Within the past five years, film studios have been increasingly re-releasing their films in theatres for a limited engagement, commonly in 3D. Has this been because of a demand from the public, or is it just another ploy by Hollywood to dig their hands back into the pockets of its loyal customers? Based on the success of these re-released movies, it is a little of both.
“I love it when I get to see some of my favorites back up on the big screen,” senior Sam Locke said, “especially when I wasn’t even born the first time they came around.”
Powerful studios like Walt Disney Pictures and Universal Pictures are gearing up for a good deal of re-releases. Disney got the ball rolling back in 2009 when it brought back its successful Toy Story films in order to reinstate interest in the franchise before the final sequel Toy Story 3 was released for the first time the following year. The studio has been releasing many of its fan-favorites every year after that. In 2011, The Lion King blew away everyone in the industry after it took in an astonishing $94 million at the box office. Since then, all of the studios have been prepping their most beloved to get back on the big screen.
“I know Universal is having Jurassic Park come back in April and that came out in 1993, so I am glad I will finally get to see it in the theatre,” junior Yoko Eskai-Cavalcanti. “The fact that it will be in 3D makes it even more exciting.”
Fox began its takeover of the re-release craze when it announced that it will re-release each one of its Star Wars films year after year in Digital 3D until the whole saga has been redone. Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released last February and Episode II: Attack of the Clones is slated to come out on Sept. 20 this year. When all is said and done, the last film will come out in the year 2017.
“It’s a little scary to know that Fox will still be making money off of films we’ve already seen in 2017,” senior William Hulse said. “But I really don’t mind, because I love those movies.”
Based on the financial triumph of these movies, fans really do not seem to care about paying for a movie that they may have already seen more than once. Disney, as of Jan. 24, has made $254,818,080 alone on all of their re-released films and they do not show any signs of slowing down, with plans for The Little Mermaid to splash back onto the silver screen this September.
“I figure it’s a symbiotic relationship,” Locke said. “The movie companies get our money and we get to see remastered 3D-converted movies we cherish, that not only hold a special place in our hearts, but that I have a lot memories of watching with friends and family for the first time. So, in a way it’s like a trip back down memory lane, and to me, that’s worth the cost.”
