Future of film rests with Hollywood’s familiar brands

So has Hollywood run out of ideas?

The speed at which Tinsel Town generates sequels is dizzying. In the UK’s Top 10 films of 2017, seven were sequels and two remakes.

But 20 years ago only two in the Top 10 were sequels. When I was young, I was outraged I had to wait three years for a sequel to the original Star Wars. With Star Wars: The Last Jedi still in cinemas and Solo: A Star Wars Story out in May, my seven-year-old doesn’t have to wait four months between films.

Cinema audiences are stalling. UK admissions were £175.9million in 2002, but down to £168.3million in the most recent figures. To offset this decline, Hollywood has expanded its brands across the globe and an advertising budget stretches a lot further if the film’s brand is already popular.

Sequels, remakes and spin-offs are the franchise future.