The Remake Era: Is Creativity Looking Backward?

You've probably noticed that the movie, gaming and television industries are in an era of remakes, reboots and reimaginings. From blockbuster films to beloved video games, studios are increasingly turning to existing properties rather than going all-in on original ideas. Some of these remakes successfully breathe new life into classics, while others feel more like shallow cash grabs that bring nothing new to the table. So why are remakes so prevalent? What does their dominance mean for creativity? And at the end of the day, is true originality even possible?

To get answers, we'll need to explore the rise of remake culture, from its successes and failures to the factors driving its popularity. We’ll also look at some of the best and worst remakes, examine how we got to this point, see some examples of remakes throughout history and consider what the remake era means for modern creatives.

There's no denying that remakes are a dominant force in the entertainment industry. Studios and developers regularly revive beloved stories, characters and franchises for new generations.

Some of these reimaginings bring beloved franchises back to life, and even enhance them with cutting-edge technology, deeper storytelling and modern sensibilities. Others, however, miss the mark—at best, they fail to capture the spirit of the original, and at worst, they come across as heartless cash grabs that aim to exploit their audiences' nostalgia.

Here are some of the most highly rated reboots, remakes and refreshes of the last few decades, as well as some misfires that left much to be desired.

When you hear about one upcoming remake after another, it's easy to feel like remakes are a new phenomenon plaguing 21st-century media in particular. But in truth, the concept of reimagining and retelling stories is far from new. The movie, television and gaming industries have long relied on revisiting familiar narratives and adapting them for new audiences or technological advancements.

One of the earliest examples in film history is The Maltese Falcon (1941), a movie that's often regarded as a classic of noir cinema. However, it was actually the third adaptation of the same 1930 novel, and was preceded by other versions in both 1931 and 1936.

Similarly, A Star Is Born was remade in 1937, 1954, 1976, and 2018. Even the original 1937 movie was heavily influenced by a previous movie from 1932 called What Price Hollywood?.

Even Disney, now infamous for its live-action remakes, has been recycling stories since its early days. For instance, The Jungle Book (1967) was based on Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 stories, and later saw animated and live-action reimaginings in 1994 and 2016, plus a competing version from Warner Bros. in 2018.

In gaming, Super Mario All-Stars (1993) was one of the first major video game remakes, updating the original Super Mario titles with 16-bit graphics for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. More recently, franchises like Resident Evil and Final Fantasy have received reimaginings of their classic entries complete with modern visuals and gameplay.

In fact, even Shakespeare, arguably the most renowned and celebrated playwright in history, based almost all of his plays on existing stories and historical events.

The bottom line is that, while the current era of remakes might feel overwhelming, history proves that reinvention has always been a core part of storytelling. The question isn’t whether remakes are new—it’s whether they’re done well.

Although remakes have existed for hundreds of years, they're especially prolific today due to a combination of several factors.

From a business perspective, remakes are a safer bet than original ideas. Studios and game developers invest millions or even billions of dollars into each production, and returning to a tried-and-true franchise significantly reduces the financial risk of doing so.

After all, an existing intellectual property (IP) comes with built-in brand recognition and a loyal fanbase, which makes it easier to market and ensures an audience will show up on opening day.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotional driver. Many consumers love revisiting the stories they grew up with, and remakes tap into this sentimental attachment.

For many, seeing a childhood favorite with modern visuals or a fresh twist can evoke strong emotions, which means audiences are more willing to engage with the content. That's true whether it’s a Disney live-action adaptation like Cinderella (2015), or a reimagined video game classic like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019).

Practically speaking, original films and games are riskier than ever. With rising production costs and unpredictable audience reactions, studios often turn to familiar properties to mitigate potential losses and avoid flops.

That's why we see more sequels, reboots, and remakes than brand-new IPs—film studios and game developers would rather bank on a familiar IP than gamble millions on an unknown concept.

Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have also fueled the remake boom. AI-enhanced upscaling allows for high-definition remasters of old video games, while machine learning tools help studios de-age actors or enhance visual effects. These technologies make it easier (and more cost-effective) to modernize beloved classics.

At the end of the day, some narratives are simply too good to tell just once. Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted countless times, the 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice has inspired multiple retellings and superheroes like Batman and Spider-Man are endlessly reinterpreted.

In short, a compelling and well-told story can resonate across generations. That fact alone ensures that remakes will always have a place in entertainment.

For filmmakers, game developers, writers and other creatives, the dominance of remakes presents both challenges and opportunities. With studios and publishers favoring established franchises over original ideas, breaking into the industry—or getting the green light for innovative work—can feel more difficult than ever.

But as is always the case, there still are plenty of ways for modern creatives to navigate and even thrive in this remake-heavy environment.

One of the biggest challenges for creatives today is finding a way to bring fresh perspectives to familiar stories. While some may view remakes as a creative dead end, others see them as an opportunity to reinterpret beloved material in meaningful ways.

Directors like Greta Gerwig (Little Women, 2019), Matt Reeves (The Batman, 2022) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune, 2021) have successfully reinvented classic properties, demonstrating that remakes don’t have to be uninspired cash grabs—they can instead be visionary works that push boundaries and entrance new viewers.

Even within the remake culture, there’s room for innovation. In gaming, developers like Capcom (Resident Evil 2, 2019) and Square Enix (Final Fantasy VII Remake, 2020) have completely reimagined their classic titles, not just with better graphics but with entirely new gameplay mechanics and narrative expansions.

For creatives, this means looking beyond simple reproduction and instead asking: How can this beloved story be told in a new, exciting way?

For those trying to introduce new ideas into an industry that prioritizes safe bets, the road can be tough. But there's still hope for creatives with original stories: independent studios, streaming platforms and self-publishing have opened up new and more accessible avenues for original voices.

Successful independent works like the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once and the 2017 game Hollow Knight prove that audiences are still hungry for fresh, unique experiences when given the opportunity.

While remakes are certainly plentiful, remember that today’s original stories could be the remakes of tomorrow. Creators who push for fresh storytelling—whether they do so through existing franchises or within new IPs—are actively shaping the future of entertainment. The goal is not just to compete with nostalgia, but to create something that future generations will one day feel nostalgic about.

The remake era may present hurdles, but it also pushes creatives to think critically about what makes a story truly great and how to set design trends instead of just following them. Those who can strike that balance will be the ones influencing the entertainment industry for years to come.

Bear with us, because it's time for a quick history lesson.

Way back in the 12th century, the French philosopher Bernard of Chartres wrote that "we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants." By that, he meant that modern thinkers are able to advance because they benefit from the discoveries of those who came before them, not because they are inherently smarter or more insightful than their predecessors.

Even earlier, the Classical Greek philosopher Plato theorized that everything in the physical world is simply an imitation of their ideal counterparts. Known as Forms, those counterparts are perfect, absolute and timeless, and they exist in the realm of "true" reality.

With those ideas in mind, one could argue that all creative works are inherently derivative, because no artist can develop their works without drawing inspiration from other creations. And with even Shakespeare's plays being based on existing source material, it's difficult to deny that remakes can be masterpieces in their own right.

What's truly important is that new works bring something fresh and uniquely valuable to the table, not that they spring into existence without taking any inspiration from outside sources.

Just consider some of the best-rated films of the 21st century to see how artists can accomplish such a feat:

All in all, it's clear that the dominance of remakes doesn’t necessarily signal the death of creativity. Instead, it spotlights the way stories evolve over time.

Some remakes expand on their predecessors in significant ways, and prove that reinterpreting old stories can be just as powerful as telling new ones. But on the flip side, uninspired remakes that offer nothing new feel empty because they fail to add to the legacy of the original, and audiences are perceptive enough to see right through it.

So, does true creativity exist? Perhaps not technically speaking. But that doesn’t mean originality is impossible—it simply means that the best stories aren’t about being the first to tell them, but about finding the most compelling way to make them your own. In an era of remakes, the challenge isn’t avoiding the past altogether—it’s building upon it in a fresh and meaningful way.

Remakes are an inevitable part of entertainment, but their value depends on how they're executed. When done well, they can reintroduce classic stories to new generations, enhance their source material with modern techniques and push creative boundaries. But when they rely solely on nostalgia or fail to add anything meaningful, they can feel like uninspired cash grabs that diminish the legacy of the original.

At the same time, the prevalence of remakes forces us to reconsider what originality truly means. Every story is built on the past in one way or another, whether through direct adaptation or subtle inspiration. Instead of resisting the remake era entirely, creatives and audiences can embrace the best of both worlds by valuing innovation while also appreciating how timeless narratives can evolve.

The future of storytelling isn’t just about creating something entirely new; it’s about finding fresh ways to make familiar stories feel alive again.