Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
Lights, camera… déjà vu?
If you’ve been feeling like every time you hit the theater or open Netflix, you’re stuck in a time loop, you’re not alone. Reboots, remakes, sequels, and revivals have taken over Hollywood, and it’s getting hard to tell them apart. But there’s a method to this madness.
Hollywood isn’t out of ideas (or is it?). The truth is, bringing back familiar stories is a genius move for studios. Why? Because audiences love nostalgia, and studios love the guaranteed box office cash that comes with it. Just look at Disney’s Star Wars comeback or their live-action remakes of classics like The Lion King and Aladdin. Instant hits, right?
2024 is no different. Out of the 49 big films set to hit the screens, more than half are sequels, spin-offs, or reboots. We’re talking Marvel, DC, and even a fresh take on the 1996 classic, Twister. There’s a handful of true story adaptations thrown in for good measure.
So, what’s the deal? Are filmmakers out of fresh ideas, or do we just crave stories that hit us with that sweet nostalgia? In this article, we’re breaking down reboots and franchises to find out which ones are actually worth watching and why some end up flopping.
Table of contents
What Exactly is a Reboot?
You’ve probably heard the term “reboot” thrown around a lot in the past few years. At this point, Hollywood is practically obsessed with them. But what does it actually mean? And no, it’s not just a fancy way of saying “remake.”
A reboot is when filmmakers hit the reset button on a movie franchise. It’s starting from scratch and acting as if those awkward sequels never existed (looking at you, Spider-Man 3).
Unlike a remake, which simply retells the same story with updated visuals, a reboot creates a brand-new plot while keeping familiar characters, settings, or themes. Good examples can be The Batman (2022) or Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). Both took beloved franchises and gave them a whole new vibe.
Basically, reboots give filmmakers a chance to bring old franchises back to life without being tied down by past mistakes.
What is a Franchise?
A franchise is basically a never-ending story… but with a bigger budget. It’s a series of movies, TV shows, or even games that exist in the same universe, with shared characters and storylines.
Franchises are everywhere, from Marvel and DC to Star Wars and Harry Potter. They keep expanding with sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, pulling in massive audiences and even bigger box office numbers.
Why Hollywood loves this model is simple. Fans are already hooked on these stories, so studios know they’ll keep coming back for more. That’s exactly why more than half of the 2024 film lineup is filled with sequels and spin-offs from existing franchises.
Turns out, nostalgia sells.
What Makes a Good Reboot?
With The Office: Australia set to drop in June 2024, fans are wondering… will it actually work? This will be the 15th international version of the show, originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. While The Office (US) became one of the most successful reboots ever, not all reboots hit the mark.
So, what makes a reboot actually good?
Dr. Comerford, a media expert, says the secret behind The Office (US) was not copying the original. The American version adapted the humor to fit American culture, which made it feel fresh and relatable. He hopes the Australian creators will do the same by adding something uniquely Australian to the story.
The Golden Rule of Reboots
If you’re going to bring back an old story, you need a reason.
Dr. Comerford puts it this way:
“A remake must offer something new. It shouldn’t just be a flashy copy with better CGI.”
A perfect example of this mistake is the 2014 RoboCop reboot. It focused on fancy visuals but lost the original’s powerful message about police violence and American culture.
The Secret to Success
The best reboots adapt to a new cultural context.
- The Magnificent Seven (1960) successfully reimagined Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai by moving the story to the American Wild West.
- A Star Is Born (2018) brought the classic story to a new generation with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, gaining popularity through streaming platforms and the hit song Shallow.
Timing Also Matters… Sometimes
Dr. Comerford says reboots need time to settle in people’s memory. That’s why no one will touch A Star Is Born for a long time.
But then… there’s Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield’s version hit theaters in 2014, only to be rebooted with Tom Holland just two years later. Fans were confused and a little exhausted.
So, What Makes a Good Reboot?
- A fresh take, not a copy
- Something that fits modern culture
- The right timing
Let’s see if The Office: Australia can pull it off.
Revisiting the Classics
Before we look at the upcoming reboots, let’s explore some of the classic franchises.
Planet of the Apes
The original Planet of the Apes (1968), directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, is considered a classic of New Hollywood cinema. It was even added to the National Film Registry for its cultural significance. The film spawned four sequels in just five years, becoming one of the first major sci-fi franchises.
In 2001, Tim Burton tried to bring the series back with a new Planet of the Apes film… but audiences weren’t exactly thrilled with it.
Then came the 2011 reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and this time, Hollywood finally got it right. The film was praised for its visual effects (earning an Oscar nomination) and kicked off a successful trilogy. Now, a fourth installment in this reboot series is set to release in 2024.
Spider-Man
Few franchises have been rebooted as often, or as successfully, as Spider-Man.
It all started with Sam Raimi’s original trilogy (2002–2007), starring Tobey Maguire. Then, just five years later, Marc Webb rebooted the series with The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), featuring Andrew Garfield. Although Garfield’s version had mixed reactions, many fans praised his performance.
Currently, Tom Holland wears the Spidey suit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and fans can expect to see more of him in future MCU projects.
Of course, the ultimate fan moment happened in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), when all three versions of Spider-Man, (Maguire, Garfield, and Holland) shared the screen. An epic crossover that no one saw coming.
Some franchises just refuse to stay in the past… and we’re not complaining.
Batman
If Hollywood had a trophy for “Most Rebooted Character Ever,” Batman would take it…no competition.
It all started with Michael Keaton in Batman (1989), who gave us a dark, brooding version of the hero. Then came Val Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995) and George Clooney in Batman & Robin (1997), and yeah, we don’t talk about that one.
Things got serious when Christian Bale stepped in for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012), which is still considered one of the greatest superhero adaptations ever.
Next, Ben Affleck suited up in the DC Extended Universe, but his version was more about punching aliens and brooding in warehouses.
And now? Robert Pattinson’s The Batman (2022) gave us an emo Bruce Wayne solving crimes like a detective in a gritty, rainy Gotham. And fans are eating it up.
James Bond
When it comes to rebooting without actually rebooting, James Bond does it best.
Since Sean Connery first suited up in Dr. No (1962), we’ve seen six different Bonds over seven decades:
- Sean Connery
- George Lazenby
- Roger Moore
- Timothy Dalton
- Pierce Brosnan
- Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale (2006) rebooted the franchise with a darker, grittier Bond, leading to five films that wrapped up with No Time to Die (2021).
Now, the big question is: Who’s next? The internet is losing its mind trying to guess the next 007.
Jurassic Park
When Jurassic Park (1993) hit theaters, Steven Spielberg basically made us believe dinosaurs were real.
After two sequels that didn’t quite hit the mark, the franchise went extinct… until 2015’s Jurassic World brought it roaring back.
With Chris Pratt leading the charge, Jurassic World became a box office hit, followed by
- Fallen Kingdom (2018)
- Dominion (2022)
The Jurassic World trilogy gave us new characters while still bringing back OG legends like Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern.
Star Trek
Star Trek was already legendary because of the original 1966 series, but J.J. Abrams decided to hit the reset button in Star Trek (2009), and somehow, it worked.
The reboot kept classic characters like Captain Kirk and Spock but threw them into a new timeline, avoiding angry Trekkie backlash (well, mostly).
The new series gave us:
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
- Star Trek Beyond (2016)
And just like that, the franchise was back on top, with a whole new generation of fans beaming aboard.
Major Movie Reboots Coming in 2024
Here are some of the biggest movie reboots set to release in 2024:
Mean Girls (2024)
On Wednesdays, we sing now. The 2024 Mean Girls reboot isn’t simply a remake of the 2004 classic but an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. This version brings more songs, more sass, and a whole new vibe while still capturing the original’s iconic high school drama.
Reneé Rapp, who played Regina George on Broadway, returns to rule North Shore High. Angourie Rice, known for her role in the Spider-Man films, steps into the shoes of Cady Heron. Tina Fey, who wrote the original screenplay, is back as Ms. Norbury, alongside Tim Meadows as Principal Duvall.
The cast also includes Jenna Fischer as Cady’s mom, Busy Phillips as Regina’s mom, and Jon Hamm as Coach Carr. With Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. directing, this reboot is ready to bring a new generation into the Plastics’ world, this time with even catchier tunes.
Speak No Evil
If the original Danish horror film Speak No Evil from 2022 wasn’t unsettling enough, Blumhouse is turning things up a notch with its American remake. Directed by James Watkins, known for The Woman in Black, the film follows a seemingly innocent vacation that spirals into pure psychological terror.
James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis play the unnervingly polite host family, while Scoot McNairy and Alix West Lefler take on the roles of the unsuspecting visitors who slowly realize something isn’t right. Fans are eager to see if this version sticks to the original’s gut-wrenching ending or brings a new twist to the table. Either way, horror lovers are already bracing themselves.
Blade (2025)
More than two decades after Wesley Snipes turned Blade into a cult classic, Marvel is bringing the iconic vampire hunter back to the big screen. This time, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali steps into the role of Eric Brooks, the half-human, half-vampire who hunts bloodsuckers for a living. Directed by Yann Demange, the film is set to officially introduce vampires to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following Blade’s subtle tease in the post-credits scene of Eternals.
With Ali’s talent and Marvel’s blockbuster power, fans are hoping this reboot will honor the original trilogy and also bring something fresh to the character. Plus, with rumors that Blade could tie into upcoming MCU events like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, expectations are sky-high.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)
You can’t cheat death…at least not in the Final Destination universe. After nearly 15 years, the iconic horror franchise is making a comeback with Final Destination: Bloodlines. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, this reboot sticks to the original concept: people receiving horrifying visions of deadly accidents and trying to escape their fate, only for death to come after them in terrifyingly creative ways.
However, this time, the story shifts focus to the first responders, adding a new layer of suspense and stakes. Tony Todd, the original series’ fan favorite, returns to reprise his mysterious role, while rising stars like Brec Bassinger, Teo Briones, and Richard Harmon join the cast. Despite production delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, horror fans are hyped to see death’s twisted game play out once again.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out stole hearts back in 2015 by taking us inside the mind of a young girl and introducing us to her core emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. Now, Inside Out 2 is back with new challenges… and a brand-new emotion joining the squad.
This time, Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black return as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, while Stranger Things star Maya Hawke voices Anxiety…a fitting addition as Riley enters her teenage years. Though Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling won’t be reprising their roles as Fear and Disgust, the film promises to dive deeper into the chaos of growing up while tugging at our heartstrings once again.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
The boys are back… again. After the massive success of Bad Boys for Life in 2020, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return for the fourth installment of the beloved action-comedy franchise. While the plot is still under wraps, fans can expect the same high-energy car chases, wild humor, and explosive action that made the original films iconic.
Despite dropping the “4 Life” title this time, Bad Boys: Ride or Die proves that Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are still the ultimate duo when it comes to fighting crime and cracking jokes while doing it.
The Reboot Era Isn’t Slowing Down
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia or just curious to see how these stories get reimagined, one thing’s clear: Hollywood isn’t running out of old stories to revive anytime soon. From horror to superheroes to animated adventures, the reboot wave is only getting bigger.
Which one are you most excited to watch? Or are you still wishing they’d leave the classics alone?
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FAQs
- What is the difference between a reboot and a remake?
A reboot resets a franchise’s continuity, introducing a new story that often ignores previous entries while retaining some elements like characters or settings. A remake, on the other hand, reinterprets an existing film or show, usually aiming to stay true to the original’s plot and style.
- Why do some reboots fail while others succeed?
Reboots can fail if they don’t offer a fresh perspective or fail to connect with modern audiences. They may also falter if they are perceived as unnecessary or if they don’t respect the essence of the original. Successful reboots usually add value, either through innovation or by tapping into contemporary issues.
- What role do nostalgia and fan expectations play in the success of reboots?
Nostalgia can be a powerful factor in a reboot’s success, as fans of the original work often have strong emotional connections to it. However, meeting fan expectations is crucial. If a reboot fails to honor the original or seems to be purely a cash grab, it may not succeed despite its nostalgic appeal.
- Can reboots be completely different from their originals?
Yes, reboots often take significant liberties with the original story, setting, and characters. While they may retain some core elements, they can introduce new plots, settings, or character dynamics to offer a fresh take on the story.
