Some story concepts are just used too often in movies and TV shows. Sometimes, the concept itself is inherently flawed, while other times, the constant replication of an idea makes it boring. Reasons for a concept to proliferate include it being a proven success, it being easy to reproduce, or it being cheap. For instance, what drove animation studios to 3D animation was not necessarily a preference for the style but because it was cheaper and faster.
Typically, there are one or two properties that are the exception, and their success proves that an idea does have value. When a movie or TV show is successful, everyone wants to replicate it,which leads to a series of similar properties. Additionally, public domain materials or intellectual property that a studio already owns and has an established fan base is much easier than taking a leap of faith in an original story. The same ideas are seen again and again until audiences become tired of it, which is something that even the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time are now struggling with.
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10 Live-Action Reboots
Uninspired remakes & lots of uncanny valley shots.
Admittedly, the Disney classics are not perfect. Remaking them means Disney can correct some problematic aspects of their movies and further explore the stories and characters. However, Disney seems to be committed to replicating animated sequences with CGI-heavy live-action remakes. Of all the Disney Princess remakes, Cinderella (2015) has the highest Rotten Tomatoes rating because it developed the basic story in plausible ways, such as discussing why Ella stayed with her step-family at all.
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The remake trend is spinning out of control with movies barely 10 years old up next, with rumors of a live-action Tangled (2010) and a confirmed live-action Moana (2016). The worst part is that it is catching on at other studios, as there are now plans for a live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2010), which is already a gorgeous movie that needs no improvement.
9 Cinematic Universes
They are all trying to copy the same franchise.
The MCU hype is seemingly dying down as the sheer amount of content becomes exhausting. Yet, other franchises are trying to replicate the MCU’s landmark success. It was perhaps inevitable that DC would rise to the challenge, Marvel being its greatest rival. The DCEU rushed into its cinematic universe, not taking the time to set up individual characters, slowly building to the ensemble movie, when the studio wanted to catch up with the MCU as fast as possible. Meanwhile, the MonsterVerse continues to expand, and even Harry Potter-related properties have been re-branded under the Wizarding World headline.
8 Quippy Humor In Every Blockbuster
The Avengers (2012) Started It.
“I told you, I don’t want to join your super secret boy band.” While Tony Stark has the funniest quotes, almost every character in the MCU drops random, sarcastic remarks while in the middle of a serious discussion, or more often a raging battle with alien forces. This kind of humor appears in Joss Whedon’s earlier work, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Long after Whedon exited the MCU, the quips remain, they are spreading to other movies, and audiences may be getting tired of them. Other types of humor are a breath of fresh air, such as the deadpan assertions of Wednesday or the earnest comedy of Our Flag Means Death.
7 Flimsy Adaptations
Board games, theme park rides, picture books…
Adaptations of video games are on the rise, with TV shows such as The Last of Us and Arcane receiving glowing reviews. However, while video games might work, they are part of a wider trend where studios will turn any medium of entertainment into mindless entertainment. At a time when IP is so important, every movie studio or streaming service wants to find its own franchise based on popular characters with an established fanbase.
Battleship came out in 2012, but Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) proves that tabletop game adaptations are not dead yet. Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) were both adapted into movies. Disney has been trying to recapture the unexpected success of Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) for 20 years, with endless Pirates of the Caribbean sequels and reboots, as well as The Haunted Mansion (2023) and the in-development Tower of Terror movie.
6 Musician Biopics
Incredible stories that should not be cash grabs.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) inspired a slew of musician biopics. Since then, Judy (2019), Rocketman (2019), Respect (2021), Elvis (2022), and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) have been released. Biopics of famous performers garner interest because of the undeniable impact the real people had on music. Additionally, the big personalities of performers make them good roles that draw some of the best actors in the business. Yet in some cases, these artists deserve the respect of having their stories told more carefully and not as cinematic events. Musician biopics are not inherently bad, but there is a place and a time for them.
5 Medical Dramas
Grey’s Anatomy still isn’t over.
House predates Grey’s Anatomy, but the latter undoubtedly gave rise to other soap opera-style series focusing on the lives of doctors, usually surgeons. While The Good Doctor, which is heading into its seventh season, provides valuable representation by having an autistic protagonist, New Amsterdam and The Dropout are superfluous. Disney even attempted to replicate the success of Grey’s Anatomy with Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., which was canceled after only two seasons. There is a place in television for medical dramas, but viewers don’t need dozens of versions of the same story.
4 Legacy Sequels
Some stories should be allowed to end.
Legacy sequels are follow-ups to movies that happen years later in the story’s time and usually in real time. They typically feature the characters from the original who have progressed to mentor roles, and sometimes the children of these characters. The Star Wars prequel trilogy and Cobra Kai are well-known examples, although the latter arguably worked better than the former. However, these sequels can feel like unwarranted fan service, especially when they fail to write the original characters well. It is also generally difficult to match the hype of a beloved classic.
3 AI Threats
On its way to being a cliché.
There are understandably a lot of AI movies and TV shows coming out at present because of real-world concerns about how AI will impact the workforce and human security. Recent movies and shows include The Creator (2023), M3GAN (2022), and Westworld. However, with so many coming out, the AI threat runs the risk of becoming a cliché marketing scheme that is sure to earn profits because of its relevance. Movie and TV shows should only tackle AI-centric stories if they have something new and important to say. It should be a serious topic and not just a plot point.
2 Long-Running Epic Fantasy
Not every show can be Game of Thrones.
Since Game of Thrones, many fantasy shows have been produced trying to replicate the landmark series’ success, with varying results. Additionally, some movie franchises, including Twilight and Harry Potter, are being rebooted as TV series. Some producers may feel cheated out of telling a more detailed story when producing a show like this was not fiscally possible at the time these movie franchises were beginning. However, like other potentially valuable trends, just because they can do it doesn’t mean they should. Studios should consider which properties are the best to be adapted instead of using any fantasy story they can get their hands on.
1 The Multiverse
Nothing matters and there are no stakes.
While Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) handle the multiverse well, more often than not, it leads to convoluted plots as movies and TV shows become stacked with additional versions of already established characters. The multiverse ruins movies and TV shows by introducing characters and settings that are ultimately meaningless when there is another version to take their place. The multiverse is one of the most divisive narrative trends. It makes the story confusing and causes the audience to care less about the story and more about cameo appearances.
