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With the Golden Globes recently taking place and the Oscars on the horizon, I’ve noticed a growing trend in films for the past few years: almost nothing is original anymore.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of great films that aren’t technically original screenplays, but after a while, I get tired of seeing another biopic.
Lately, it seems as if you only have a few options for films: a remake, a sequel, or a book adaptation. In fact, let’s take a quick look at the upcoming movies this year. Sunrise on the Reaping, yet another Hunger Games movie, Wuthering Heights, an adaptation of a classic romance novel, and Scream 7, the horror franchise that, ironically, never seems to die.
Now let’s compare this to the box office of a decade ago, M.Night Shyamalan’s Split, animated film Inside Out, and one of my personal favourites, La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle. These are just a few examples of the many original films which did well at the box office and during award season.
This begs the question, why has Hollywood suddenly become so afraid of new ideas?
Here’s my theory: movies based on a person, a previous movie, or other form of media already have a built-in audience. It’s less risky to invest millions of dollars in a film you know someone will see, rather than an original idea that nobody will show up for. The issue isn’t that screenwriters aren’t creative anymore, but rather that production companies aren’t willing to take the risk on new ideas. This mentality can lead us down a risky road, ignoring the story in favor of the next big hit and sacrificing the thing that has led to the worldwide love of film.
One original film in 2025 is After the Hunt, directed by Luca Guadagnino, which featured an acclaimed cast but was unable to even crack 10 million at the box office. This makes one wonder, is there merit in the assumption that an audience won’t show up for original films?
Obviously, the answer is no.
The reality is, every script is a risk; there’s no guarantee a film will do well. Poor sales aren’t always a testament to the film itself, and can be influenced by many factors such as marketing, cast, etc. Originality isn’t the issue here, and it has been proven that original screenplays can still be successful. A great example from the previous year is Sinners, written and directed by Ryan Coogler. The film follows twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) returning to their hometown in 1930s Mississippi, only to have their welcome interrupted by a malevolent being. Sinners grossed approximately 368 million dollars at the box office, currently has a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for multiple awards, including best motion picture at the Golden Globes.
It’s obvious Sinners was a hit, and I’m certain there are more ideas out there that can be just as, if not more, successful. We can only hope that this will encourage Hollywood to invest in creativity, bringing the industry back to the place that brought us unforgettable classics, instead of retreating into the familiar safety of nostalgia.
