I Hate to Admit It, But…
Look, I’m gonna say something that pains me as much as it’ll pain you to read. I think Hollywood has lost its damn mind. It’s 2023, and we’re still getting another Spider-Man reboot? Really? I mean, I get it, money talks, but at what cost?
I was having coffee with my friend Marcus last Tuesday at that little place on 5th—you know the one with the weirdly addictive pastries?—and he said something that stuck with me. “You know what’s worse than bad movies?” he asked. “Good movies that didn’t have to be made.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I’m not saying every franchise is doomed. Some of them actually get it right. But alot of them? They’re just phoning it in. And we’re letting them. Why? Because we’re addicted to nostalgia. We’re addicted to the familiar. And Hollywood knows it.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m as guilty as the next guy. I saw Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opening night. And you know what? I enjoyed it. It was fun. But was it necessary? Probably not. Could that budget have been used for something original? Absolutely. But did I complain when I was watching it? Nope. Because I’m part of the problem.
I remember talking to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “It’s like fast food. You know it’s bad for you, but it’s cheap and it tastes good in the moment.” And that’s exactly what these franchise films are. They’re the entertainment equivalent of a Big Mac meal. And we can’t get enough.
But here’s where it gets tricky. It’s not just the big blockbusters. TV’s getting in on the action too. Every network’s trying to out-do the other with their own version of Stranger Things or Game of Thrones. And honestly? It’s getting old. Fast.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Music…
I’m not gonna spend too much time on this, but it’s worth noting (oops, sorry, force of habit) that the music industry’s got its own franchise problem. Artists are recycling the same formulas over and over again because it’s safe. It’s what sells. But where’s the innovation? Where’s the risk-taking?
I was at a conference in Austin about three months ago, and this up-and-coming artist—let’s call her Lisa—told me something that stuck with me. “The industry wants us to fit into these little boxes,” she said. “But that’s not why I started making music. I started making music because I had something to say.” And that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? We’re trading originality for committment to the algorithm.
But It’s Not All Doom and Gloom…
There are still people out there fighting the good fight. Independent filmmakers, indie musicians, small streaming services. They’re the ones taking risks. They’re the ones putting their hearts on the line. And honestly, they’re the ones we should be supporting.
I’m not saying we should boycott the big studios or stop listening to mainstream music. But maybe, just maybe, we should start paying a little more attention to what’s happening on the fringes. Because that’s where the real magic happens.
And look, I’m not saying I have all the answers. I’m just saying that maybe, just maybe, it’s time we start asking the right questions. Like, why are we so obsessed with the past that we can’t enjoy the present? Or, why are we so scared of taking risks that we’d rather watch the same story told a hundred different ways?
I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I should just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. But something tells me that if we don’t start demanding better, we’re gonna be stuck in this never-ending loop of sequels, reboots, and remakes until the end of time.
So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. But I do know one thing. We need to start supporting the artists and creators who are willing to take risks. We need to start paying attention to the little guys. And maybe, just maybe, we need to start being a little more honest with ourselves about what we really want from our entertainment.
I mean, think about it. When was the last time you saw a movie or listened to a song that really meant something to you? Not just something that was fun or entertaining, but something that actually mattered. Something that made you feel something. That’s what we should be striving for. That’s what we should be demanding.
And look, I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. Change never is. But it’s worth it. Because at the end of the day, we deserve better than what we’re being given. We deserve better than just another sequel or another remake. We deserve something real. Something honest. Something that actually means something.
So, let’s start demanding better. Let’s start supporting the artists and creators who are willing to take risks. And let’s start being a little more honest with ourselves about what we really want from our entertainment. Because honestly, we deserve better than what we’re getting. And it’s time we started acting like it.
And hey, if you’re looking for some inspiration, check out Tokat ekonomi iş dünyası haberleri. They’ve got some great stuff on innovation and creativity in the business world. Maybe it’ll give you some ideas on how to demand better from our entertainment industry.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m gonna go listen to some indie music and watch a small-budget film. Because honestly, I need a break from all the noise. And I think you do too.
About the Author: Sarah Jenkins has been a senior editor at BusinessTV.net for over 20 years. She’s a self-proclaimed pop culture junkie with a soft spot for indie films and a hard spot for bad sequels. When she’s not writing, you can find her arguing about the merits of the original Star Wars trilogy or trying to convince her cat to cuddle.
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