QandAs: Buzz

Why is Hollywood re-making so many classic movies?

Answer:
We're suffering through the Age of the Re-Make because

Hollywood is struggling to find the silver lining in the dark clouds of lower theater attendance and declining box office revenues. Out of that desperation, studios are looking for "sure bets" - films with proven performance and built-in audiences.

That means Hollywood is increasingly turning to tried and true classics - movies that historically brought in big bucks. The re-make is in theory less risky than green lighting an original project because there's already an audience that liked the original film.

Consider some of the recent re-makes, which are most prevalent in the horror genre because horror films are among the most profitable in Hollywood due to low budgets and big box office draws. Dawn of the Dead. Halloween. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And think of those coming soon, including: Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

We've also just received word that MTV is re-making one of the biggest cult classics of all time - The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Tinseltown is also reviving long-lost franchises such as Indiana Jones and RoboCop to cash in on built-in fan bases and tried-and-true movie formulas.

Of course, in all of this is risk. Can lightning really strike twice, or will moviegoers tire of re-makes that feature stories they've already seen? It remains to be seen.