For the last decade, Hollywood has been increasingly obsessed with reproducing films that have been deemed classics, and the issue has exacerbated particularly over the past four years. It’s apparent that each year Hollywood becomes progressively more lazy. Usually, Hollywood doesn’t irritate me. They have their big budget movies, and I have my movies that I watch and love. But when Hollywood begins creating remakes and reboots of seemingly every film classic? That’s when the line is crossed, especially when the remakes and reboots are absolutely atrocious.

To understand the problem with Hollywood’s obsession with classic films, one must know the difference between a remake and a reboot.

Film Remake: A modern reproduction of a classic film. Film remakes commonly consist of the exact characters, setting and plot–the stories are told from different writers and actors; however, remakes usually remain similar, if not exact, to the original (e.g., Pet Sematary and The Jungle Book).

Film Reboot: When a film is added to an existing fictional world or franchise; however, this is not a prequel or a sequel. A film reboot tends to convey a different story from the original, usually containing different characters and setting (e.g., Men In Black: International and 2016’s Ghostbusters).

Some things are just better left alone. Reboots such as Godzilla: The King of the Monsters, Men In Black: International and an evil Superman in Brightburn are films attempting to revive a franchise that has run its course. Reboots aim to put a modern spin on everything, but it rarely works–it usually comes off as cliched and forced. Both film reboots and remakes feel strained because no modernized film version–no matter the amount of money poured into a project–lives up to the original. There is perhaps no better example than Disney. During this year alone (and it’s only June), Disney has chosen to remake their classic animated films Dumbo, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Sometimes–very rarely–a remake may come close to the greatness of a classic. There’s nothing wrong with trying–but why try? Why wreck a classic? Why can’t Hollywood just let films be? Animation remakes (which today tend to be remade as live action) attempt to impress audiences with extravagant sets and pricey actors. But was there something wrong with the original Aladdin? I want to meet the studio head who believed someone could replace Robin Williams as the Genie. There was a time when Disney simply re-released their originals into theaters every seven years with the intent of introducing the film to a new generation, but today Disney believes any film they regurgitate into the theaters with a high budget and highly paid actors deserves to be seen and even praised. Maybe if Disney and Hollywood created innovative films, instead of always crawling back to remaking and rebooting films, they would still legitimately influence American cinema.

The idea of children watching and growing up with these remakes and reboots rather than experiencing the original classics is truly sickening–no joke, it makes me nauseated (do not get me started about The Jungle Book remake). As a copy, they lack the natural emotional connection audiences experienced with the original; in attempting to literally remake feelings, remakes tend to fail at resonating with audiences. Growing up with Disney films, each movie has remained with me in some way. Seeing my favorite childhood movies be ruined for future generations breaks my heart. Hollywood produces reboots and remakes without care of captivating an audience. They only care for what the audience has to provide before they take their seats–their money.

Perhaps one day Hollywood will realize originality and creativity is what attracts and interests an audience. When I see a trailer of a new film that involves an unfamiliar story with decent acting–I’m hooked. It might be my inner film nerd, but many of my friends and family search (i.e., stream) for the uniqueness that Hollywood rarely presents in theaters. Although Hollywood may be capable of revisiting every film they please, they will never be able to duplicate the love audiences feel for the classics and the long-lasting impressions those classics made. It’s time for Hollywood to make the new classics.