Nostalgia is fueled in large part by the media. Remakes of classic films and television series allow modern audiences to relive the magic of a bygone age—perhaps even one pre-social media!—and reminisce about happier times.
Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, many of today’s parents feel a personal connection to fresh interpretations of classic classics. The opportunity to reintroduce beloved classics to children in updated, visually attractive forms is a perk of reboots.
What is Nostalgia?
A sentimentality for a bygone era or location associated with pleasant personal memories is what we mean when we talk about nostalgia. Something that brings back a memory of a prior event generally sets off a person’s nostalgia. It is often described as a want to go back to a different moment or location.
One definition of nostalgia is “the memory of happiness,” as it is often linked to pleasant recollections of yesteryear. In moments of sorrow or trouble, it may provide solace.
What is a Reboot?
The terms “remake,” “reboot,” and “revival” need to be defined before anything else. A remake is a new take on an existing plot with new characters. Even if the plot differs, the characters remain the same in a reboot, such as “Star Wars: Episode VII— The Force Awakens.” Many television series, including “X-Files,” have returned for a second season after a long hiatus, a phenomenon known as a revival.
The concept of intellectual property, fundamental to this whole thing, must also be known and understood. Any plot, character, or franchise that a production firm or studio controls, whether well-known or not, is known as intellectual property (IP). Literary works that have found popularity as screenplays or television series may also be considered intellectual property.
So Many Reboots, But Why?
A probable reason for the plethora of TV and movie reboots is the studios’ usual reluctance to take risks. Competition for viewers’ attention and budgets is fierce as streaming services continue to grow in popularity and viewers have easy access to a flood of trending material. If a film or TV program from the past was successful enough, there is likely already a large fan following interested in seeing a new version.
Historically, with the help of ancillary media like DVD, a studio’s bottom line has also benefited greatly from a film’s theatrical distribution. Tickets are now the primary source of revenue because of the declining demand for tangible media. With their pre-existing fan bases, reboots provide a low-risk path to success.
Studios and production businesses have seen that risk aversion has been quite beneficial. Rebooting or improving older material has recently led to a good series of successes for the business. This approach avoids taking any chances, as you stake your material on an audience’s preexisting knowledge of the story’s characters, narrative points, and overall tone.
Targeting Different Generations
When it comes to feeling nostalgic, the media plays a significant role for people of all ages. Nearly half of all consumers have experienced this emotion when exposed to certain media, such as movies, TV programs, and music.
This isn’t limited to one gender, age group, or geographic area. Across all of these demographic breakdowns, movies, TV programs, and music are among the top three media forms that evoke nostalgia.
Years after the first film’s theatrical premiere, sequels have also been made, targeting audiences of all generations. Released last year, 36 years after the original film from the 1980s, Top Gun: Maverick was a smashing success at the box office, earning $1.488 billion. In 2022, more than a decade after the original, James Cameron’s Avatar 2 debuted in theatres, and it has already surpassed Titanic as the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Some films and TV series take place in a different era; for instance, the 2018–19 season of Stranger Things, which takes place in the 1980s, had 7.2 billion minutes of streaming time in the United States between May 30 and June 5. Fans were so enthusiastic when the last two episodes of season four aired that Netflix’s platform nearly collapsed.
Gen Z likes the show even though it takes place in the 1980s; maybe it’s because it depicts a time before the internet, a time before the ease and luxuries of instant results like top fast withdrawal casinos in the UK, which is still a mystery to those who haven’t experienced it.
Television Revivals
Like movie studios, TV networks are repurposing older intellectual property to market new programming, although with some tweaks. The latest craze in television is revivals, which include reuniting fan-favorite cast members for an encore performance. This is in contrast to simply switching out the lead actor or actresses or turning a popular book into a film.
Fans have seen different things with these revivals compared to one-off reunions in the past. Full seasons are now a thing, which is great for viewers and networks alike. Some recent examples include Amazon Prime’s revival of Frasier and Roseanne.
The Rise of Nostalgic Viewing Via Streaming Services
Rival streaming services, such as HBO Go and Netflix, have relied significantly on reboots to boost viewing in recent years, so Max is well aware of nostalgia’s beneficial benefits on users.
A remake of “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy” from the early 2000s, “Queer Eye” has been a fan favorite on Netflix, despite the mixed reception of “Gilmore Girls” on the streaming service. The 2016–2020 Netflix revival “Fuller House” was another success.
“Fuller House” followed in the footsteps of “Top Gun: Maverick” by capitalizing on the affection felt by viewers of its predecessor, “Full House,” to win over viewers of all ages. Despite its lack of critical praise compared to “Full House,” “Fuller House” contributed to Netflix’s viewership.
Final Thoughts
The recurring trend of remakes and reboots ultimately signifies the cyclical nature of narrative construction. Classic narratives are frequently re-examined and reconceived due to the enduring nature of their themes and the allure of their characters. Filmmakers stand to preserve the fundamental nature of these stories by imbuing them with contemporary sensibilities or by presenting them to a fresh cohort of audiences.
Although not all reboots and remakes succeed, this trend allows filmmakers to further explore and develop narratives that have captivated audiences for decades.
