It's 100% about maximizing profits. They think the best way to do that is by shoving remade classics down the public's throats, and they know the public is really really dumb and will usually eat that sh*t up. They're not into taking risks. Remaking a known quantity is much less risky. Sad but it's the world we live in. Every time I see "The Longest Yard" on the guide I get amped for a second but then realize it's the sh*tty Adam Sandler version, pretty much every time.
Its what the audience wants. They're not 'shoving anything down people's throats'. There are plenty of non-sequel\remake movies released every year. People just don't go see them.
Streaming at home got better and easier.
Theaters compensated by delivering the premium experience that people couldnt get at home, but it costs more for a ticket buyer, so the buyer is less likely to take risks with that purchase.
So what do customers risk their dollar on?
- Special effects spectacles that they know will benefit from the theater experience
- movies in the same IP as a prior well-regarded movie, as these are "low-risk" to a viewer, even if they're not as good as the original, they rarely feel like they wasted their money entirely
- event type movies where people feel like they have to see it right away (for reasons of spoilers, etc)
These also all explain why the MCU did so well the last decade (before quality began to suffer). They ticked all 3 boxes. Its also why comedy movies are essentially dead in the box office, because they're generally low special effects, generally one-off movies, and there's little urgency to see them.
www.vulture.com
