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Why original movies keep failing

Plus, 10 wildly original films that took a big swing (and nailed it)

John at Pix
October 16, 2026

Why do original movies keep failing?

Hi, friend! Welcome back to Worth the Watch! Last weekend I went to the theater to watch Tom Cruise’s newest movie, Digger. I bought a ticket partly because I thought it looked unique (or at the very least, amusing), but more so because I read that it’s been a colossal flop at the box office, and I wanted to put my money where my mouth is when I complain that “we need more original movies!” And let me tell you, I’m glad I did because it was one of the most ambitious films I’ve seen all year.

Tom Cruise in Digger

So why, then, is nobody seeing Digger? It has all the ingredients of a blockbuster hit: Tom Cruise, Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, an incredible score, and scathing commentary on the money-hungry psychos who rule our world and destroy our planet. It seems like the type of movie audiences have been begging for—and yet, it’s a massive failure.

For years, viewers have complained that Hollywood has run out of original ideas. We're tired of reboots that feel like cash grabs, low-effort sequels, and seemingly every new movie and show being based on a book. But when Hollywood actually takes a chance on something bold and original, do we show up to support it? In today's Worth the Watch, I'm digging into why ambitious, original movies like Digger struggle at the box office, and how their failures help explain why Hollywood keeps returning to their bread and butter: adaptations.

Still from Digger

If you haven’t heard of Digger, it's a biting social satire about a billionaire oil tycoon (Tom Cruise) scrambling to save the world from an environmental catastrophe of his own making. It’s a doomer, feel-bad movie poking fun at the absurdity of the current moment we’re living through. It’s bold, unconventional, and at times hilarious—but it provides zero catharsis. Which brings us to the first major hurdle facing original movies: convincing people to actually watch them.

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A tough sell

Getting butts in seats for an original movie not based on a popular IP is difficult for two reasons. First, getting viewers to commit their time and money to a universe they know next to nothing about is a big ask. Especially when that world, in the case of Digger, is a pretty nihilistic one. Given how bleak the real world already feels, many viewers would rather spend their leisure time watching something that allows them to mentally escape. A feel-good story, a superhero movie, a so-bad-it’s-good horror movie to point and laugh at. Things like that.

Secondly, one of the best parts of going to the cinema is the experience of watching a film with friends or family. And while you might be excited to see an odd, original new film, convincing your group to come along is another story. After all, it's difficult to get everyone on board with an artsy meta-satire when the new Spider-Man movie is playing right next door. Especially when, for many Americans, going to the theater is an increasingly rare occasion.

Still from Digger

We don’t know what we want

Steve Jobs famously said, “You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new.” While he may have been referring to consumer technology, this rings true with entertainment as well. We say we want original stories, but when Hollywood delivers the thing we claim to want, we don’t show up. I know I’m guilty of it!

Back in May 2025, I was super excited about A24’s newest dark comedy, Friendship. It looked like the exact type of cringy comedy I love. I was sick and tired of the never-ending superhero slop that Marvel and DC put out every year, and I wanted something fresh. But which movie did I actually end up buying a ticket for that month? Thunderbolts. Yep, another Marvel movie. It was more convenient, more of my friends wanted to see it, and I couldn't justify spending money on two trips to the theater that month.

Still from Digger

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Reboots, sequels, and adaptations

Making a successful (and profitable) movie is hard. Just getting a film made—regardless of quality—is a massive, expensive undertaking. There are costs at every step of the process: developing a script, paying the cast and crew, production, marketing, the list goes on. Because of that, the Hollywood executives financing these projects are understandably careful about where they put their money. And to them, the safest bets are often reboots, remakes, sequels, and adaptations.

Popular IP from other mediums (particularly books and video games) comes with a passionate fanbase already baked in. It’s infinitely easier to market a new superhero movie than an experimental, play-within-a-movie film like Digger. For more on this, I highly recommend reading Hollywood wants your bookshelf, by my friend and coworker, Genevieve.

Still from Digger

A broken system

While perusing reviews as Digger’s credits rolled, I stumbled upon a quote from filmmaker Chris Stuckmann that succinctly articulates why Hollywood keeps playing it safe:

Begging for originality in film and then deriding it when it arrives is why the film industry is broken.

—Chris Stuckmann

Hollywood does, in fact, listen to what viewers want. But it listens to the numbers. As the saying goes, you have to vote with your wallet. And unfortunately, time and time again, viewers' spending habits have told Hollywood that we're more interested in familiar franchises than original stories. As long as that's where the money goes, can we really blame studios for continuing to give us more of the same?

So the next time a bold, original movie catches your eye, I encourage you to make an effort to see it in theaters. After all, if we want Hollywood to keep taking chances on new ideas, we have to be willing to take a chance on them, too.

If you’re also craving some fresh, wholly unique movies, check out this list of 10 of my favorite one-of-a-kind films.

10 Movies That Took a Big Swing (And Nailed It)

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John Farrar, the guy who watches everything @ Pix Media

John Farrar went to film school, spent a few years as an editor, then accidentally built an audience online by sharing his passion for cinema. He covers film and TV for Pix Media, interviews the people behind some of your favorite shows and movies, and has never once successfully talked himself out of buying a movie ticket.

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