Haven’t we seen this movie before? How studios are trying to lure older audiences to cinemas by rebooting films like Jurassic Park and The Matrix with the original cast
- Numbers of younger audiences visiting cinemas has steadily declined over years
- Even pre-pandemic UK and other countries saw admissions reach an all time low
- Producers could be trying to entice older audiences with nostalgia heavy films
- Cult film like Scream and Batman will be remade featuring their original actors
Hollywood studios desperate to claw back losses caused by the pandemic the popularity of streaming services among younger viewers have come up with a new tactic to lure older audiences to the cinema.
Filmakers churning out remakes, reboots and sequels is nothing new, but now theyre likely to feature the star who originally made the film famous – even if it’s decades on from the movie’s original release.
From Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Resurrections to Neve Campbell and Jamie Lee Curtis’ horror reboots, films are increasingly jam packed with A-listers resurrecting the roles which helped to cement their fame in the first place.
While their names might be alien to Gen Z movie-goers, over the last decade the number of young people going to the cinema has reportedly declined, meaning the biggest demographic of moviegoers are becoming increasingly less profitable.
And as cinemas struggle to claw back to pre-pandemic numbers, studios are trying to cash in on older audiences by luring them in with the characters they know and love.
Cinemas have been awash with stars resurrecting the roles which brought them into the spotlight in recent years. Pictured, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in 1978 slasher film Halloween
In 2018 Jamie Lee Curtis, 63, stepped into her role as Laurie Strode in the slasher franchise Halloween once again. She is pictured in the 2021 follow-up film Halloween Kills
It was reported in August last year that one cinema’s box office takings were 51 per cent of the equivalent 2019 figures – however just a month later the latest James Bond film boosted numbers to pre-pandemic levels.
According to figures, the movie – featuring a character who has been known and loved by viewers since the franchise first hit screens in 1962 – attracted older viewers in particular.
AMC-owned Odeon said that more than one-third of the tickets were booked by people over the age of 46.
According to the UK cinema association, admissions and box office revenue had steadily been increasing for several years – however began slowly declining in 2018.
Keanu Reeves, 57, reprised his role of Neo in a follow-up to classic sci-fi film The Matrix , which was met with much critical praise upon its debut in 1999 and was followed by two sequels, both released in 2003
The reason for this decrease could be a lack of young people – with research from industry expert Stephen Follows revealing admissions from 15- to 24-year-olds fell by 20.6 per cent between 2011 and 2017.
According to figures by BFI, youngsters have been the driving force of cinema – with numbers of cinema-goers between the ages of 15-24 previously outweighing adults aged 55 and over by two to one – meaning a decrease in their numbers could have a hugely detrimental impact on overall figures.
And as figures struggle to recover after hitting an all time low during the pandemic, coupled with the recent boom in streaming services, it could be producers are trying to appeal to older viewers instead.
Filmmaker Xav Langton, who directed award-winning independent documentary The Shell, felt there ‘almost certainly’ a commercial reason for cinemas increasingly seeking to appeal to an older audiences.
‘Older filmgoers grew up in an age when cinema ruled supreme, while these days the cinema has to compete with the likes of Netflix, YouTube and Apple TV for a younger audience’, he said.
Laura Dern will reprise her role of Dr. Ellie Sattler in the latest Jurassic Park instalment after first appearing in the role in 1993
The franchise’s latest instalment will see original actors Sam Neill, Dern and Jeff Goldblum reunite on-screen for the first time since the first Jurassic Park movie
‘Digital natives are far harder to get to the cinema than people who grew up with it in their blood, for whom going to the movies was in their DNA. Older actors reprising their roles can guarantee that a certain demographic will attend, as it taps into a nostalgia and emotional bond that continues throughout people’s lives.
‘Essentially, ‘dusting off’ older actors are going for the low hanging fruit.’
Among the actors and actresses’ reprising classic roles is Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise, who will once again portray Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in a forthcoming sequel to 1986’s Top Gun.
The long-awaited movie has been in the works for several years and Cruise, who also serves as one of Top Gun: Maverick’s producers, previously insisted he wouldn’t start filming until they had a ‘special story’.
Among the actors and actresses’ reprising classic roles is Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise, who will once again portray Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in a forthcoming sequel to 1986’s Top Gun
The long-awaited movie has been in the works for several years and Cruise also serves as one of Top Gun: Maverick’s producers
The original film was the highest-grossing movie of the year, taking in an estimated $177,030,000 globally and launching Cruise to international stardom.
Cruise, 59, also said that he and his collaborators held off on working on the sequel until ‘technology evolved so we could delve deeper into the experience of a fighter pilot.’
Keanu Reeves, 57, has seen not one but two of his famous roles come to life once again, with follow-ups of the 1980s Bill & Ted franchise and the hugely successful Matrix franchise.
Released in 2020, the actor star in Bill & Ted Face the Music, the third film in the cult sci-fi comedy film series, which took place almost 30 years before the last instalment.
The following year saw Reeves reprise his role of Neo in a follow-up to classic sci-fi film The Matrix, which was met with much critical praise upon its debut in 1999 and was followed by two sequels, both released in 2003.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy are set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson Sisters in a follow up to the 1993 Halloween comedy Hocus Pocus
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy are set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson Sisters in a follow up to the 1993 Halloween comedy Hocus Pocus
The horror genre has seen somewhat of a surge in films resurrecting famous roles, with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox both starring in the fifth installment in the Scream film series
Courteney Cox, Jamie Kennedy, Neve Campbell are pictured in the original Scream movie in 1996
While the original has been described as one of the best science fiction films of all time, The Matrix Resurrections was dubbed ‘laughably bad’ by critics.
In 2018 Jamie Lee Curtis, 63, stepped into her role as Laurie Strode in the slasher franchise Halloween once again, releasing a follow-up last year and another in the pipeline.
The movie received a positive critical response – with reviewers claiming that after years of ‘disappointing’ sequels, the movie entertained using ‘basic – yet still effective – ingredients’.
In fact the horror genre has seen somewhat of a surge in films resurrecting famous roles, with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox both starring in the fifth installment in the Scream film series.
Meanwhile Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy are set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson Sisters in a follow up to the 1993 Halloween comedy Hocus Pocus.
Michael Keaton will reprise his role as Batman over 30 years after starring in Tim Burton’s iconic 1989 film
Will Smith, 53, will reportedly step into the role of Robert Neville for a follow-up of his 2007 movie I Am Legend – which grossed $585 million internationally
Another franchise remake which has seen success is the 2015 Jurassic Park sequel – which itself has spawned a sequel and another follow-up due to be released later this year.
Released nearly two decades after the original Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic world saw Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard take on leading roles – however followed a similar format to the original.
Furthermore, the franchise’s latest instalment will see original actors Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum reunite on-screen for the first time since the first Jurassic Park movie.
And the trend for stars reprising their old roles doesn’t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon, with upcoming remakes including Michael Keaton as Batman over 30 years after starring in Tim Burton’s iconic 1989 film.
The 69-year-old actor will be one of two Batman’s in The Flash, as Ben Affleck will also reprise the role after most recently appearing in Zack Snyder’s Justice League director’s cut.
There’s even reports that Will Smith, 53, will step into the role of Robert Neville for a follow-up of his 2007 movie I Am Legend – which grossed $585 million internationally.
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