Understanding reboot, remake, sequel and more..

If you follow movie and TV news, you’ve probably seen headlines like: new reboot of this franchise is coming... or guaranteed hit spin‑off announced. But what do these words really mean? Each term has a specific use — and understanding them helps you know what to expect from every new release.

Here’s a simple guide to the most important terms:

Reboot

A reboot gives a franchise a fresh start. It keeps the core characters or setting but discards previous storylines — starting from scratch.
Example: Batman Begins rebooted the Batman movies.

Remake

A remake retells the original story with new actors and updated effects, but stays faithful to the main plot.
Example: The Lion King (2019).

Sequel

A sequel continues the story after the original, with the same characters or universe.
Example: Top Gun: Maverick.

Prequel

A prequel tells events that happened before the story we already know.
Example: the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Spin‑off

A spin‑off focuses on side characters or situations from the original story.
Example: Better Call Saul, from Breaking Bad.

Legacy sequel (or requel)

A sequel made many years after the original, mixing returning characters with new ones to refresh the franchise.
Example: Blade Runner 2049.

Reimagining

A bold new take on an old story — with significant changes to style, tone, or plot.
Example: Battlestar Galactica (2004).

Soft reboot

Continues the original universe but introduces new characters and tone, without fully erasing the past.
Example: Jurassic World.

Revival

Brings back the original show with the same cast and continuity — often years later.
Example: the recent seasons of The X‑Files.

Crossover

When characters from different series or universes meet in one story.
Example: Arrow and The Flash (Arrowverse).

Canon

What is officially considered part of a universe’s story — confirmed by the creators.
Example: the Marvel movies are canon in the MCU.

Non‑canon

Stories that aren’t part of the official continuity.
Example: What If...? in the Marvel universe.

Midquel

A story that takes place in the middle of an established timeline.
Example: Rogue One, set between Star Wars Episodes III and IV.

Shared Universe

Multiple movies or series connected by characters and storylines that cross over.
Example: the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Retcon (retroactive continuity)

A change that retroactively alters established facts in a story.
Example: Leia revealed as Luke’s sister in Star Wars.

Why this matters

Knowing what these terms mean helps set your expectations whenever a new project is announced. A remake, a reboot, or a revival all offer very different viewing experiences. Plus, understanding these categories shows how studios and creators update their franchises — to both honor longtime fans and attract new audiences.

And of course, the world of pop culture is huge: there are even more terms out there — like backdoor pilot, anthology series, Elseworld and many others — all part of the creative ways stories are told and expanded.