In case you weren't aware, we're currently living through yet another historic event, as if COVID and Nicole and Keith's divorce weren't enough.

This is one I like to call the Sequel Epidemic.

Before our very eyes, we are watching Hollywood attempt to navigate through this difficult period, where every movie idea that is being approved has to be a sequel and/or prequel and/or spin-off of one of the all-time greats. And frankly? I'm just not quite sure it's necessary.

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This week it was announced that How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days would be taking to our screens once again and, as much as I cherish Kate Hudson's beloved rendition of You're So Vain, I think we simply do not need to go to the effort of recreating such an iconic moment.

I think there is a very valuable lesson to be learnt here when it comes to knowing when to leave a good thing alone.

For example, sometimes you'll have two scoops of ice cream. Yum! A delicious treat! What's one more? And then that third scoop will be the one to have you clutching at your stomach for the rest of the night, your punishment for taking it too far.

When you achieve the perfect beach wave in your hair and then the next day when you try to recreate it, it looks like something of a tattered bath mat. It really just reminds us to appreciate things in the moment.

The same goes for the movies. See where I'm going with this?

The Sequel Epidemic is at an all-time peak, with the likes of Practical Magic 2, Freakier Friday, Meet The Parents 4, Shrek 5 and even Barbie 2 in the works. There is no shortage of brilliant films and shows that stand perfectly fine on their own, just begging for storyline extensions years and years after the fact.

I go through the same predictable little rhythm every time one of said sequels is announced. And it goes as follows:

Step one is excitement — yay! I love this movie! Give me all the nostalgia! More Kate Hudson! More Anne Hathaway! More!

Step two is watching the press tour slowly commence and beginning to feel that niggling worry in your gut that, oh no, this doesn't even look that good. I mean, how could anything follow a perfect movie?

Step three is watching the movie, of course, because I will always continue to watch them and then feel like, okay, yeah sure, that was fun, but I'm also mildly disappointed and feel like maybe we didn't need that at all.

I felt this especially strongly when watching The Devil Wears Prada 2. It's not to say I would ever say no to more of Meryl Streep throwing her jacket at someone, but when movies are reprised some 20 years later, it's no secret that the world has changed.

The new 2026-ified settings, muted colourways and modern struggles of AI and the digital era are straight-up depressing, TBH. There's a reason I go back to old movies for comfort.

The beauty of these movies we know and love comes from their ability to make mundane life feel a little more magical. Everything was a little brighter, people a little happier and the world felt more optimistic, and of course, the distinct lack of smartphones helped.

When they're recreated or continued today, it doesn't feel like the escape we originally came to them for.

Plus, every sequel and reboot begs the question, what happened to original ideas?

As much as Callum Turner's One Night Only or Seth Rogan and Olivia Wilde's The Invite were absolutely insane (complimentary), there was something so refreshing about seeing a totally unique idea at the cinema.

But, look, the joke may be on me, because these sequels continue to dominate at the box office.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 made over $676 million this year, that's what Hollywood calls a big, fat win.

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Freakier Friday made back it's entire budget on opening weekend. And as much as we protest, And Just Like That firmly found its crowd. No doubt that the new Princess Diaries and How To Lose A Guy will follow suit.

Because that's the thing about these sequels, there is a clear formula that works on us every time.

They know we're going to complain about it, they know we're going to ask why, but they just need us to keep showing up. And we will.

Feature image: Paramount Pictures/Disney.