4 Web Design Principles Hollywood Reboots Can Teach Us
1. You Need to Know if Anyone Wants This
Some people might not know that the original version of The Mummy was actually made in 1932, and starred the legendary Boris Karloff. Brendan Fraser brought his signature charm to the story again in 1999, over sixty years later. A lot can happen in sixty years, including a World War, a couple more wars, the invention of the computer as we know it, and the invention of redesigning websites as a concept. So when the 1999 movie showed up, it premiered in what was practically a new world. The stars were likable, the Indiana Jones influence set it apart from its predecessor, but it kept the same sense of adventure, with a few actually kind-of-scary moments. The world was ready for it.![mummy-resized](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2018/07/mummy-resized.jpg)
2. You Need to Know What Made the Original Special
Let’s take a look at Total Recall, for example. The original was a fun sci-fi romp that combined light social commentary, silliness, and Arnold being Arnold. Replace Arnold with a star of lesser charisma, and the silly movie falls apart. Take away the silliness, and it’s a generic sci-fi action film. It still would have been good for its time, probably, but probably not as beloved as it is now.![recall-resized](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2018/07/recall-resized.jpg)
3. Your Audience May Change
People don’t usually want the same things for their entire lives. Times, people, and sensibilities change. Take the new Lost in Space series on Netflix. The original started in 1965, only one year before the original Star Trek launched. It featured TV tropes and family dynamics that were considered acceptable in its day; and so it unsurprisingly lasted longer than the forward-looking Star Trek. The new series can’t rely on those older family dynamics. Audiences expect a bit more drama in their sci-fi, a more realistic and nuanced approach to characters, and boy oh boy did Robot ever get a makeover. Dr. Smith, too. Audiences (particularly Netflix customers) have also come to expect a more diverse cast of characters, and so that’s what they’re getting.![lost-resized](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2018/07/lost-resized.jpg)
4. The Medium May Change Too
With a solid-enough concept and an enduring audience, you could more or less keep telling the same story; but even then, the medium will change. Here we come to the many iterations of James Bond. They don’t technically count as “reboots”, but hey… they illustrate my point. Who doesn’t want to be smooth, sophisticated, and dangerous when they need to be? Bond’s time may come one day, but for now, the saga continues.![bond-resized](https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/cdn-origin/uploads/2018/07/bond-resized.jpg)
Ezequiel Bruni
Ezequiel Bruni is a web/UX designer, blogger, and aspiring photographer living in Mexico. When he’s not up to his finely-chiselled ears in wire-frames and front-end code, or ranting about the same, he indulges in beer, pizza, fantasy novels, and stand-up comedy.
Read Next
15 Best New Fonts, July 2024
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the best fonts we’ve found online in the last four weeks. This month, there are fewer…
By Ben Moss
20 Best New Websites, July 2024
Welcome to July’s round up of websites to inspire you. This month’s collection ranges from the most stripped-back…
Top 7 WordPress Plugins for 2024: Enhance Your Site's Performance
WordPress is a hands-down favorite of website designers and developers. Renowned for its flexibility and ease of use,…
By WDD Staff
Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2024
Welcome to this July’s collection of tools, gathered from around the web over the past month. We hope you’ll find…
3 Essential Design Trends, July 2024
Add some summer sizzle to your design projects with trendy website elements. Learn what's trending and how to use these…
15 Best New Fonts, June 2024
Welcome to our roundup of the best new fonts we’ve found online in the last month. This month, there are notably fewer…
By Ben Moss
20 Best New Websites, June 2024
Arranging content in an easily accessible way is the backbone of any user-friendly website. A good website will present…
Exciting New Tools for Designers, June 2024
In this month’s roundup of the best tools for web designers and developers, we’ll explore a range of new and noteworthy…
3 Essential Design Trends, June 2024
Summer is off to a fun start with some highly dramatic website design trends showing up in projects. Let's dive in!
15 Best New Fonts, May 2024
In this month’s edition, there are lots of historically-inspired typefaces, more of the growing trend for French…
By Ben Moss
How to Reduce The Carbon Footprint of Your Website
On average, a web page produces 4.61 grams of CO2 for every page view; for whole sites, that amounts to hundreds of KG…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, May 2024
Welcome to May’s compilation of the best sites on the web. This month we’re focused on color for younger humans,…