ALEXANDRA ALCALA / ASST. A&C EDITOR

Childhood series and movies have been making a comeback for quite some time, but it seems as though not everybody is enjoying them. Reboots have always been around, whether it was continuing franchises such as “Jurassic Park” or expanding the storyline of beloved  shows and finished stories such as “Gossip Girl” and “Wizards of Waverly Place.” The biggest incentive behind remakes is that they can be profitable due to their nostalgic elements. Nostalgia is typically what entices previous fans  to  watch  these  reboots. However,  some  don’t bother out of fear of being disappointed. 

“Jurassic World” proved that reboots can be profitable as the film made more money than “Jurassic Park,” the original movie. The first three “Jurassic World” films gained success in the box office quickly and ended up becoming blockbuster hits. Nostalgia drew in the public when they decided to continue the story, which ended in the reboot franchise cumulatively grossing over 1 billion dollars. 

“I can go either way on reboots, but I usually enjoy them,” USD sophomore Riley Longo shared. “I always enjoy references to the first movies/episodes and always like a new storyline with characters I enjoy.”

As seen in the “Jurassic World” franchise, there  can  be  benefits  to the reboots and remakes. Making these types of projects has become a trend in the film industry. One of the principal benefits that come with remakes is that it opens  up  the storyline  to new  audiences  and  fresh perspectives. However, this is not always the reality of reboots. Frequently, they receive negative reactions rather than positive remarks. 

In these cases, long-time fans from  the  original  movies might not be  completely satisfied  with the  expansion of  their favorite  films and shows, but  younger  and  newer generations   get  the  chance   to   enjoy  remakes as  these new  films are  created to  appeal  to their  likings. Aspects  such as the  inclusion of new film technology allow for the enhancement of the watching experience, and soundtracks with popular musicians draw in new viewers. Some students note that, if a franchise is going to create a remake, they  have to  approach  it in a way that will please original fans.  

The “Wizards of Waverly Place” reboot comes to Disney+. Photo courtesy of @justinhenrie/Instagram

“A  series that  really  stuck  with  me  from  my  childhood  was probably   ‘Harry  Potter’   because I got to  grow  up  with  the characters and it was   amazing   to  see   them  grow into teenagers at about the  same  time  I was,” Longo said. “I was able   to  find  myself   in   the  characters that way. I would love to have a   reboot  but  I’d   like  the  original actors to come back and it would definitely need a good story line.” 

The topic is considered  controversial to many with mixed reactions from viewers. Some say remakes restrict creativity and take away film companies’ opportunity to come up with modern ideas and original storytelling. Some believe that companies should prioritize originality rather than relying on nostalgia for new projects. 

“My personal view on reboots isn’t exactly on the positive side,” USD first-year Apryl Flynn said. “I feel like reboots tend to destroy originalism in things. They take  away  the  raw  idea,  thoughts  and inspiration they were planted with.”

Besides the films mentioned previously, remakes and reboots have been screening and entering streaming services more and more frequently. The “Gossip Girl” reboot came out in 2021, but it was canceled after two seasons of being aired on HBO Max due to negative reviews and a lack of profit. In comparison, the original series aired up to six seasons and won 18 Teen Choice Awards throughout the years of its creation. 

A current and ongoing reboot, “That ‘90s Show” is based on “That ‘70s Show” which aired in 1998. The reboot came out last year, but stirred up some controversy as one of the original actors, Danny Masterson, has been in prison after being charged for sexually abusing two women. Doing a reboot of this  series was  risky  because the  audience  did  not  want  the   series back without the  original actors. Yet, other people argued that bringing  back  Danny  Masterson  was  a  mistake  and simply not possible.  In the end,  several   original   characters    returned for the reboot and Masterson’s character’s  absence was simply not addressed. However, for some  students, this was not enough.

“I watched the ‘That ‘70s Show’ reboot  and  I  actually  did  not  like  that  one   despite  the  characters  being brought back, but that was more because of the writing,” Longo said.

Another reboot that has faced controversy is part of the Ghostbusters franchise. The two original movies  that came  out during the ‘90s were a hit and instantly became Halloween classics. However, the 2016  reboot was a predominantly female cast. While there still were some appearances  from the  original cast, this did not seem to appeal to the public and the film quickly started  receiving hateful  comments and critiques. This did not stop the franchise and, in 2021 and 2024, new   “Ghostbusters”  movies  hit  the  theaters.  Both  new movies  gave  bigger  roles to  the original cast of characters  from the ‘90s. This could  be  attributed  to the  film’s major  nostalgic  sentiment and  led to them receiving more  positive  criticism  than the 2016 film. 

“One  rebooted  film I’ve watched is ‘Ghostbusters,’ Flynn said. “I feel like this film should have been left as an original piece. ‘Un-rebooted.’ The old ‘Ghostbusters’ had a sense of urbanism to it. Like an old type  of movie  still with   innocence and uniqueness. This new one is filled too much with modernism  and influenced  by other movies that take away a sense of it being  one unique  and original piece.”

For  students  like  Flynn,  the  old-timey   atmosphere  of   the   original films was the nostalgic element that drew them away from the reboot.

Opinions on reboots always vary, as it not only depends on personal opinion, but also on the film that is being remade and the approach the creators and directors take in production. Aspects such as the return of original characters, actors and  actresses,  the  evolution  of the storyline or even more technical things such as the soundtrack   and  the cinematography can affect the outcome of the project and the opinion of the audience. 

The 2016 ‘Ghostbusters,’ featured a predominantly female cast. Photo courtesy of @ghostbusters/Instagram