Doctor Who, Jurassic World, Top Gun: Maverick--people say that Hollywood has run out of ideas. All we see today are remakes of old movies and shows. But this isn't a new phenomenon, and it is rooted in deep psychological needs and economic principles.

Dr. Lauren Rosewarne, a professor at the University of Melbourne, explains what makes these reboots so satisfying in her book Why We Remake. She sets out 6 rationals for rehashing old movies: Better, Economic, Nostalgic, Americanized, Creative, and Fashionable.

She first explains that remakes are not new. At the dawn of the Silver Screen age, one of the most lauded movies in history, The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland, was actually a remake of a 1925 black and white film, and an example of a better remake. The 1939 was in color!

The economic remake is created because it is a safer investment for film companies to retell a story that has already succeeded. The audience also knows spending money on it will be a good bet since they liked the first one. The Doctor Who franchise is a top example.

The Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, Mulan--Disney is a champion remaker! That's because they focus on kids. They time strategically, mapping out when the viewers of the original have grown into adulthood and have children themselves. They target nostalgia.

Hollywood also likes to Americanize foreign films. Often made on a smaller scale, the foreign film that shows moderate success in America despite being subtitled, is likely to get picked up for the American treatment. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo comes to mind.

Sometimes a director believes they can do better--be more creative. A Star is Born is a prime movie to explore. It had been done 3x! But we then see it made again, this time with a star cast, country music ... and drag. Done a few times, it still managed to be different.

Last is fashion--what's trending and why? Dr. Rosewarne looks to big events like 9/11. After that event, we saw reboots of several alien invasion films, echoing the sense of uncertainty and demise. Post-COVID, we may see a rehash of viral films like 28 Days Later or Outbreak.

Some films like Top Gun tick multiple boxes. Audiences are nostalgic for who they were when the original came out. Producers, facing uncertain theater attendance, felt they'd hedge their bets. And in a way it reflects a strong U.S. that's trendy in the face of perceived decline.

Next time you see a remake, don't feel the world isn't a creative place anymore. Reboots serve several purposes. Make it a fun exercise to pinpoint why the studio chose to make it again or the audience is queuing up to see it again.