74. The following appeared as part of an article in an entertainment magazine.
“A series of books based on the characters from a popular movie are consistently bestsellers in local bookstores. Seeking to capitalize on the books’ success, Vista¹ Studios is planning to produce a movie sequel based on the books. Due to the success of the books and the original movie, the sequel will undoubtedly² be profitable.”
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.

In this argument the author reasons that a sequel to a popular movie will be profitable because the original movie was profitable and because books based on the characters of the movie are consistently bestsellers. This argument is unconvincing for several reasons.
In the first place, a great deal of empirical evidences shows that sequels are often not as profitable as the original movie. For example, none of the “Superman” movie sequels even approached the success of the original movie. Accordingly, the mere³ fact that the first movie was successful does not guarantee that movies based upon it will also be profitable.
In the second place, a movie’s financial success is a function of many elements in addition to well-liked characters. Admittedly, the fact that the books based on the characters of the original film are bestsellers bodes⁴ well for the movie’s commercial prospects⁵. However, unless the original cast and production team are involved in making the sequel, there is a good chance it will not be financially successful.
Finally, another important element in creating a successful movie is the script. The transformation⁶ of a popular book into a popular movie script is a difficult process. Examples of best-selling books that were not made into successful movies are commonplace. Obviously, the success of the sequel that Vista is planning will depend in great part on the screenwriter’s ability to capture the elements of the story that make the books popular. Since the difficulties inherent in this process make it hard to predict whether the result will be a success or a failure, the conclusion that the sequel will be profitable is presumptuous⁷.
In conclusion this is an unconvincing argument. To strengthen the argument, it would be necessary to provide assurances that the original cast and production team will be involved in the project and that the script will capture and develop the particular elements responsible for the books’ popularity.

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