Hollywood Studios Drop 'Sequel' Labels as 75% of Gen Z Favors Original Films

2 articles · Updated · Variety · Jun 17

Studios are increasingly marketing follow-up films without words like “sequel,” “reboot” or “remake,” betting that audiences recoil from titles that signal recycled ideas.
A 2024 National Research Group study found 75% of Gen Z prefers original content, and executives say younger moviegoers often treat numbered installments as “homework” rather than discovery.
Sony is calling October release “The Social Reckoning” a “companion piece” to 2010’s “The Social Network,” while Disney has favored “reimagining” and Universal sold 2024’s “Twisters” as a “new chapter.”
The strategy is not foolproof: Lionsgate downplayed “Ballerina”’s John Wick ties until weak awareness forced it to add “From the World of John Wick” to the title.
Studios still use franchise links when they help—such as “Toy Story 5” or “The Devil Wears Prada 2”—showing the balance between brand familiarity and the promise of something new.