It seems like these days every major movie release is either a sequel or a reboot, right? Of the 20 top grossing domestic movies only 2 of them were not sequels or reboots of an already established intellectual property. Neither of those two movies were in the top 10.

Why is it Like This?

The fact of the matter is that most major studios would rather put out the 12th Fast and Furious movie than give an original script a chance. You really can’t blame the studios for it though it’s not their fault. It’s ours! People just don’t go see independent or original movies in theaters as much.

For fans of Indie Films: 

Maybe I’m wrong though and you sport your A24 merch and watch all of Wes Anderson’s films, even the shorts. You’re different than the average movie consumer because you don’t like the mainstream movies, right? You couldn’t care less about the new Marvel movie, but you want to know what Ari Aster has been cooking up in his twisted little brain. Well don’t worry, it’s your fault too!

Companies like A24 and Annapurna and whatever other independent production company you want to name have vastly changed the film landscape in the last decade. With their rise the popularity of independent movies has gotten to an all-time high. Every other film student you meet owns at least one piece of A24 merch and won’t shut up about Midsommar. Hell, I’ve got a t-shirt and I were it proudly. It’s just good marketing! But if the interest in independent film is at an all-time high, why is it the same 5 pieces of intellectual property dominating the box office every year?

The Past and Present:

The answer isn’t groundbreaking and it frankly, it’s not even new. Movies with original characters and stories have never dominated the box office. The last best picture winner to also gross the most for its respective year was Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2003.  Of those top 20 movies of 2019, 2 of them were nominated for best picture, one of which was an original story. What my point is, is that box office gross does not always reflect success, even if it reflects profit.

The Future:

With the introduction of streaming platforms over the last few years independent films have found a new place to call home. Streamers have become blessing for fans of independent and original films. Distributers like A24 and Annapurna are able to finance smaller productions because they don’t have to worry about competing with the giant studios. They can make their money back and then some in other ways now. The result is that while the prequals, sequels and equals will continue to dominate the movie theaters for the foreseeable future, more and more original stories will continue to be made. Don’t expect the studios to change, but maybe it’s a good thing. There is more content available now more than ever and more voices represented. The film and television landscape has expanded exponentially in the last decade and fans of the industry should be thrilled.