There’s no doubt that the modern movie industry is currently paradise for spin-off series and sequels. With a new superhero movie or a spin-off of an old favorite coming out each month, it’s clear the box office is more focused on making money than the reputation of their films.
Take the continued production of Disney/Pixar films, for instance. Why did “Toy Story” need to be followed by three sequels? The first movie had a great storyline and could have easily been left alone, but apparently making three more somehow made it better. Obviously people in the movie industry felt they should milk that series for as long as they could, but the result was disappointing. Sadly, this is just the beginning.
Another trend in the industry right now is the making and re-making of superhero movies and spin-offs. From Michael Keaton to Christian Bale, the world has seen many faces of Batman in my lifetime alone. The same could be said of Superman and many others. Marvel and DC Comics are top-dog when it comes to constantly churning out new superhero movies featuring characters such as Iron Man and Ant Man. While some have proven to be successful, such as the recently released “Deadpool,” most prove to be failures when it comes to the critical standing of the film and, occasionally, at the box office. Take, for example, the new “Batman vs. Superman” movie (sorry, Ben Affleck).
While sequels tie directly to the original film, I think spin-off series have just as much impact when it comes to the character of the film. I first saw this in reality TV — after one show (usually a Kardashian-based show) ended, another would begin. MTV and E! reign in this category, but the movie industry has also taken a liking to the idea. With the release of the newest “Star Wars” film, Disney has decided to release a spin-off of the story during the production of Episode VIII of the series. As if the “Star Wars” films don’t already break enough box office records, this only proves the point of the industry milking the series and hurting already established reputations.
The one that got me worked up the most, however, was a spin-off of the Harry Potter films, called “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” While it may not directly tie into the original Harry Potter storyline, I cringe at the fact the movie industry is trying to revamp an already established series. Is there not a moral code when it comes to leaving legendary series alone?
While I have no control over what the movie industry does, it’s clear that breaking box office records is more important than protecting the novelty of films. Although there is no explicit moral code applicable to the current dilemma, there is always free speech and the option of boycotting these films. May the world one day see the restoration in film reputations, but until then please stop re-making films like Batman, Spiderman or sequels to movies like “Pitch Perfect.” And please spare us from another series like “Knight Rider” or “Fuller House.”