By: Adam Richards
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grossed over $10 billion in its nine-year run. The "Star Wars" franchise, in its entirety, has made more than $37 billion. Even the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise has made over $4.5 billion. And with successful film franchises like these why would Hollywood ever change?
The American film industry has a rich history of producing timeless classics that make the world a better, more interesting place to live. "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Godfather," "Psycho," and "Casablanca" are all examples of the best Hollywood has to offer. They prove we can make great movies based on books, history, and even sometimes an original idea.
Hollywood has a proud history of great movies that continues to grow to this day. We still tell great stories in passionate, caring, and compelling ways. "Spotlight" is a great film that presents an important historical event in a compelling way. "Gone Girl" is an incredible movie that is based on an incredible book. "Whiplash" is a fantastic example of a modern, and original, story.
Hollywood has offered so much to the world that is well done and inspiring, but just as unavoidable, are the movies that torture and disappoint us, like "Short Circuit," "Batman & Robin," "Shrek Forever After," and the truly terrible "San Andreas" (sorry, Rock). Just as long as America has been making great movies, it has also been making awful ones.
It’s no secret that in recent years movie releases have been subpar. Box office revenue has taken a nose dive and families no longer want to go and see films in theaters. This downturn stems from Hollywood's insatiable urge to create dry and repetitive franchises.
Money makes decisions in the world. Everything we do in some way relates to the monetary value of our actions. Hollywood, especially, is no exception to this rule. I can’t blame them for doing what they can to be a profitable enterprise, but I can blame them for all of the needlessly awful franchise movies they make just to satisfy their fix for cold hard cash.
Look to the aforementioned "Pirates of the Caribbean." The first movie was an exciting, if not historically accurate, romp featuring Johnny Depp at his wacky best. Not one for the history books, but a good solid standalone Hollywood blockbuster, a fine legacy that has since been tarnished by Disney squeezing that cash cow until no sign of the memorable original remains.
The "Fast and the Furious" franchise is the most grotesque monster to appear from this insidious cycle (sorry again, Rock). Eight movies have transformed something that was already a testosterone-filled carfest into one of the least appealing things ever put to film. Even so, it has made over $4 billion with a ninth and tenth film in the works.
If we ever want things to change, we as the consumers have to make a stand. We’ll never all agree on what is too much and what is just enough. But the guy out there anticipating the next installments of the "Furious" franchise, and me waiting to watch every "Star Wars" film until I die, have to band together and say enough is enough. If we keep letting titans like Disney rake in billions from movies that are complete garbage we’ll be watching trash for the rest of time.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grossed over $10 billion in its nine-year run. The "Star Wars" franchise, in its entirety, has made more than $37 billion. Even the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise has made over $4.5 billion. And with successful film franchises like these why would Hollywood ever change?
The American film industry has a rich history of producing timeless classics that make the world a better, more interesting place to live. "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Godfather," "Psycho," and "Casablanca" are all examples of the best Hollywood has to offer. They prove we can make great movies based on books, history, and even sometimes an original idea.
Hollywood has a proud history of great movies that continues to grow to this day. We still tell great stories in passionate, caring, and compelling ways. "Spotlight" is a great film that presents an important historical event in a compelling way. "Gone Girl" is an incredible movie that is based on an incredible book. "Whiplash" is a fantastic example of a modern, and original, story.
Hollywood has offered so much to the world that is well done and inspiring, but just as unavoidable, are the movies that torture and disappoint us, like "Short Circuit," "Batman & Robin," "Shrek Forever After," and the truly terrible "San Andreas" (sorry, Rock). Just as long as America has been making great movies, it has also been making awful ones.
It’s no secret that in recent years movie releases have been subpar. Box office revenue has taken a nose dive and families no longer want to go and see films in theaters. This downturn stems from Hollywood's insatiable urge to create dry and repetitive franchises.
Money makes decisions in the world. Everything we do in some way relates to the monetary value of our actions. Hollywood, especially, is no exception to this rule. I can’t blame them for doing what they can to be a profitable enterprise, but I can blame them for all of the needlessly awful franchise movies they make just to satisfy their fix for cold hard cash.
Look to the aforementioned "Pirates of the Caribbean." The first movie was an exciting, if not historically accurate, romp featuring Johnny Depp at his wacky best. Not one for the history books, but a good solid standalone Hollywood blockbuster, a fine legacy that has since been tarnished by Disney squeezing that cash cow until no sign of the memorable original remains.
The "Fast and the Furious" franchise is the most grotesque monster to appear from this insidious cycle (sorry again, Rock). Eight movies have transformed something that was already a testosterone-filled carfest into one of the least appealing things ever put to film. Even so, it has made over $4 billion with a ninth and tenth film in the works.
If we ever want things to change, we as the consumers have to make a stand. We’ll never all agree on what is too much and what is just enough. But the guy out there anticipating the next installments of the "Furious" franchise, and me waiting to watch every "Star Wars" film until I die, have to band together and say enough is enough. If we keep letting titans like Disney rake in billions from movies that are complete garbage we’ll be watching trash for the rest of time.