Texas Box Office Dominated by Reboots: A Troubling Trend?

Last week the top three box office films in Texas were Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Karate Kid: Legends. All three films are reboots or continuations of existing franchises.

"Ohana" and Backlash: The Lilo & Stitch Story

Disney's live action version of Lilo & Stitch, walked away as the box office champion with a total domestic gross of $280 million dollars, and although it grossed money, it took a hit. There was some backlash because the filmmakers rewrote the ending, to suit a new narrative and some fans do not feel it represents the theme of 'ohana,' or family that the original film did.

Cruise Control and Consistent Gross: Mission: Impossible

Coming in second place was Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (the eighth film in the franchise), with a total gross of 122. 5 million. It is doubtless Tom Cruise's publicity tour of Texas (San Antonio and Dallas) spurred a bit of local interest.

Nostalgia's Limited Power: Karate Kid: Legends

Third place goes to Karate Kid: Legends, which grossed to a mere $21 million. The film, also re-unites Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan together again - not only in the film and with characters from the original, but it includes the characters from the 2010 reboot. However, if the gross is any indicator, nostalgic tie-ins may not guarantee box office gold.

The Troubling Trend of Familiarity Over Originality

The rise and increase in re-makes and franchises is troubling because it does not promise to become very much more than before. Certainly, films like these create a comfortable familiarity, but a greater concern is original ideas or thinking about using original aspects in cinema, which could close the avenues of creativity.

As audiences in Texas, and beyond, continue to flock to these films, it may become a relevant question to ask how significant maybe features as franchises, be valued with anything new or original narrative.