Hollywood’s Creative Void and the Resilience of Tolkien’s Work
The recent profitable re-release of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy indicates not just the enduring appeal of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original film adaptations but also highlights a concerning lack of creativity in Hollywood today.
The first film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, debuted in 2001 and was a significant success, earning over $900 million. Its sequels, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, together raked in more than $2 billion globally.
Re-releasing hit films isn’t new; it’s a practice that dates back to classics like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and Casablanca. Before TV and video cassettes became commonplace, theaters were the sole venue for revisiting beloved films.
Studios have learned that audiences enjoy rewatching films — sometimes after many years. Seasonal and anniversary re-releases have proven lucrative, and with IMAX technology and restoration capabilities, it’s become even easier to revive classics for new audiences.
Over a century, Hollywood has produced more than 25,000 films. Nowadays, major studios release around 200 to 300 titles each year, a stark contrast to over 800 films produced annually a century ago.
While film rankings are subjective and many films can easily fade from memory, a few endure for various reasons. Interestingly, the IMDb’s list of the worst films includes mostly those from this century, with only one exception. Conversely, only a handful of the top-rated films originated in the last 25 years, notably featuring Lord of the Rings titles.
Tolkien’s works were written many decades ago, yet they continue to resonate. Oddly, Hollywood seems hesitant to produce more family-friendly content, often opting for films laden with themes that clash with moral values. Quite frustrating is how the industry continues to push dark narratives filled with excessive profanity and violence, when there’s evidence showing that wholesome productions tend to perform better.
The cost of a movie ticket has increased over time, which makes focusing solely on the highest-grossing films misleading. Instead, examining the films that sold the most tickets reveals a trend—of the ten most viewed films, six are family-oriented. Titles like Gone with the Wind, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, and E.T. stand out, while not a single “R” rated film appears on that list.
So, if family-friendly films are evidently successful, why aren’t there more being produced? This disconnection is something I’ve noticed during my time at Focus on the Family, where we often hear from parents searching for wholesome entertainment. In response, we are set to release our first children’s animated film this fall.
Movies are a reflection of culture but also showcase the biases of those creating them. For example, Lewis R. Foster, the Oscar-winning writer behind Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, illustrated the potential of stories that embody moral integrity and community values.
His work and others like it highlight how a well-crafted story can inspire and influence. As Paul, a figure from ancient texts, noted, what we engage with can shape our perceptions and behaviors.
To genuinely nurture our culture, Hollywood might want to produce more films like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which emphasize virtues like hope, friendship, and loyalty.
In a 1954 review of The Lord of the Rings, W.H. Auden praised Tolkien’s unique storytelling ability, recognizing his immense talent for vivid descriptions. Perhaps Hollywood would do well to follow suit and focus on similar themes that resonate with audiences.
