Hollywood is responsible for producing some of the most iconic films and movie stars, providing the world with joy through a screen for more than a century. Though it seems that the capital of the entertainment industry has hit a plateau.

Box office revenues have fallen by about 6.3% in 2017, which is the lowest it has been since 1992. Many even joke that Hollywood has “ran out of ideas,” due to the staggering number of sequels being released and the lack of originality seen in current movies. One could argue that some of the worst movies being shown on the big screen in recent years include Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and The Emoji Movie.

People have even complained about Hollywood’s habit of making sequels, prequels, and adaptations of top grossing movies, tarnishing the original movie’s legacy. This problem becomes prevalent when we examine how 7 of the top 10 movies during 2013 and 2014 were sequels. In contrast to 1981, where 8 of the top 10 movies were originals with only 2 being sequels but 2011’s top 10 consisted of 8 sequels and 2 adaptations.

In comparison to the golden age of film during the late 1920s to the early 1960s, the future of cinema appears to be headed towards a gloomy path. As each year passes, the pressure on the movie industry grows. The people’s demand for more creatively cultivated films from Hollywood is constantly competing with Hollywood’s need for a quick buck.

This leaves us wondering; will Hollywood emerge from the flames, or perish with the fire?