In the past few years, we have seen countless remakes, reboots, and sequels of our favorite shows and movies. Although these resurrections can provide extra context to otherwise forgotten storylines, should there be a higher demand for new and fresh content? As consumers, are we okay with constantly being fed recycled material?
Some recent examples of recycled/rebooted content are Disney’s Frozen 2 and The Mandalorian. Both offer new plot lines and stories, with the only tie to their original film(s) being the characters and past context. These can be great for fans of the franchise, offering more of their favorite characters and maybe some insight into previously overlooked  aspects of the universe within the franchise. More extreme examples of this trend are shot-by-shot, live-action remakes of once animated films such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Jungle Book, and Aladdin. These films do not introduce any new aspects when compared to the original films; their only quality being that the animation has been replaced with actors or Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).
With this being said, why do these movies do so well at the box office? If they offer no new substance, why are consumers so drawn to them? In my opinion, the answer is simple. Consumers are driven by nostalgia. Nostalgia can bring us back to simpler times, allowing us to reminisce on memories we formed when we saw the original film. I’m guilty of this too; I completely see the appeal. However, we can’t become complacent to this recycled content. It’s okay to enjoy these remakes, but don’t forget to support new ideas and stories! There are so many new movies and shows out there; try not to get lost in the countless nostalgia trips. There is room for old and new content.