Dakota Johnson Calls Out Hollywood’s Reboot Obsession: Why Fresh Stories Still Matter
Hollywood has always had a love-hate relationship with remakes, reboots, and sequels. Lately, though, that ratio feels heavily weighted toward déjà vu—familiar characters, recycled plots, and a constant loop of “what worked before.” Actress Dakota Johnson pulled back the curtain on this trend recently, calling it out as one of the major issues in the current movie business. Her message? Audiences crave something new.
In an interview on Hot Ones, Johnson didn’t hold back. She said too many creative decisions are made by committee, often by execs who “don’t even really watch movies or know anything about them”—and whose safe bets steer studios toward content that’s already been proven. Studios, she argued, see success in one remake and then try to replicate it over and over rather than taking a chance on original ideas. (People.com)
Why Originality Matters More Now Than Ever
There are a few big reasons why Johnson’s critique is resonating:
- Audience fatigue. When everything feels recycled, viewers don’t get excited. They remember the originals, compare the remakes, and often feel let down. Johnson pointed out that people don’t want the same thing over again—they want fresh experiences, new stories, risks. (THE CINEMA GROUP)
- Creative vision versus formulas. Original content allows for storytelling that isn’t constrained by previous versions or expectations. Original characters, diverse voices, and fresh perspectives thrive when writers/directors aren’t forced into matching a template. Johnson emphasized that making art based on algorithms or formulas is limiting. (People.com)
- Cultural relevance. Retreads might miss the mark on current concerns. A story rebooted ten years ago might not speak to today’s social dynamics, audience values, or identities. Original work can adapt and reflect what’s happening in society now.
The Risk Side of Remakes, and What’s Lost
Johnson also acknowledged the financial logic behind reboots: they feel safer to studios and investors. But that comes with trade-offs:
- Stifled innovation. When studios lean on what’s worked before, fewer resources go toward new, untested ideas. Risk-averse approaches can limit who gets to tell stories and what stories are told.
- Creative disempowerment. For artists, having input matters. Johnson shared that some of her projects (like Madame Web) shifted from their original vision due to decisions she described as being taken away from the creative team. (Wikipedia)
- Audience alienation. People who want fresh voices—new characters, underrepresented stories, diversity in genre—can feel left behind. Even big-budget remakes sometimes fail to land because they don’t add value beyond nostalgia.
Signs of Hope
It isn’t all grim. Johnson’s stance is part of a broader pushback against formulaic content. Several recent films and shows are proving that original storytelling can succeed when it’s bold:
- Projects like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Past Lives have broken through with fresh, strong narratives audiences and critics love.
- There’s growing interest in giving creators more control, and more media outlets / production companies are investing in indie or lower-budget originals.
- Public conversation (from artists, critics, and fans) is increasingly focused on what’s missing rather than what’s familiar—there is an appetite for risk.
Dakota Johnson’s critique is blunt, but it’s a reflection of what many in the audience already feel. The current system may favor safety, yet safety doesn’t always build excitement or lasting impact. Originality, risk, and fresh voices might be harder to bankroll, but that’s also where culture moves forward.
If studios and creators lean more into vision over formula, they might discover more of the stories people are hungry to see. And if Hollywood starts listening, maybe the next wave of blockbusters won’t be reboots—they’ll be revelations.
