A&E
Hollywood’s Alarming Lack of Creativity
By Matt Burner ’17
September 8, 2016
Tags a+e
Since the release of Jaws in 1975, a surefire bet has been that movie theatres would be awash with new summer releases, more specifically blockbusters that appeal to a wide range of viewers. Besides Jaws, films such as E.T., Jurassic Park and The Dark Knight exemplify what we consider quintessential summer movies. All of these films not only possessed a story that attracted a broad audience but often also displayed technical brilliance, wowing massive crowds into purchasing tickets. Although many of these summer films often had high production costs, studios felt fairly confident in their chances of at least breaking even.
No longer does that seem to be the case. Not only are fewer summer releases reaping huge financial profits, but many of these films are also not the safe bet they once were to receive a favorable review. No longer can a positive review or big-name director guarantee financial windfall either. Steven Spielberg’s The BFG seemed to possess all the necessary characteristics of a successful summer blockbuster. In addition to being shot by arguably the most recognized name in Hollywood, The BFG was based on the beloved Roald Dahl book and had impressive special effects. On top of this, The BFG received a respectable 75 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, none of these elements could help The BFG from being one of this summer’s biggest box office bombs. The film only earned $160 million worldwide against a $140 million budget. The BFG certainly was not the only film to fail at the box office this summer. Other films such as Independence Day: Resurgence, The Legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters and Alice Through the Looking Glass also flopped. Besides The BFG, all four of the other films possess an interesting correlation: they are either a remake, sequel or reboot.
One may point towards the rise of television and movie streaming as a reason that summer box office receipts have been declining. This, however, ignores arguably the most crucial element: Hollywood and its stupefying lack of creativity. Since Jaws, summer movies have often followed a similar formula. With the exception of animated pictures, these films all fall under some corner of the action/adventure category. However, whereas before these movies also possessed original stories, current studios no longer seem interested in taking those risks. Rather than hoping fickle audiences will be interested in a new story, studios are increasingly producing films that are somehow tied to past successful franchises. While earlier this seemed like a safe bet, films such as Independence Day: Resurgence and the rebooted Ghostbusters reveal this is no longer the case. Even if the story is one that audiences are familiar with, they are no longer interested in spending the money to see a new edition. Perhaps the issue is not simply a lack of originality but also an apparent decline in overall quality. The multitude of tepid reviews this summer certainly supports that notion. Either way, it is clear Hollywood and the studios that compose it must make changes in order to reverse the alarming series of box office duds. While the past few summers have certainly been disappointing, one can do nothing but hope that next summer studios finally recognize the current method is broken and start releasing spectacles again.