Every year, top film companies take the stage, ready to release their newest movies. However, are these movies really new? Over time, variations of the same storylines are being advertised as fresh and innovative. Classics already done to death are somehow seen as exciting, simply because a popular actor or actress is in the cast list. In past years, movie companies have been guilty of committing the crime that is unoriginality, so it is safe to say that they have run out of ideas. Firstly, it is important to consider Disney. Disney is arguably one of the most influential companies today, and what truly attracted viewers in their early days was their concept of Disney Princesses. One of their first animated films—and their first movie— was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which was released in 1937.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Disney announced that the live-action “Snow White” would be created and would feature actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. The movie was released on Mar. 21, 2025. In an attempt to honor “Snow White,” Disney failed deeply. Questionable CGI was used to create the dwarves, and the costuming budget must have been tight because Snow’s dress was insulting. The sleeves, corset and coloring all differed from the original, iconic dress everyone knows and loves. Whether we discuss animations to live action or comedies to musicals, recycled ideas might just be the end of the film industry.
The 2004 “Mean Girls” movie was revolutionary for its time and is still iconic. From the Y2K style to the comedic yet dramatic storyline, it had something for everyone. When the average person thinks about the “Mean Girls” remake, their mind automatically goes to the 2025 musical starring Renee Rapp. However, there was in fact a “Mean Girls 2” that was released in 2011 with the same storyline, just a different cast. Although that remake was not as disappointing as the 2025 “Snow White”, it still did not amount to the original. A few cast members were recycled in an attempt to appeal to viewers, but their scripts were mediocre and they did not allow the actors to showcase their full talent.
Does a lion that lost his dad at a young age due to his evil uncle sound familiar?? If not, do not worry, because I guarantee that you can find at least three films, each highlighting a different character from that story. The infamous “Lion King,” which started as a simple animation, soon became the king of the animated film world. This may sound sarcastic, but I genuinely applaud Disney and their ability to reuse a script so much to the point where it is just as dry as the safari the story is set in.
In all honesty, not every movie remake is a complete fail, but most of them are. You might be wondering what movie remakes fall under the “successful” category, and here is a carefully curated list for you: “Oceans 11”, “Maleficent”, “Dune”, the “Beauty and the Beast” live-action, “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “True Grit” and “Pride and Prejudice.” All of these movies incorporate elaborate sets that, believe it or not, were completed without the use of AI. Additionally, their cast was not as recycled as we see they are in films today, which gave up-and-coming actors the chance to make it in the industry. Movies are difficult to make and easy to hate, but originality is always a necessity; forget it and you will face our disparity.
