The traditional summer blockbuster season is drawing to a close but in a world of prequels, sequels and remakes, independent films are finding it increasingly hard to break through. So why are we deluged by all these spin-offs?

Guest: Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case

Clips:

Thor: Love and Thunder. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Taika Waititi.

Suicide Squad. © 2016 Warner Brothers Pictures. Director: David Ayer.

Minions: The Rise of Gru. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Kyle Balda

Nope. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Jordan Peele

Spider-Man: Far From Home. © 2019 Sony Pictures. Director: Jon Watts.

Nomadland. © 2021 Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Company Nordic. © Director: Chloe Zhao.

Kramer vs. Kramer. © 1979 Columbia Pictures. Director: Robert Benton.

Hit the Road. © 2021 Director: Panah Panahi.

The Matrix. © 1999 Warner Bros. Pictures, Roadshow Entertainment Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski.

Thirteen Lives. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Bron Creative; Imagine Entertainment; Magnolia Mae; Storyteller Productions. Director: Ron Howard.

The Matrix Resurrections. © 2021 Warner Bros. pictures. Director: Lana Wachowski.

Black Widow. © 2021 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Cate Shortland.

Elvis. © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures; Bazmark Films; The Jackal Group. Director: Baz Lurhman.

The Godfather. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Director: Francis Ford Coppola.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. © 1980 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment Director: Irvin Kershner.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife. © 2021 Columbia Pictures; Bron Creative; Ghost Corps; The Montecito Picture Company; Right of Way Films. Director: Jason Reitman.

Iron Man. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Director: Jon Favreau.

Everything Everywhere All At Once. © 2022 Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Bullet train. © 2022 Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing. Director: David Leitch

Bande à part. © 1964 Columbia Pictures. Director: Jean Luc-Godard.

Captain Marvel. © 2009 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Doctor Strange main theme. © 2019 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composer: Michael Giacchino

Top Gun theme - Danger Zone. 1986 ©Paramount Pictures. Composer: Giorgio Moroder. Lyricist Tom Whitlock.

The Matrix Awakens - Main Theme. © 2021 Warner Bros Pictures. Composer: Don Davis

Jaws theme tune. © 1975 Universal Pictures. Composer: John Williams.

Ghostbusters theme tune. © 1984 Columbia Pictures, Fórum Home Entertainment Hungary. Composer: Ray Parker Jr.

Jurassic Park theme tune. © 1993 Universal Pictures, FilmFlex. Composer: John Williams

League of DC Super Pets theme tune (Superman theme tune). © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures © Composer: John Williams

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace theme tune. © 1999 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Composer: John Williams

Iron Man theme tune. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Composer: Ramin Djawadi

Sweet Child of Mine, Thor: Love and Thunder film trailer version. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composers: Steven Adler Saul Hudson, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose.

Marvel opening theme. © 2016 Marvel Entertainment. Composer: Michael Giacchino.

Godfather theme tune. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Composer: Nino Rota.

Reviews: Mojo.com; Clipped Coin; Looper; Karsten Runquist.

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