April 21, 2025, 11:48 am | Read time: 7 minutes
When talking about films and series, terms such as reboot or remake quickly come up. But what are they anyway, and what are the similarities and differences? TECHBOOK explains what they mean.
A glance at the most successful movies of recent years consistently shows a familiar trend: sequels and new installments of beloved series and entertainment franchises dominate global box office earnings. Hollywood’s drive to develop expansive, marketable franchises extends beyond movies to include series and streaming. Terms such as reboot or remake are often used. But what exactly do they mean? TECHBOOK explains all the details and offers guidance.
Overview
Reboot, Remake and Their Common Bracket
Even if they are fundamentally different and always mean something different: a reboot or remake never exists in a vacuum. While it’s possible to consider them as standalone works, they cannot exist without some context.
What they all have in common is that their very existence is based on a previous work, which therefore provides the foundation. Those responsible either refer explicitly to the original or take it as an opportunity to distance themselves from it. There are always parallels, be it in the plot, the characters, the title or other features.
And it is not uncommon for several factors to be the same, which are then more or less varied. It is, therefore, all the more important to know what the individual words mean so as not to get confused.
What Is a Reboot?
One of the most frequently used terms when it comes to new editions of well-known material is reboot. A reboot, also known as a ‘fresh start,’ implies a significant difference from a remake: it aims to begin anew, often rebooting entire franchises, such as well-known film series or TV shows. Thus, reboots are typically not standalone titles, especially when there is no prior intention for continuation.
As “Screen Rant” writes, a reboot is a new version of a previously produced work, which can break with its narrative continuity. This means that whatever happened before can be completely ignored. This clears the way for new stories and stars. For instance, after four film adaptations between 1989 and 1997, Christopher Nolan rebooted the comic book series with the titular hero in ‘Batman Begins.’
Although the avenger in the bat costume had long been known, Nolan’s film was a completely new interpretation, right from the start. It made no reference whatsoever to the four previous films, with only the characters and some core elements of the plot overlapping—due to the source material.
At the same time, a reboot can only consist of one film if it has failed financially. ‘The Mummy’ from 2017, starring Tom Cruise, was supposed to reboot the franchise of the same name and also establish a cinematic universe with familiar movie monsters. However, as it flopped at the box office, the studio Universal buried its plans for further related projects.
Soft Reboot
A conventional reboot can also be termed a ‘hard reboot,’ in contrast to a ‘soft reboot.’ The latter has many elements of a reboot, but without completely abandoning the old narrative continuity—at least superficially. Thus, what has transpired is considered canon and is presumed to be known in the new narrative of the soft reboot, whether or not it is explicitly referenced.
Consequently, the transition to something new is smoother, retaining more familiar elements, such as specific characters and even actors. Nevertheless, the tone, style and intention will change in the long term. Fans also have to get used to a large number of new faces in general.
According to “TV Tropes,” possible strategies for accomplishing a soft reboot in terms of content can include time jumps, alternative time levels or even prequels. A good example is the “Creed” films starring Michael B. Jordan. These are set in the same narrative world as “Rocky,” albeit many years later, and Sylvester Stallone himself can be seen repeatedly as the old Rocky Balboa. Nevertheless, Adonis Creed takes center stage with his own story.
“Gritty” Reboot
In the reboot sector, a tendency towards the “hardening” of styles and stories has been observed for some time. Films and series that once had a lighter and more entertaining tone have taken on a much more serious, somber, and gritty tone through their reboots.
Once again, “Batman Begins” is a prime example of this, especially in contrast to the previous “Batman & Robin,” which was often described as silly. And while “The Prince of Bel-Air” is a popular comedy sitcom, the new edition “Bel-Air” goes in a much more dramatic direction.
At its best, the “Gritty” reboot can literally reinvent a work through the sometimes radical break in style and greatly enhance it artistically. It has also already been shown that this approach can find many fans. However, as “GQ” once wrote, it runs the risk of becoming a cliché itself.
Multiboot
Does the multiboot really exist? If the blog “What Would Bale Do?” had its way, yes. In any case, it is not yet a universally known and established term. But the idea behind it is worth mentioning and, above all, reflects a narrative trend in many modern blockbusters and series: the multiverse.
Whether in the MCU or other major entertainment brands, parallel universes with different versions of the same characters and stories are becoming increasingly common. In this context, the concept of a multiboot comes into play. This approach allows for a sequel where characters and actors can return, thanks to alternative timelines and universes.
One of the most prominent examples of a multiboot revolves around the friendly spider from the neighborhood: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” brings together three different Spider-Man actors from three different film series and narrative continuities—Tobey Maguire from Sam Raimi’s films (early noughties), Andrew Garfield (Marc Webb films from 2012 and 2014), and Tom Holland (MCU films by Jon Watts since 2017).
Remake Explained
Unlike a reboot, a remake is often a new edition of a single work rather than a series. A remake can be described as a new interpretation of an older film, typically preserving the core elements of the plot. Apart from that, remakes can remain very close to the original or take artistic liberties.
Modern examples of remakes are the live-action adaptations of old Disney animated classics such as “Cinderella” or “Beauty and the Beast.” These basically tell the familiar story, but in a new guise and sometimes with a few creative deviations, but without straying too far from the original.
Sometimes, the fidelity to the original is taken to the extreme in what’s known as a ‘shot-for-shot’ remake. In this case, the remake “imitates” the original almost 1:1 in terms of plot and cinematic presentation. A well-known example of this is “Psycho” from 1998, based on Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary 1960 thriller. Other iconic remakes where filmmakers have infused their own artistic vision include Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Departed,’ Brian De Palma’s ‘Scarface,’ and John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing.’
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The Revival Concept
This term is usually used in connection with TV or streaming series. These series have often been concluded for some time, or there were other reasons to not anticipate a continuation. The revival also continues the original narrative, but usually after a major leap in time.
The direct continuation of past events sets the revival apart from the soft reboot. It is not an explicit attempt to restart a series or turn it into something new. Well-known examples of series revivals are “Fuller House” (after the sitcom “Full House”) or “The Conners” (which continued “Roseanne”).