2019 - a new low for Hollywood originality?

speedboatchase · 13-11-2018 9:00am #1

This has definitely been the decade in which studios decided to only back 'proven IP' over stars/directors/original concepts. Sure there have been some great success stories in recent years from relatively low-budget films (Get Out, A Quiet Place) but in general, the likes of Disney aren't about to mess with their formula (Star Wars sequels/MCU sequels/live-action remakes of their animation classics) any time soon.

So here's a list of remakes and sequels for next year, in order of their release. Enjoy!

Reboots/Remakes/TV Adaptations:
The Upside (remake of The Intouchables)
Jacob's Ladder
What Men Want
Dumbo
Pet Sematary
Hellboy
Aladdin
MIB
Shaft
Grudge
Child's Play
The Lion King
Dora the Explorer
Downton Abbey
Joker
The Addams Family
Charlie's Angels
Cats

Sequels:
Glass (sequel to Unbreakable + Split)
The Lego Movie 2
Happy Death Day 2U
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Farmageddon: A Shaun the Sheep Movie
Avengers 4
John Wick 3: Parabellum
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Dark Phoenix
The Secret Life of Pets 2
Toy Story 4
47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter
Untitled Annabelle sequel
Spider-Man: Far From Home
The Angry Birds Movie 2
It: Chapter Two
Zombieland Too
Terminator 6
Kingsman 3
Frozen 2
Jumanji 3
Star Wars Episode IX

Of course, there are some big budget, original/new to cinemas IP next year (Shazam, Alita: Battle Angel, Captain Marvels, 17 Bridges, Detective Pikachu, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Artemis Fowl, The New Mutants, Gemini Man, Sonic the Hedgehog) but yikes, they are outnumbered!

Bacchus · 13-11-2018 12:36pm

Mixed feelings on the list. Sure, it's not great to see so much cashing in on popular properties but there's some movies in that list I'll be checking out, if not actively looking forward to...

- I loved the original Hellboy movies and am really looking forward to a reboot.
- Childs Play has me intrigued. It's one of those movies that freaked me out as a child but it's dated terribly.
- Joker could be brilliant or absolutely terrible.
- Glass... looks at least somewhat original and a nice mash of two previous movies.
- The MCU, X-Men, Star Wars stuff are juggernauts of their own and plenty of people enjoy them.
- John Wick. Loved the first 2, pretty sure I'm gonna love this one

- Toy Story. The one kiddie sequel I would have hope for.
- IT. The one horror movie on the list worth waiting for. I don't consider it a stereotypical Hollywood sequel though. It's "part 2" of King's novel.

On the other end of the spectrum...
- Godzilla. Feels like a last ditch attempt at that "Monsters" universe. First one was ok, Kong was ok... this will probably be... ok.
- Dumbo, Aladdin, Lion King, Addams Family, Dora, LEGO, Pets, Angry Birds, Train your Dragon, Farmageddon, Frozen, Jumanji are all gonna be by-the-numbers kiddie cash in fodder of varying levels of quality/entertainment.
- WTF is Grudge getting another reboot for.
- Ditto MIB... though that potentially could be fun.
- Shaft... why

- Downton Abbey... why

- Charlies Angels... why

- Cats... seriously? :pac:
- Terminator 6. Just kill that franchise already.
- I'm personally not a fan of horror but it's rarely been a genre filled with originality (from Hollywood at least). Even Zombieland ran out of steam on its premise about halfway through, so I'm not sure what a sequel will add.
- Never seen the Kingsman movies

Some of the movies you class as "original/new" don't inspire much either to be honest if debating the originality of Hollywood...

- Shazam, Captain Marvel, New Mutants... all comic book movies
- Detective Pikachu going back to the Pokemon well
- Sonic the Hedgehog. Bottom of the barrel game to movie cash in.

CastorTroy · 13-11-2018 12:53pm

Isn't there a new Fast & Furious due as well?

El Duda · 13-11-2018 12:54pm

The thing on that list that leaves me utterly bewildered is that 47 Metres down has got a sequel :eek:

Bacchus · 13-11-2018 1:18pm

El Duda wrote: »

The thing on that list that leaves me utterly bewildered is that 47 Metres down has got a sequel :eek:

.... and that they didn't call it 48 Meters Down.

pixelburp · 13-11-2018 1:25pm

Traditionally one waits until the cinematic year is over before the "OMG, worst ever" threads start

speedboatchase · 13-11-2018 9:56pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

Isn't there a new Fast & Furious due as well?

A spin-off, Hobbs and Shaw.

Harry Palmr · 13-11-2018 11:07pm

Why would anyone be against a sequel to Shawn the sheep?!

TerrorFirmer · 13-11-2018 11:42pm

I can understand people being jaded with remakes and reboots (even though there's a certain appetite there) but there is nothing whatsoever wrong with sequels, the most natural progression imaginable to a popular and successful film.

S.M.B. · 14-11-2018 12:44am

There seems to be similar lists every year but I still believe there's enough original material to supplement the odd existing project that could be decent.

Original movies from Tarantino, Rodriguez, Scorcese, Korine, Cornish, Liman, Mangold, Merchant, Peele, Johnson, Lee, Branagh, Waititi, Norton and plenty more.

Add in the arrival of some new talent and it could be an excellent year.

Sad Professor · 14-11-2018 12:53am

Does it matter? I mean, even back when there were less sequels and remakes, were the films actually more original? Lesser genre films in the 80s and 90s and earlier could be carbon copies of one another despite having different titles and being based on supposedly original screenplays. Maybe now they are just more honest?

[Deleted User] · 14-11-2018 5:17am

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I can understand people being jaded with remakes and reboots (even though there's a certain appetite there) but there is nothing whatsoever wrong with sequels, the most natural progression imaginable to a popular and successful film.

Yeah I agree. Its the reboots thats the issue, and the 'rehash' of writing eg. bad guy loses to superhero thats the problem. Im all for sequels if the first is good enough. We would never have had hover boards otherwise!

Bacchus · 14-11-2018 10:29am

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I can understand people being jaded with remakes and reboots (even though there's a certain appetite there) but there is nothing whatsoever wrong with sequels, the most natural progression imaginable to a popular and successful film.

Counter point. Terminator 6.

El Duda · 14-11-2018 11:17am

What annoys me is the recent trend of making sequels that ignore the rubbish ones.

I paid to see Halloween H20. If you're gonna write it out of existence, shouldn't I get my money back? It is basically hollywood execs admitting that they churn ****e out.

chalkitdown1 · 14-11-2018 11:45am

Bacchus wrote: »

Counter point. Terminator 6.

This one actually has a great director at the helm and they seem like they give a **** this time.

I'm hopeful.....:pac:

Bacchus · 14-11-2018 12:50pm

chalkitdown1 wrote: »

This one actually has a great director at the helm and they seem like they give a **** this time.

I'm hopeful.....:pac:

... but 5 will always suck so hard, and everything since T2 has been a shadow of it's former greatness.

Also, I had to google the director. He has one movie behind him and while that movie is great, it's mostly great because of Ryan Reynolds not some directorial flair. I also see Goyer is writing the screenplay which doesn't inspire hope for a return to the glory days of the franchise. Anyway, this is a chat for another thread

pixelburp · 14-11-2018 1:01pm

Some of the items on that list, like the "Happy Death Day" sequel, are hardly blockbuster behemoths; being as it is a Blumhouse production the bar for success there was always going to be a low one. While looking at the remake pile, the likes of the Joker or Hellboy films could be interesting simply by dint of them trying new avenues or approaches.

Equally: what about Amazon / Netflix? You can debate the merits and quality levels of their own productions, but both are producing plenty of their own productions; just this this month we have Outlaw King, and the latest Coen Brothers films on Netflix.

There are tonnes of films coming out on digital platforms, there never has been such choice for the audience, it just requires a little extra legwork to find the diamonds in the rough.

El Duda · 14-11-2018 5:00pm

The only good Terminator film they have made since Terminator 2 is The Guest.

Don't @ me

mikhail · 14-11-2018 5:23pm

El Duda wrote: »

The only good Terminator film they have made since Terminator 2 is The Guest.

Don't @ me

A friend recommended that movie to me. Some time around the bar fight scene, I texted him to suggest that Dan Stephens's character was living tissue over a metal endoskeleton. I think it's the synth-heavy score as much as the deliberately non-human vibe he's giving off, but you're not alone in making that connection.

brianregan09 · 14-11-2018 5:54pm

And the best thing about it all ??? No is one holding any one to ransom to watch them , bring them on , I'm looking forward to loads of them

mikhail · 14-11-2018 7:09pm

brianregan09 wrote: »

And the best thing about it all ??? No is one holding any one to ransom to watch them , bring them on , I'm looking forward to loads of them

While I agree with you more than not, there is an opportunity cost associated with them. If you aren't enamoured with those movies, the fact that they are bing made means other kinds of stories are not being funded.

TheIrishGrover · 15-11-2018 11:52am

There are certain genres that are always going to have a lot of sequels and remakes: Sci-fi/fantasy, action and horror movies in particular. If one only limits oneself to these genres then this is the norm. this is the reason these are all defines as "Franchises"

However, generally, outside of these genres, there is the usual variation. However there will always be new standout thrillers and dramas and comedies, new little startup franchises.

You are correct in that there is always some prevailing trend. Currently it is Sci-Fi/Superhero movies. As someone said before, in the 80s it was generic cop action movies. For every "Die-Hard" movie or "Lethal weapon" there was Samurai Cop etc. It wasn't all the golden age.

If there is one emerging trend that is concerning it's Disney remaking their animated back catalogue live action. Some are a good idea: They are stories that are not necessarily animation specific: Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, The Jungle Book etc. But The Lion King? Really?

brianregan09 · 15-11-2018 3:14pm

mikhail wrote: »

While I agree with you more than not, there is an opportunity cost associated with them. If you aren't enamoured with those movies, the fact that they are bing made means other kinds of stories are not being funded.

I don't think your right there now more than ever there is multitude of platforms for new content coming out consistenly , Maybe you are right if your just talking about the cinema etc. but with multiple VOD platforms available , amazon ,netflix to name a few there is so much indie stuff out there , you just have to look for it and I love a wide range of stuff not just the ones been talked about here so there is stuff out there outside of the box office stuff well worth finding

mikhail · 15-11-2018 4:06pm

brianregan09 wrote: »

I don't think your right there now more than ever there is multitude of platforms for new content coming out consistenly , Maybe you are right if your just talking about the cinema etc. but with multiple VOD platforms available , amazon ,netflix to name a few there is so much indie stuff out there , you just have to look for it and I love a wide range of stuff not just the ones been talked about here so there is stuff out there outside of the box office stuff well worth finding

It's definitely a great time to distribute a small film. I'm definitely talking about films that require a 8-9 digit budget.

brianregan09 · 15-11-2018 10:51pm

Even in the cinema this week

Bohemien Rhapsody (a biopic)

A Star is Born ( i wrote this one and i didn't even know it was a remake)

Overlord and Widows

the rest are cartoons

but thats 3 original films in just one week

batgoat · 15-11-2018 11:05pm

I sort of think that looks like a standard year tbh. Fair few of those are inevitable sequels to rather good films. Majority of the ones on the list are unlikely to to make it onto the list for any movie awards etc. So the actually of note Hollywood films simply aren't listed more than anything.