Impromptu Movies in 2025: reduce, reuse, recycle
May 30, 2025
Will Leitch, a contributing columnist known for his insights on movies and cultural trends, joins the conversation to dissect Hollywood's relentless embrace of remakes. The discussion reveals the challenges of originality amid a sea of nostalgia, spotlighting successes like the live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' versus flops such as 'Snow White.' Leitch emphasizes the importance of communal movie experiences and critiques the industry's shift toward profit-driven storytelling, raising questions about the future of creativity in film.
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Why Live-Action Remakes Thrive
- Live-action remakes update old animated films for newer audiences, using CGI to meet kids' preferences for modern visuals.
- Disney uses remakes as brand management to generate more revenue, not to innovate artistically.
Risk Aversion Dominates Hollywood
- Hollywood studios mostly avoid risks by relying heavily on remakes and existing IP due to streaming's disruption and capitalist risk aversion.
- However, success like the film 'Sinners' shows that original, daring projects can still attract audiences and critical acclaim.
Warner Bros. Embraces Risk Again
- Warner Brothers cautiously greenlit risky artist-driven projects after management issues, leading to successes like the original film 'Sinners.'
- This shows studios can regain creative reputation by investing in unique, personal films rather than safe remakes.