Manufactured Nostalgia: The Reboot Epidemic
Hocus Pocus 2, Freakier Friday, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, And Just Like That, Camp Rock 3, Practical Magic 2, Devil Wears Prada 2.
The classic movies and TV shows we watched throughout childhood, transitioning us through our teens and early adulthood, are making a comeback– but is that necessarily a good thing?
In the next few months, the world will be brought back to some of our favorite stories and characters. The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato are coming together to bring us back to Camp Rock. Practical Magic, revamping our nostalgic memories of our favorite cozy, whimsical, and witchy movie. Devil Wears Prada continues the story of Andy Sachs and the iconic Miranda Priestly in the soon-to-be second film.
Both actors and watchers– older, changed by life experiences, developed in who we are and who we want to become. Should the magic of these movies be left with the original? Can the sequels or remakes even come close to the love that was shared amongst the watchers of the first?
I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say, I usually don’t have high hopes for sequels and reboots of movies or shows that I love– which is the opposite of what you would expect, I know. When it comes to stories we loved when we were younger, that came out at the perfect time for our viewing, like Devil Wears Prada in the early 2000s and Practical Magic in 1998, the announcement that there will be a reboot, in today’s culture, almost creates anxiety within a lot of viewers.
Wondering if they’re going to portray the characters the same way after such a long time, if the music or costumes will be as fitting for the characters, and if it’s going to ruin the love we have for the first one.
However, sometimes bringing back these stories could be seen as a good thing. Freakier Friday and Hocus Pocus 2 were risky releases that ended up eliciting good responses from the audience. Freakier Friday maintained the same goofy and comedic nature that the first one did, while portraying the complex dynamic of a mother and daughter, resonating with so many in the same way the first one did.
And Just Like That, the reboot of Sex and the City– a largely beloved 90s rom-com TV show– was a release on the opposite end of the spectrum, not well received by fans. A lot of articles were written about how the show was a disaster, unfortunately, having a lot of inconsistencies with character personas and plotlines. Even people who did enjoy the show often referred to it as a good “hate-watch.”.
These re-releases of stories are a big money grab for companies that produce the films or shows. Manufactured nostalgia is meant to profit from works that they know are already loved. Those who work on these films know that no matter what the opinions of watchers are– whether excitement for the sequel or watching out of pure loyalty to the story– they are going to make money off of movie tickets and renting the films and TV shows.
After all, even bad press is still press, and this is Hollywood.
So, can they make a good sequel in the end? Guess we’ll just have to find out. 2026 is the year of re-releases, and I am ready to cast my judgment.
Strike Out,
Madi Denizard
Boca Raton
Madi Denizard is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. In typical Leo fashion, she is a social butterfly and loves self-expression of all kinds. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a book, mermaiding in the ocean or crocheting her newest masterpiece. You can reach her by email at madison.denizard@gmail.com or on Instagram @mpaigee_
