Nostalgic movies and TV shows are making a strong comeback on the big screen with modern twists and new retellings. Disney is most known for these remakes because after 34 years, they released a new live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” (1989).
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score for the remake was 94%, showing people enjoyed the movie. However, Disney fans on the internet created a controversy surrounding it. Halle Bailey, the new face of Ariel, faced harsh backlash for taking the role. Much of this controversy surrounded the idea of a Black woman playing the role of Ariel. Even so, many in the African American community saw this film as a symbol of diversity in the movie industry, as it offered representation and affirmation for young Black girls.
As the film industry remakes more movies, they are receiving more controversial feedback. Tension rose further when Disney cast more African American actors for movie remakes. As stated by Cinema Blend, many wish that the film industry would stop casting white characters with Black actors and rather give them their own movie where they can star.
There are many other film industries remaking movies and TV shows besides Disney. Fans of the originals can find themselves conflicted about seeing old movies turn into remakes. Some members of the audience believe movie companies remake old films due to popularity they had when they were released.
Enthusiasts of nostalgia complain and state their opinion about old films turning brand new, modern and mature. With viewers’ love for the originals, the companies think that they’ll love sequels, reboots, remakes and retellings when sometimes that isn’t the case.
“Don’t ruin something that’s already good,” said Yazmin Trujillo, 11.
Hollywood is acknowledging that their audience is aging along with the original movies and TV shows from their childhoods. According to InMyArea.com, Disney’s box office received $3 billion less in revenue over live-action remakes since 2014. However, Disney decided to continue creating live-action versions of their animated films that most of their audience grew up watching.
Many audience members think that it is ridiculous to keep making something they’ve already perfected, including Trujillo. As reported by Screen Rants, Disney is being impacted by an economic downturn so they are pushing out movies to keep their ratings and money up. Screen Rants also says that Disney uses these remakes to keep their copyright protected.
“There’s a difference between feeling nostalgic and watching a different version of it,” Trujillo said.
For live-action remakes, the director and writers add to the original story so it will meet the run-time and make more sense for the viewers. Many have said that the film industry is using the remakes as a quick cash grab because they’re running out of ideas. However, it is possible for a remake to be better than the original. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “A Star is Born” (2018) has an audience score of 80% while the original from 1976 had a score of 63%, proving remade movies can be good. Further, some believe it can add to the nostalgic feeling. It can bring the original back to life with a new retelling that can be understood and enjoyed by the audience who grew up watching the shows.
“It adds something to the nostalgia,” said Herr, 12.
Remakes have always been divisive, many do not have good or bad thoughts. If done well, viewers usually don’t mind watching the movie or TV show that was redone.
“The audience is growing with their show,” Herr said.
The film industry is aware that the watchers who grew up with these shows and movies are getting older, therefore they remake it for a more mature audience. The viewers either love or hate that filmmakers do this, because it ends up being watered down and regurgitated, Herr said.
Despite the controversy surrounding movie remakes, people continue to be fond of the characters from their childhood. Regardless of everything, people are still likely to watch these movies despite being different from the original. Audiences grow, people change.
“Kids are still going to watch those fairy tales,” said Melissa Minton, theater teacher.
Most children nowadays struggle to understand why these teens and adults hate these remakes so much, because either way these kids are likely to watch these shows and movies and possibly enjoy it. The film is just being told in a different light now, a more modern take. It’s a lot easier pitching a movie idea to a room full of people if they know what it is, Minton said.
Pitching ideas, especially for movies, is difficult. Someone pitching a movie idea for something that already exists, something they could possibly make better would be simpler and less costly than starting a whole new movie. The main problem people have with this is that they put as much love and care into making sure the movie is loved by all.
Since these retellings of fairy tales, especially in Disney, date back hundreds of years, most people know these stories. Even if companies are getting lots of hate for these remakes and live-action films, at the end of the day they are still going to make them because they know that it will find an audience who will watch it. That audience, whether they love or hate it, will likely watch it and that will make them more money. The more cash they make, the more they can keep making movies, remakes or not.
“I think it’d be fun to update it,” Minton said.
At the end of the day, retelling and rebooting the classics will likely happen. These stories have been around for as long as time and keeping them new and relevant is important to many people.
“It’s safer for the business model,” Minton said.
