ABSTRACT
Hollywood studios produce films and television shows to make money. Yes, such material can serve other functions – such media can be entertaining, creative, inspiring, propagandist – but ultimately it’s commercial. Audiences pay to see remakes, studio production decisions are validated through box office revenue and the cycle begins again. Remaking to produce a better film, to expand a catalogue, to Americanize foreign content, to be creative and fashionable are also key drivers. While Hollywood, of course, is an industry preoccupied with what sells, audiences won’t pay for just anything put before them. Studios will keep producing the films, and audiences will probably keep watching them. Understanding this cycle and the negative discourse underpinning it is crucial in fully comprehending pop culture landscape and the cultural chatter that exists around it.
