Why you never see an original movie anymore

In today’s Big Story, right now, reboots, remakes, and familiar characters dominate the silver screen. Last week it was The Little Mermaid, then the 10th Fast and Furious movie. Soon, it will be Spider-Man, followed by the Barbie movie. It can feel like the only things on screen right now are leaving little room for fresh stories. They’re not, of course, but they do receive much of the marketing money.

Jacob Oller, movies editor at Paste Magazine, says that movie directors and writers often have limited artistic freedom because large movie companies want to avoid taking investment risks.

“It’s a not matter of people now not being artists, but instead being shepherds of these brands,” says Oller.

What initially started as profitable niches for Hollywood has come to consume the entire industry in a search for intellectual property. The issue doesn’t stem from a shortage of ideas but rather one thing: the hunger for more. This is the story of how the venture capital mentality is undermining the art of filmmaking.

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