The Hollywood Equation
Here's the calculation every studio makes before greenlighting a film in 2024: Is it a known IP? Is there an existing fan base? Can it be turned into a franchise? Are all four quadrants checked? If the answer to any of these questions is no, the project is dead.
This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's a business model.
Why Everything Looks the Same
The Marvel Cinematic Universe proved something to studios: familiarity beats novelty at the box office. Every time. The audience -- or rather the global market -- prefers the comfort of the familiar to the surprise of the unknown.
But does the audience really choose? Or are they only offered comfort? When the only films receiving a $200 million marketing budget are sequels and remakes, "audience choice" is a myth.
The Exception That Proves the Rule
"But Oppenheimer!" "But Everything Everywhere All at Once!" Yes. These films exist. And each one is cited repeatedly precisely because it's exceptional. In a healthy industry, they'd be normal. In today's Hollywood, they're statistical anomalies.
For every Oppenheimer that succeeds, there are fifty original projects that will never see the light of day because a prediction algorithm decided they were "too risky."
Streaming Made It Worse
Netflix was supposed to be liberation. The space where creators could take risks. In reality, recommendation algorithms favor proven formulas. The "Netflix Original" has become a format as rigid as the studio blockbuster: same duration, same narrative structure, same color palette.
The platformization of culture hasn't democratized creation. It's standardized it.
What Deserves Your Attention
The real films of the year aren't in your algorithm. They're in film festivals you don't watch, on VOD platforms you don't know, and in cinematheques that cities are closing one by one.
Art hasn't disappeared. It's been buried under a mountain of "content." And the difference between art and content is that art changes you. Content occupies you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does Hollywood prefer sequels and remakes over original films?
Hollywood studios prioritize projects that are based on known intellectual properties (IPs) and have existing fan bases because they are seen as less risky investments. This business model favors familiarity, as demonstrated by the success of franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Q: Are there any original films that have succeeded in Hollywood recently?
Yes, films like "Oppenheimer" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once" have achieved success and are often highlighted as exceptions in a landscape dominated by sequels and remakes. However, such films are statistical anomalies in an industry that largely favors safer, proven formulas.
Q: How has streaming affected creativity in film?
Streaming platforms like Netflix were expected to provide a space for creative risks, but in reality, their recommendation algorithms tend to favor established formulas. This has led to a standardization of content, limiting the diversity and originality of films available to audiences.