Studios turn to their archives for reboots and a second shot at success

Topline:

Movie studios, in an effort to buoy their current slates that have faltered in recent years, have begun to make a habit of repurposing their own library films.

Why it matters: Reboots of existing titles have existed for some time, but never before have there been so many of them and of such varying types (i.e. classic titles and even some completely forgotten ones). For the younger creative executives and filmmakers who hope to invent fresh IP and come up with new stories, the trend has been a disheartening one as Hollywood prioritizes the narratives and films of the 1980s and 1990s.

Why so many: The oft-cited reason for the reboot trend is the age of the executive class giving the go-ahead to the remakes. Hollywood used to be filled with under-30 wunderkinds who ran studios and ushered in new, creative voices. Now, it’s nearly impossible to find one under 50, and the gerontocracy seems to have a penchant for the movies they grew up on as opposed to new ideas. Additionally, polling suggests that audiences — even the younger ones — are more inclined to make the trek to the theater if there’s a nostalgia factor or previous IP in play.

Rules for reboots: While reboots surely are easier to get made than most films these days, not all of them work, or even get the green light in the first place. Storytellers need a unique way into the old property as well as something that makes it relevant to contemporary audiences. Ideally, there’s some sort of tieback to the original, but as Twisters will likely prove when it debuts this weekend, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker.

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