Why are Hollywood making so many remakes?

Question

I know they're a money making machine,but is there no originality left,have they ran out of ideas.I mean why remake The Itallan Job,The Planet of The Apes and many more.

Answer 1

I think they now have much more sophisticated equipment and techniques to be able to make the special effects more dramatic and stunning to the eye,
The makeup used for the new planet of the apes was fantastic and look at king kong,they could make a t rex and kong look like they were actaully fighting and it was believable,they can also get away with alot more the censors are not so strict,so more extras can be added
I think what they do is take an already great film,and just improve on it,with things that appeal to the public and to the eye, more elaborate explosions,car chases,more realistic monsters etc
a great movie will always be a great movie,i would love it if they made an updated version of Jaws,when they made the original the mechanical shark kept breaking down lol
but saying all of that with all of the added special effects the original poseidon adventure was alot better than the remake in my humble opinion
the movie going public are always demanding bigger and better and expect to be impressed,so the movie makers are always under pressure to make improvements,

Answer 2

Well, they say there are only eight movies ever made, meaning there are only eight story lines. Each movie tries to be different throwing in different actors, sets, costumes, time periods and all the bells and whistles, but the stories are the same.

Now for all of the crappy remakes, I think those in Hollywood have lost imagination, creativity and talent long ago. We need the David Lynches, the Stanley Kubricks, the Hitchcocks, the Akira Kurosawas, the Fellinis of the world...I mean look at our current options: Click, the Devil Wears Prada, Garfield and the Lake House. I cannot watch another movie starring the two worst actors on the face of the planet: Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

Answer 3

Because Hollywood at the moment is more about turning a profit than originality and entertainment (for that you need to turn to Asian films, which Hollywood ends up copying anyway). Strange thing is alot of the films that they are remaking at the moment were made by independent studios cos the majors wouldn't touch them. The adage of you are only as good as your last film (in this sense 'good' means reaping in obscene amounts of money) is a reality and far too much of a risk for many of those in the industry. As long as the masses continue to pay their money for, on the whole, dull, unoriginal and insipid movies then Hollywood will continue to churn them out. If we as an audience said ENOUGH! and stopped going to see these remakes and films of old TV series then there would be a serious rethink, eventually.

Answer 4

I think they do remakes of films if the original film was a hit, that way, they know its a film that people will want to go and see, so if they stick a few famous people in the new version of the film, they know it will attract enough people to cover the costs and make a profit! Other than that, they have probably run out ideas, they must know by now that the first sequel to the original is passable, the 3rd one its tending to get on your nerves, by the 4th one...it just pis$es you off!!

Answer 5

Greed. They know they can make money on popular older films and they use the same thinking to do movies based on popular comics. If you have share holders you have to show a profit. If you don't have vehicles like the Pirates of the Carrib. or a really fun novel like The Devil Wears Prada to work with then you fall back on the tried and true like Superman. So greed and no imagination, courage, or appreciation for the intelligence of the audience. I think I read somewhere that the American viewing public is viewed as having the knowledge base of an eighth-grader. Or maybe they just think we are to blase' to notice.

Answer 6

I'm one of those people with great ideas for movies and i do screenplays too.I'd love to just sit down with a couple of the big H bigwigs just to let them know where they are going wrong and the audience is wright there are to many remakes and sequels,having said that i've got the best idea for a Terminator movie,it beats all of them put togethor and it finishes the story completely,no more sequels.Thats the only sequel i've got the rest of my ideas are truly original 100% and i'd love to see them made i just know they are hit movies waiting to be made

Answer 7

Because there's always a chance to make them better or to put a new spin on an old thing! Plus they have been making remakes since forever!!! Ex. The Fly originally released in movie form in the 50's remade (even better in my opinion) in 1986!!!!♥

Answer 8

A lot of the most talented American film makers seem to have gone into television or more independent films leaving the dregs to make all Hollywood's films so we just get mush. The danger is that they will get to a point where no one can remember how to make good Hollywood films and that will be America down the drain in the film world!

Answer 9

I think it's a factor in the moviegoing slump. Many of the movies are remakes of originals, and most of them make the film worst, trying to update it.

Answer 10

Kevin C said it. Hollywood doesn't want to take the risk with so much money involved.
But there are many, many, people out there with great ideas for movies.