The Ctrl+Alt+C Problem: why Hollywood is losing adult audiences

You can only tell the same story so many times

Have you heard this one? A young man discovers he has a special gift and must use it to overcome evil. No wait, I’ve got another one. A single woman in New York must choose between some very different men. Or this: An outsider stands up to injustice and wins. Ok, this one then: A group of misfits learns that being different is okay. Scrolled past these yet and decided to watch reels instead?

Now I love a good reimagining. Some of the seminal films and books have been clever, thoughtful interpretations of tropes, archetypes, classics and debates. Who doesn’t want to see Mr Darcy wake up one day in modern Britain? Who doesn’t want to explore why Bertha Mason ended up locked in the attic? If you’re saying something new, and the storytelling isn’t too contrived, you’re being interesting. The problem is, however, that Hollywood knows this is a risk.

Have you ever sat opposite a toddler and asked it what they like about Frozen? You’ll get an excited little…