Script, film, complete, repeat

After sitting through yet another remake at the cinema, I became curious: just how often does recycled content make its way onto the screen these days? I wanted to see the numbers, so I turned to an article published by the leading American magazine Variety, titled The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025¹. The article lists 52 titles expected to generate the most buzz in the coming year.

I transferred these titles into an Excel spreadsheet (see the list below) and added a simple column: “Is this movie based on an original idea? Yes or No.” By “original,” I mean that the movie is not a remake, reboot, part of a franchise (such as a sequel, prequel, or spin-off), nor is it an adaptation of another medium like a book, comic, or video game.

Original movies (11 out of 52)

Sinners – Original concept.
The Phoenician Scheme – Original idea.
Elio – Original Pixar production.
F1 – Inspired by Formula 1 but original in concept.
Eddington – Original screenplay.
Weapons – Original thriller.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – Original story.
One Battle After Another – Original content.
RIP – Original concept.
Animal Friends – Original, not an adaptation.
Marty Supreme – Original idea.

Not original (41 out of 52)

Sequels, prequels, spin-offs, or franchise entries

Captain America: Brave New World – Fourth in the Captain America series.
Paddington in Peru – Third in the Paddington series.
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Eighth installment.
Karate Kid: Legends – Sixth in the franchise.
Ballerina – Spin-off from John Wick series.
28 Years Later – Third in 28 Days Later series.
M3GAN 2.0 – Sequel to M3GAN (2022).
Jurassic World: Rebirth – Follows Jurassic World Dominion.
Superman – Another reboot of the franchise.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Second reboot of the franchise.
Happy Gilmore 2 – Sequel to the 1996 film.
The Naked Gun – Fourth in the franchise.
Freaky Friday – Sequel to the 2003 film.
Nobody 2 – Sequel to Nobody (2021).
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues – Sequel to This Is Spinal Tap.
Tron Ares – Third installment in the Tron franchise.
The Black Phone 2 – Sequel to The Black Phone (2021).
Predator: Badlands – Ninth in the Predator franchise.
Wicked: For Good – Sequel to Wicked.
Zootopia 2 – Sequel to the 2016 animation.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – Sequel to the 2023 film.
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Third in the Avatar series.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants – Based on the SpongeBob SquarePants TV series.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – Third in the Knives Out series.

Remakes and Reboots

Wolf Man – Reboot of The Wolf Man franchise.
Snow White – Live-action remake of the 1937 Disney classic.
Lilo & Stitch – Live-action remake of the 2002 animation.
How to Train Your Dragon – Live-action remake of 2010 film.
The Smurfs Movie – Reboot of The Smurfs franchise.
I Know What You Did Last Summer – Fourth in the franchise.
The Roses – Remake of the 1989 film The War of the Roses.
The Running Man – Adaptation of Stephen King’s novel (second version).
Frankenstein – New adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel.
Bugonia – English-language remake of 2003 Korean film Save the Green Planet!

Adaptations from books, games, or comics

Mickey 17 – Based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.
A Minecraft Movie – Based on Mojang's video game.
Thunderbolts* – Based on Marvel Comics.
The Thursday Murder Club – Based on the 2020 novel by Richard Osman.
The Housemaid – Based on the 2022 novel by Freida McFadden.
The Woman in Cabin 10 – Based on Ruth Ware’s novel.

The analysis revealed that 41 out of the 52 most anticipated movies of 2025 are not original. In other words, 78,8% is part of something that already exists. Here’s how the content breaks down:

Sequels, prequels, and installments

Franchises still dominate Hollywood. Almost half of the analyzed movies are part of existing cinematic universes or large franchises that have made a name in the industry. Studios know that familiar faces or well-established worlds guarantee ticket sales. From the longest-running franchises on the list: the ninth Predator movie, eighth Mission: Impossible, and yet another Jurassic World entry.

Live-action reimaginings

Another major trend is the live-action remake of animated classics. Disney has been at the forefront of this trend since 2016, when The Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast a year later, proved the concept profitable. In 2025, we’re expecting at least three major animated-to-live-action remakes: Snow White, Lilo & Stitch, and How to Train Your Dragon.

Screen adaptations

The third group of movies consists of screen adaptations coming directly from literature, graphic novels, or video games. Some of the examples include include A Minecraft Movie (from the Mojang Studios video game), Mickey 17 (based on the 2022 novel Mickey7), The Thursday Murder Club (based on the 2020 novel), and Thunderbolts* (based on Marvel Comics).

Remakes and reboots

Chances are, you've seen The Running Man from 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger or perhaps read the original Stephen King’s novel. Now, nearly four decades later, a new version is set to hit theaters in 2025. Whether it can surpass its predecessors remains to be seen. While there may be some justification for revisiting older titles like The Running Man, The Wolf Man, and The Roses, it’s harder to make the same case for yet another reboot of the Superman franchise or a fresh start for Fantastic Four.

Original voices

In the ocean of repetition, these movies stand out:

Sinners.
Weapons.
Elio.
RIP.
Marty Supreme.
One Battle After Another.
Animal Friends.
Eddington.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
The Phoenician Scheme.
F1.

Some of the movies have been scheduled to release in 2026.

The dominance of remakes, sequels, and adaptations shapes the kind of stories that get funded and distributed. For emerging filmmakers with original visions, breaking into the mainstream has become increasingly difficult. Original screenplays often struggle to get greenlit unless a major director or star is attached.

This means that fresh perspectives, innovative narratives, and new voices are pushed to the margins, often relegated to indie festivals or streaming platforms with limited reach. Over time, this creates a loop: studios offer what seems to be in demand, and audiences choose from what’s most visible, not even being aware of what they’re missing.

Betting on nostalgia

So, what does this analysis say about the state of mainstream cinema today? The issue isn’t a lack of original ideas, as it may seem. The real problem is that studios often choose not to take the risk. Instead, they lean on existing properties that have already proven successful. Betting on remakes has become a calculated strategy that reliably generates profit. Studios are doubling down on stories, characters, and franchises audiences already know and love.

Indeed, remakes, sequels, and adaptations come with built-in audiences and media buzz. In an industry driven by financial security, recognizable IP offers a safety net: it simplifies marketing, guarantees attention, and promises more predictable box office returns. Even if the final product disappoints, it still sparks conversation and sends viewers back to revisit the original. It’s a win-win for studios.

Of course, it's not just about the studios, as long as the audience is buying it. Brought in by nostalgia, people return to these stories not just for entertainment, but for comfort, familiarity, and a sense of connection to the past. Recalling my own excitement over the promoted Lilo & Stitch movie on TikTok that made me run to the cinema, I understand chasing the lovable characters and kind memories of my childhood.

That emotional pull is hard to resist, especially in an age of constant change and uncertainty. Nostalgia becomes a powerful force, offering a sense of comfort and stability. If a movie can transport us back to a time when life felt simpler, safer, or more joyful, that feeling alone is often enough to justify the ticket.