A Remake Is Not a Reboot or a Sequel
A remake retells an existing story. Film vocabulary distinguishes it carefully from reboots, sequels and adaptations.
A remake is a new version of an existing film or work. The industry keeps a set of distinctions: a *sequel* continues a story, a *prequel* precedes it, a *reboot* restarts a series while discarding earlier continuity, and a *remake* retells the same story again. The terms are used loosely in conversation and precisely in contracts.
- A new version. *A Hollywood remake.*
- To make again. *Remake the film.*
- Reboot — a restart of a series. *A franchise reboot.*
- Sequel — a continuation. *A long-awaited sequel.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | remake | A faithful remake. |
| Plural | remakes | Endless remakes. |
| Verb | remake | Remake the classic. |
| Related | reboot | A gritty reboot. |
| Related | adaptation | A screen adaptation. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A remake retells the same story.A reboot restarts the series.
- A prequel is set earlier.But made later.
- An adaptation moves between media.Book to film, for instance.
Film sequel vocabulary
- Sequel — continues the story forward
- Prequel — set before, made after
- Midquel — set between existing instalments
- Reboot — restarts the series, discarding continuity
- Requel — a recent blend: part sequel, part reboot
From *re-* and *make*. The film sense dates from the 1930s, and *reboot* was borrowed from computing in the 1990s.
Remake or reboot?
A remake tells the same story again. A reboot restarts a series, usually discarding what came before.
What is a prequel?
A work set earlier in the story than an existing one, though produced afterwards. The word is a blend of *pre-* and *sequel*.