History Main / RecycledPremise

* Creator/RogerCorman's 1955 film ''The Fast and the Furious'' was recycled as the 1994 movie Film/TheChase.

** Season 7 infamously used the same premise three times: To get the Krabby Patty secret formula, Plankton dresses up as someone [=SpongeBob=] knows and trusts (his grandma, Gary, and Sandy). In a earlier season, he dressed as Krabs, and in his first appearance ever, controlled SpongeBob's body.

** "Culture Shock": In an attempt to bring culture to the Krusty Krab, Squidward organizes a show in which he is the star and SpongeBob has an unremarkable role. To his surprise, the audience hates him and loves SpongeBob. "The Play's the Thing": In an attempt to bring culture to the Krusty Krab, Squidward organizes a show in which he is the star and SpongeBob has an unremarkable role. To his surprise, the audience hates him and loves SpongeBob.

** Season 7 infamously used the same premise three times: To get the Krabby Patty secret formula, Plankton dresses up as someone [=SpongeBob=] knows and trusts (his grandma, Gary, and Sandy).

* One example is notable for being an example for a movie that never actually got made: If the plot, characters, and general feel of ''Film/SnowDay'' seem a little bit familiar, there's a reason for that. The film started out as a BigDamnMovie for ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'', but had to be retooled into a new story because by the time it escaped DevelopmentHell, the main actors had aged out of their roles.

Compare with GenderFlip, WholePlotReference, FollowTheLeader, SettingUpdate, JustForFun/XMeetsY, ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs or BetterByADifferentName.

* [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]] contain a postgame story called the Delta Episode where the climax involves getting [[OlympusMons Rayquaza]] to destroy an incoming Meteorite to prevent it from [[ColonyDrop destroying the planet.]] Said Meteorite also contains [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIWailmerToDeoxys Deoxys]] inside it. This was originally the climax of [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team.]]

A Recycled Premise is when a show is made that is effectively identical to another, earlier, popular show, made simply to cash in on the craze or shoot for another demographic. Note however, that not all sequels are recycled premises -- just the ones that are almost identical, and have more than a couple of {{recycled script}}s.

Compare GenderFlip, WholePlotReference, FollowTheLeader, SettingUpdate, JustForFun/XMeetsY, ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs, BetterByADifferentName.

* The premise of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' is eerily similar to ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', released fifteen years prior. This might sound familiar: a hero is introduced to an ancient world that has been scarred by a [[AfterTheEnd terrible cataclysm]], and an evil substance has infected certain parts of the world. In order to cleanse and save the world, the hero must explore in order to grow stronger and eventually infiltrate what was once a culturally-significant landmark to find the [[SealedEvilInACan monstrous source]] of the evil and destroy it.

* The premise of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' is eerily similar to ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', released fifteen years prior. This might sound familiar: a hero is introduced to an ancient world that has been scarred by a [[AfterTheEnd terrible cataclysm]], and an evil substance has infected certain parts of the world. In order to cleanse and save the world, the hero must explore the world in order to grow stronger and eventually infiltrate what was once a culturally-significant landmark to find the [[SealedEvilInACan monstrous source]] of the evil and destroy it.

** The line "There's a New Mexico?" is said once in Season Five, again in Season Twelve.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' often has recycled themes of its past episodes, entirely unintentionally (the writers have lost track of what's going on; no one can tell Lou from Eddie). Homer has dressed up as Santa repeatedly, Homer has twice become a Smithers, family members have switched religions and Marge used Reverend Lovejoy's help to get them back, the Simpsons have gone on vacations full of gags based on the location with a third act involving them in danger, Lisa has been upstaged by a peer twice while Homer is involved in a wacky scheme to make money off of a fatty food additive, Lisa has gone to a better school to find out she's been challenged, a Simpson kid has become Krusty's assistant, both children have won parent-constructed project contests based on the fact that their father's job on them looks so shoddy that it "obviously" was done with no help from their parents; the line "There's a New Mexico" is said once in season five, again in season twelve. Professor Frink has become a suave casa nova. Some of these ''might'' be running jokes. Who knows?
** The trope is also {{lampshade|Hanging}}d and played with the second time the Simpsons get a horse. [[MetaGuy Comic Book Guy]] stands up and says, "I would like to point out that the Simpsons already ''had'' a horse," and gives a summary of an episode several seasons previous. Homer's response is, [[TakeThatAudience "Does anybody care what this guy thinks?"]] Here, Homer and the crowd are justified as, unlike with many of the above examples, the two horse episodes were wildly different.

Though it's tempting to point fingers and yell "ItsBeenDone!" the fact is Administrivia/TropesAreTools, and [[MoneyDearBoy money is made]].

* The plot of ''Disney/{{Dinosaur}}'' was lifted from ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime''. It wasn't originally supposed to have dialogue to differentiate itself, but ultimately did.

* ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' and ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire''.

** ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' and ''Anime/HealinGoodPrettyCure'' both involve the characters saving the spirits of nature.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee'' is basically just ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' or ''WesternAnimation/MonsterAllergies'', though more closely American Dragon.
** Teenage main character of Asian descent is the protector of the magical world and has to keep up [[Main/TheMasquerade]]? Check.
** The power/responsibility to protect [[Main/TheMasquerade]] is inherited yet skipped their parents' generation? Check
** Mentored by their grandparent (of the same gender as them, but of a different gender from the parent who the responsibility skipped) as well as a grey [Main/ReallySevenHundredYearsOld 600 year old] talking dog? Check.
** Annoying gender-flipped younger sibling, who's in on the secret? Check

** ''Series/GameShakers'' takes many elements from ''Series/ICarly'', with both shows being about kids who become famous through the internet. The main difference is that ''Series/ICarly is about web videos and ''Series/GameShakers'' being about mobile gaming. The pilot for ''Series/GameShakers'' hits many of the same beats as the ''Series/ICarly'' pilot. ''Series/GameShakers'' seems to acknowledge this in a crossover episode where the cast of ''Series/GameShakers'' are revealed to be huge fans of ''Series/ICarly''.

Though it's tempting to point fingers and yell "ItsBeenDone!" the fact is TropesAreTools, and [[MoneyDearBoy money is made]].

* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' looked suspiciously similar to ''StrangeWorld'', just from the advertisements.