Nollywood’s Obsession with remakes of classic movies and how it will impact the industry.
Nollywood has been making a plethora of remake movies these days, since the release of Ramsey Nouah’s 2019 sequel to the Nollywood classic, Living in Bondage - there have been many such releases. But, why is Nollywood obsessed with making such movies? And how will this pattern impact the future of Nollywood? Read on to find more about it.
Why so many remakes?
Nigeria film industry or Nollywood has a diverse background that dates back to their colonial era. The films that were made back in the day have a lot of sentimental value for Nigerians. So, whenever there’s a remake - people storm to the theatre to savor the essence of nostalgia in these films.
The idea of watching an old classic with a hint of some new content creates a sense of excitement in people. This is the reason why Nollywood is also obsessed with making such films as they work in the theatres and prove as a way of making more money with less work. A pertinent example of this would be the successful launch of Living in Bondage: Breaking Free in Nigeria. Which was loved by the audience and the critics because of the nostalgia involved.
Are remakes a thing outside Nollywood?
Yes, there have been many remakes recently in Hollywood and Bollywood. Both industries, especially Bollywood, make a whole lot of money by recycling old songs and remaking films from their own industry.
A recent example is Kabir Singh which was a super hit in theatres worldwide, but the story was not original and was cooped from another Indian (south Indian) film called Arjun Reddy.
Impact of remakes on Nollywood
There are two scenarios that can pan out from this situation. First, these remakes can be a source of income for the artists of the old classical films if producers take into account the issue of copyrights, etc. In this way, people can get to watch the remakes that they enjoy (sometimes) and the artists can make money and also benefit the people who are still alive from the older generation.
On the other hand, this remake wave can be detrimental to the future of new storytellers who want to tell new and unique stories. As producers will spend money on projects featuring remakes, it will demotivate the next generation of artists.
At the same time, people will eventually get tired of watching the remakes. This will mean fewer people in the theatres and fewer streams on different streaming platforms.
And finally, the remake wave will make the content repetitive and boring at some point. There will be zero innovation and creativity in the movies. This will be detrimental for the future and growth of Nollywood in the end.
The Solution
The producers need to realize that as much as it is important to make money, art is what will fill their pockets in the future. SO, investing in the art itself (by promoting original content) is the only way they can grow in the longer run.
And as far as the nostalgia is involved, one or two remakes yearly will do the job.
To Sum It All Up
Recently Nollywood, like Hollywood and Bollywood has been obsessed with remakes of classical movies. Audiences and the box office may love this trend for some time but it will prove to be disastrous for the growth of new storytellers. Therefore, there needs to be a balanced approach by producers and directors.
More writers and directors need the space and support to come out of their shells to make content that is fresh and fun to watch.
