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When I was scrolling through Instagram the other night, I came across a tabloid post about a new “13 Going on 30” remake starting production. For a minute, I thought this was a fake headline promoting a movie that was not actually ever going to be made. Upon further investigation, to my horror, I discovered that this movie is in fact real and is set to release on Netflix in the coming years. 

Now, the original “13 Going on 30” is a cult classic romantic comedy movie that never gets old. It is impossible, in my opinion, to grow tired of a classic, feel-good love story that has a wonky yet heartwarming ending. The movie stars Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, following their lives through a charming romantic tale that has stood the test of time. It remains a classic for slumber party movie nights in middle school as well as a comfort movie to watch in a dorm room miles away from home when you need to smile. In my opinion, there is absolutely no need to remake the movie, which is, quite frankly, almost perfect as far as rom-coms go.

The movie was released in April 2004, but, despite being 21 years old, it has aged well and is in no need of a reboot. I can understand that certain movies do not withstand the test of time and need to be redone in order to keep up with society’s ebbs and flows, but “13 Going on 30” is timeless.

As an example of a movie that needed a reboot, it was widely agreed upon that George Clooney’s and Brad Pitt’s rebranding of the film “Ocean’s Eleven” made it a better film overall than the original 1960 “Ocean’s 11.” Most people are not even aware that the 2001 movie was a remake of a film made almost 40 years after the original. 

I, myself, am guilty of watching a remake without being aware of an original. Lindsay Lohan’s “The Parent Trap” was a movie staple in my house, and every time I had friends over for a movie night, it was my go-to. It’s a comedy, a tear-jerker and a romance all in one; I would even go as far as saying it’s almost the perfect movie. However, it was not until recently that I became aware that the film was in fact a remake. I was baffled and, quite frankly, disappointed to find out that my classic was not truly a classic.

This same experience is, no doubt, happening all of the time these days, as movies are being remade constantly. A remake of Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice” is being filmed, and some 20 years from now, someone is going to think that that film is the original. They will completely miss out on the masterpiece that is Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s legendary hand flex after helping Elizabeth into a carriage. Likewise, kids are missing out on the magic of old Disney animation by only watching the live-action versions of movies like “Aladdin” or “Beauty and the Beast.”

While I understand Hollywood changes along with culture, and movies will be remade no matter what, are all of these remakes really necessary? The saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” rings true here. The claim that remakes keep the magic of the movies alive doesn’t make any sense. Doesn’t the magic lie in the originality of the film? The characters in these films are so beloved by the public, why replace them? The remake epidemic is getting crazier and crazier, and it seems that every year, there is a new 2000s movie falling victim to a brand new cast and setting.

While I appreciate the dedication to trying to bring back the rom-com genre, I think it gets to a certain point where the originals are going to be long forgotten. That said, I am intrigued to see where the remakes of “13 Going on 30” and “Pride and Prejudice” go, and I hope they retain the characters and that irreplaceable sleepover movie night magic.