept behind this type of movie is originality.  This could be a new idea or story or something that has never been seen before.  At the time of its release, “Star Wars” was in this category because no one had seen anything quite like it on the big screen.  Of the latest movie releases, “Crash” is the critics favorite because of its original script.

The Sequel and/or Continuation 

A sequel can be a movie that continues the story of a previous film, i.e. “Star Wars:  Revenge of the Sith” and “The Matrix Reloaded”.  However, a sequel can also be a stand alone film with characters that have been previously established.  An example of this would be the sequels to “Scream”, “Scary Movie” and “Rush Hour”.

The Remake 

More and more films from the past are being remade into updated movies.  The current movie, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was originally a 1941 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard.  However, unlike the original film, the modernized version’s leading characters are assassins. 

The TV Show to Movie 

Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton went from the small screen to big screen in the recent “The Honeymooners” film.  The movie version was similar to the TV show with its focus on Ralph’s “get rich quick” schemes.  What other TV shows will be gracing the silver screen?  “Bewitched”, “The Dukes of Hazzard” and the “Simpsons”.

The Book to Film 

In recent years we’ve seen the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the first three “Harry Potter” books come to life on screen as well as “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”.  Comic book characters are also a movie favorite.  In past years, moviegoers have seen “Batman”, “Superman” and “Spiderman” emerge as blockbusters.

The Same Old, Same Old 

Ever get the feeling that you’re experiencing deja vu when watching a film?  Although the script may be original, the concept has been rehashed over and over again.  This often leaves moviegoers saying, “I liked it the first time when it was called…”

And so the debate continues.  Is Hollywood lacking or are studios giving moviegoers exactly what they want to see?  In the end, the argument will be decided by moviegoers who buy the tickets to see the films.