Wednesday’s popularity proves that reboots can be successful. Within three weeks of release, Tim Burton’s Wednesday became Netflix’s second most-watched English language series. Ranking at first is Stranger Things which borrows influences from many different horror stories but is still original content. Wednesday, arguably, is one of the most successful reboots of the last several years. Not only did Wednesday defy expectations, but it also broke Tim Burton’s negative ratings streak which started with another 60s reboot, Dark Shadows. Wednesday’s hype shows that both Burton and reboots can have a fruitful future in entertainment.
Wednesday Proves Reboots Aren’t Doomed For Failure
Wednesday is for all intents and purposes, a reboot bringing back a franchise for another round. This is commonly thought of as a kiss of death for older franchises that were brought back for another show or movie. However, the sheer success of Burton’s Wednesday proves installments like this can be immensely popular if done right. Wednesday did many things right, for example, Wednesday didn’t try to follow too closely to other Addams Family content. Wednesday focused on its title character and downgraded the rest of the family to supporting roles. This was smart because it allowed Burton to create a whole new world for Wednesday to inhabit.
Why So Many Reboots Do So Badly (& Yet Some Do So Well)
Reboots are tricky to get right and do not always guarantee financial success. Reboots must walk the line between staying true to the spirit of the original while also not copying shot-by-shot. Some reboots differ so drastically from the original that they alienate older fans and fail to resonate with younger audiences. For example, earlier this year, Rob Zombie released The Munsters based on a sitcom released the same year as The Addams Family. Unlike Wednesday, Zombie’s reboot did poorly with critics and audiences. While it also chose to focus on parts of the family, leaving out Marilyn and Eddie Munster, the three characters weren’t compelling enough to sustain the films running time.
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