How comes the home of movies, Hollywood, keeps churning out rubbish movies?

Question

Every year we are bombarded by 'blockbuster' movies from Hollywood. I'm sure i'm not alone when i say that most of them are rubbish. Is it a difference in culture between the USA and UK? Or is it due to the writers not having any good ideas, so they go with an old format and just change little bits? All views welcome.

I love the occassional movie that is just light entertainment. But that doesn't mean i want to see a less funny remake of another film.

Answer 1

I think the standard of entertainment in general has deteriorated.

In an age where every star is hailed as fabulous or fantastic when in reality the performers are pretty well ordinary. I suppose as long as the buying public (mainly youngsters) are prepared to buy it the situation wont change.

There has been some great movies and stories in the past that the current generation hasn't seen. With modern filming techniques and surround sound surely it is time for the studios to take a look at some of these old films. They then might become inspired in becoming more original than they have been recently.

Answer 2

Totally agree. 10% of Hollywood movies these days are any good. But we in the U.K don't watch our own movies, and heaven forbid we watch a foreign language movie.

Hollywood needs a renaissance, I can't remember the last good film I saw from Hollywood. But then I still watch pleanty of movies. Hence what reason do they have to supply quality if they're still getting my money. Untill cinemas start showing alternatives - whatever they may be.

Can't wait for next action movie: with the loose cannon
macho man who bosses everyone around and is extremely violent but in way that each situation justifies. Who also meets a girl halfway through and beats all the odds and wins the day.

Ever see Arlington Road? Didn't follow Hollywood formula of the good guy winning. Very pertinent in these times too.

The Grudge? Best horror movie forages because it didn't follow any Hollywood rules.

I'm going on to much, but more variety would be appreciated, instead of the same story told in 7,000 different contexts.

Answer 3

The vast majority of stuff coming out of Holly-weird is garbage. Brokeback Mountain got such good reviews because the pro-gay community supported it, and the movie itself was pretty stinko. The Black Dahlia was hyped as an insider's look into the murder of Elizabeth Short, but she was hardly even mentioned -- the movie was more about crooked cops and Hollywood's lesbian underworld than it was about a high-profile murder. There is really nothing good or original coming out of Hollywood right now. Heck, I have only seen three movies in the theater within the last year and a half or so that I thought were any good, and they were: (1) Happy Feet, (2) Cars, and (3) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. A sad commentary, yes?

Answer 4

Because they aren't willing to take risks. They won't spend money on a film that is well scripted and plotted if they think it won't do well enough at the box office. They'd rather go for something completely unoriginal with the latest stars in it(regardless of talent) and lots of special effects as they know a certain number of people will pay to see it, so they will make a profit. There is a big difference between the US and UK. UK films are less well-funded, and tend to be (recently, rather than in years past) more worthy, which annoys me (as well as the fact that they always have the usual luvvies in them) - there is still no shame in filming something which is both well scripted and exciting - they haven't worked this one out yet.

Answer 5

There's an old saying that 99 percent of everything is rubbish. Hollywood has always produced its share of it, but fortunately, much of what's good has been recognized and survives.
What is unfortunate is that movies are so expensive to make and to market these days that those in power in Hollywood can't afford to take chances on making the number of films they used to be able to make, or to try untried stories or independent ideas. That leaves the option of making remakes or sequels of known money-makers, or working with tried-and-true formulas. Still, there are some good movies...you just have to look for them, and recognize them when you see them!

Answer 6

Think they are running out of idea's. Hate remakes, you always compare them to the originals. Now lets admit it, most films these days are remakes, especially just lately. The Omen, Posiedon, Superman, Hills have eyes, to name just a few, then you have the films of TV show Starskey and Hutch, Bewitched, Kojak etc that have been put into film . The sequels aswell - Beverley hills cop, Blade, Xmen. You could go on forever. Give me agood old Betty Davis any day - and I'm not old enough to have seen the 1st showings either.

Answer 7

I'm just like you. I hate those awful remakes of tv shows...
So I just stick to watching DVDs (of nice tv shows!), or independent movies...
& it's not that writers don't have ideas... Well, maybe they don't have good ideas!
But it's mostly because the big studios will only invest in 'popcorn movies' for teenagers, because they are the only ones who still go to theatres...
Their parents & most 20-something stay at home & watch Prison Break, 24, Lost, CSI, ...
& when those go to the movies, they prefer something like Little Miss Sunshine, or Sideways...

Answer 8

I do not know why this keeps happening, but you are totally right!
Most of them are rubbish. However, people must be watching them, otherwise why does Hollywood keep making this rubbish movies???
Maybe that is what the average viewer is after now, and we are just a bunch of weird people who do not get it? I do not know, but I would love to enjoy a new movie release for once.

Answer 9

They like to play it safe since so much money is involved hence the amount of sequels / action films produced. They need to ensure they'll get their money back so don't back anything risky. I think independent cinema is much more interesting. We have an indpendent cinema where I live and I love going to see low budget independent films that really make you think. They tackle subjects not usually done in Hollywood and are much more worthy. French cinema is also quite good if you can be bothered with the subtitles. My friend swears by Japanese cinema.

Answer 10

Blame the market and the media! Hollywood movies are usually made to be sold and to gain income. This caused the movies produced to be 'mainstream-type' to satisfy the market demand.

And right now, the market demands 'rubbish'.

Festival movies like 'Le Grand Voyage', 'Der Untergang', 'Babel', and 'The Constant Gardener' are a LOT better than blockbuster Hollywood movies.