To what extent are Hollywood films simply 'products' made to make profit?

- Hollywood rarely produces films that are original ideas, especially of late. Instead they are often prequels/sequels to existing films, based on book/comic/tv programme, a remake, a reboot, etc. This ensures that there is already an established audience that will be prepared to see the film whether it is good or not. A perfect example of this is Sex and the City 2.
- Yes it may be true that Hollywood films are made to produce money, but isn't that to be expected? The film business is exactly that: a business. So, like any business they need to make money to continue making products, and just because a film has been made with profit in mind, that does not mean it is going to be a bad film. Hollywood has always been that way because it needs to be that way.
- This means that the big Hollywood companies can use that money to fund subsidiary companies that invest in low-budget, arty films; you need the 'products' to have the money for the 'films'.