The 2019 Child’s Play remake was not very successful, but if the film hadn’t decided to feature Chucky, it would have been a better movie.

Child's Play 2019 wasn't a successful outing for the Child’s Play franchise - which is unfortunate, because the film on its own could’ve been much better if it hadn’t included Chucky. Child’s Play 2019 focuses once again on Chucky, the killer doll that started the entire series back in 1988. Chucky received a modern update, and this time he is voiced by the talented Mark Hamill. Hamill does a fantastic job voicing the Chucky doll, this time an AI toy, which goes on a killing rampage after he becomes jealous and protective of his owner, Andy (Gabriel Bateman).

The film was not at all successful at the box office, grossing only $45 million worldwide off of its 10 million dollar budget. In comparison, the first, second, and fourth films all made more money than the 2019 reboot/ remake, with the dark original Child's Play film earning the most money worldwide with just under $84 million adjusted. Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman, and Mark Hamill did their very best with the script, with Plaza’s deadpan comedy serving as the best aspect of the film for many viewers; however, the movie could not be saved even by one of the most popular comedic actors.

Child’s Play primarily suffers because audiences can’t help but compare it to the seven movies that came before it. Slapping “Child’s Play” on the name automatically set the film back because it had to do something that was not only new, but also better, and unfortunately, it didn’t do the latter. The premise of an evil AI kid’s toy going on a murderous rampage would’ve been interesting enough to make a good slasher. It is very common for people to be wary of technology that has the ability to listen and respond. Taking advantage of this by turning the usually stream-lined devices into a children’s toy automatically sets up the premise of what could’ve been a great slasher. The problem is that it shouldn’t have been Chucky. If audiences didn’t have the original killer doll to compare the film to, they would’ve been able to better enjoy it for what it is: a clever take on AI and the slasher genre with good pacing and a fun cast.

The primary concern of viewers who saw this movie expecting to see a worthy Child’s Play remake is that it completely disregards Chucky’s original origin story in exchange for a fairly lazy one where a disgruntled employee changes the coding for the doll and turns off all the safety features. The backstory is a stark contrast to the original and feels like it came straight out of a Simpsons episode. With that said, the origin of an AI Buddi doll is featured in a fun little horror that purposefully integrates comedy and has a cast of child actors that feel almost like a modern twist on the Goonies (even if they aren’t always the most realistic). The reason Chucky’s origin is such a let-down is that the backstory of Brad Dourif’s killer Chucky doll was so fantastic. The idea that Chucky is a serial killer trapped in a doll due to a voodoo spell and is consistently trying to find a new body to transfer himself into is compelling, entertaining, and it makes sense.

Child’s Play 2019’s explanation fits right in with its premise but seems lazy in comparison to the original. While silly, 2019’s doll doesn’t require a more complicated or sensical origin story. It isn’t exactly believable that an employee would be able to turn off every safety feature on a computer chip in a matter of seconds, and it’s also not believable that an AI children’s toy can control a car remotely. The simple explanation fits within 2019’s plot and could potentially be taken as intentionally satirical. It would be a lot more forgivable were it not going head to head with the original’s very serious serial killer backstory of Charles Lee Ray, which is still strengthening the plot over three decades later in the newly released and highly popular Chucky TV series. The remake, on the other hand, has no room to expand on Chucky’s origin, but there are already multiple types of dolls and a teddy bear in the film, so there was no need to use Chucky, and it ended up coming off as nothing more than a cash grab based on a successful franchise that is still active.

The next reason Andy’s new killer friend shouldn’t have been a Chucky doll is that Child’s Play 2019 won’t get its own sequel because Don Mancini’s original creation is still going strong. There’s a newly released Chucky TV show that has been extremely successful where the remake failed. There is no reason to make another Child’s Play movie as a sequel to a less than stellar reboot when the original franchise that viewers know and love is still alive and well. Creators wanted to benefit from the success of Chucky, one of the most well-known horror villains in cinematic history, because they thought it would make the film more successful - but it ended up doing the opposite.

The production issues that arose and the very negative backlash the film received for ignoring Don Mancini’s wishes would not have existed if Orion Pictures had simply chosen the bear they already made (or any other version of a child’s toy) for the central antagonist. A Child’s Play remake shouldn’t have happened without Mancini. There would’ve been no Twitter movement against the film, and no Mancini loyalists that would’ve completely boycotted the film if given the chance. Without arguing whether or not it was morally acceptable for the studio to go against Mancini by making this film, the movie would have been more successful without Chucky.

The Child's Play is paced well, has some decent comedic moments, a lead character played by Aubrey Plaza, a primary villain played Mark Hamill (one of the most talented voice actors of all time), and genuinely frightening moments as well as a decent amount of gore and a variety of kills, which many slasher fans are sure to appreciate. 2019 Child’s Play remake went through all the trouble of creating a new and unique story, coming up with interesting kills, hiring talented actors, and designing a plot that keeps viewers involved from start to finish, so why did it have to include Chucky? The answer is that it didn’t. The film didn’t need Chucky’s name to be successful, and truth be told, Child’s Play 2019 would have been better without Chucky being included in it.

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