10 Movie Franchises That Need To Return To Their Roots

If you look back to the science fiction films of the 1980s it's clear that there was a special place in the genre for the Star Trek franchise. While most sci-fi concentrated on spectacle and action, Star Trek held close to its television roots and explored interesting themes and delivered high concepts which made audiences think.

By the time J J Abrams took to the helm for the reboot of Star Trek in 2009, this cerebral approach to science fiction was all but thrown out of the window, instead delivering what felt to many like a trial run for his upcoming Star Wars movies, albeit with a Star Trek skin. Gone was original creator Gene Roddenberry's affection for exploring cultural allegories and the idealised future for mankind, replaced with something closer to a traditional space opera.

By the third installment, Star Trek Beyond, this approach had already worn thin. Rather than boldly going where no Star Trek movie (or science fiction franchise) has gone before, it delivered clunky dialogue, predictable set pieces and a weightless plot. A fourth installment of the reboot is up in the air, which could mean that the creators are taking the time to rethink the approach and bring something different to the long-running franchise.

Restoring the franchise to what makes Star Trek great isn't necessarily about the characters - while a Picard-led movie would be fantastic to see, the series has seen plenty of different captains which proves that the essence of Trek lies in the range of conceptual frameworks and three dimensional characters.

What the reboots lack, and what the franchise needs if it wants to move forwards (and live long and prosper) is a return to the emotional and philosophical depths which Roddenberry so effectively infused into the early years.