So, there’s a new movie which just came out, called Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Now, I have not seen this movie and I am not particularly intending to at the present time. I have not seen any of the other movies in this franchise, so I don’t see a reason to start now.

However, this is just one of many movies which have been released in the past few months which are part of some franchise, or so-called “cinematic universe.”

For instance, there was a new Godzilla and Kong movie, a 4^th Kung Fu Panda movie, a 5^th Mad Max movie – and looking ahead to the summer, we’re getting a 4^th Despicable Me movie, another installment in the Quiet Place franchise, Transformers, Beetlejuice, Venom, and sequel to Inside Out (which we of course all needed) and that’s not everything.

The Fall Guy, which just came out at the beginning of the month, is a movie I am actually somewhat curious to see. Not because it seems incredibly deep or compelling, but because it at least seems to be a new, original story. Although, it sounds like they are already planning a sequel, so, so much for that.

But why does this matter it the vast majority of the movies which are currently in theaters are sequels and franchise films? If people enjoy watching these movies – which they clearly do, or they wouldn’t keep making them – then why does it matter if they are constantly being made?

And, to a certain extent that is true, people enjoy them, so let them enjoy them.

But this trend is a demonstration of an underlying problem with the current “cinematic landscape,” if you will, which is the general reluctance of filmmakers and the studios which back them, to take risks.

In the past, I have been critical of directors who “play it safe” with where they take their original story, but it is so much worse when there is a fear of even exploring anything original.

Watch my full video here: