In recent years, the film industry has placed increasing emphasis on sequels, spin-offs, and connected cinematic franchises. There’s a natural desire to get more of the good stuff, and indeed, sometimes franchises don’t realize their strongest material until the second or third entry.
At the same time, many franchises have either been unwelcome, or the existence of just one sequel is enough to shatter the original film’s legacy and turn audiences against it. It’s always a disappointment when it offers no sequels, and these are some of the most egregious examples.
10/10 A rich sci-fi world begins to collapse under its own philosophy
matrix reloaded
The Wachowskis completely changed the scope of sci-fi and action movies. matrixwhich is still considered the best of the genre. matrix Creating a world so rich that sequels were inevitable, the franchise took a filmed approach matrix reloaded When matrix revolutions At the same time, it will be released at intervals of 6 months.
matrix reloaded It offers audiences the more advanced action spectacle pioneered by the original, but launches the franchise’s heavier appeal with complex philosophies and Messiah Complex. matrixconsumes the enjoyment of the first movie.
9/10 The classic adventurer gets too stupid for his own good
Indiana Jones and the Legend of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones is a character that audiences find very valuable, even though this adventure film series is based on the Pulpy series. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull For many, the bridge is too far, especially when extraterrestrials are incorporated into the mix.
Put aside the rubbish, Crystal Skull Kingdom made almost 20 years later the last crusader, Movies have changed a lot since then. 2023 Indiana Jones and the Dial of FateWith James Mangold in the director’s seat for the first time, it should be interesting to see if the sequel can recreate the magic of the original film.
8/10 Promising sequel trilogy wastes its stars and story
halloween kills
Legacy sequels have grown as a trend, especially for long-running horror franchises.There’s an urge to erase decades of nasty sequels and announce that this new entry is the “real” successor to the original. Halloween Starting in 2018, Laurie Strode and Michael Myers have all but accomplished that mission with their return after 40 years.
Unfortunately, halloween kills When halloween ends It botches this strong start, pushing both iconic characters down a confusing path. halloween ends Essentially, Michael becomes a supporting character in his own film, halloween kills Waste your time and start this sloppy storytelling that doesn’t have to be a trilogy.
7/10 The first conclusion to Ellen Ripley’s story will be a nihilistic movie
alien 3
alien 3 is David Fincher’s feature film directorial debut, and the filmmaker’s meticulous style and technique can be seen even in a highly compromised film. To Fincher’s credit, his direction doesn’t matter, alien 3‘s biggest critics are its bleak setting and the decision to kill off Newt and Hicks at the beginning of the film.
Sigourney Weaver delivers a dedicated performance, and Ellen Ripley’s sacrifice in the final act is deeply moving.But these early deaths feel like an insult to her boss alien When aliensome viewers can’t get over.
6/10 A return to a beloved franchise is built on hollow foundations
Jurassic World
Jurassic Park and its sequel, lost worldboth benefitting from director Steven Spielberg. jurassic park 3 It’s not necessarily a bad movie, but it doesn’t justify its existence in the same way as the first two. . Jurassic World.
There is no doubt that the level of chaos is increasing Jurassic World The trilogy is fun, but all of these films lack the heart and grace of the originals. Jurassic World I tick all the boxes I think I should, but it often feels like hollow nostalgia bait.
5/10 Studio Interference Gets Overstuffs A Master’s Movie
spiderman 3
Sam Raimi spiderman The trilogy broke new ground in superhero movies, and the first two films in the story are still hailed as pivotal comic book movies. spiderman 3 Victims of studio meddling have made Venom stand out in the film. spiderman 3filmmaking absent in the two predecessors of .
It’s as if Raimi is moving. Funny enough, superhero movies have now become banal and disposable. spiderman 3 It looks good in retrospect. The problem of tying it down has become a common pitfall of Marvel movies.
4/10 A cute comedy that never knows when it’s time to say goodbye
meet friends
Successful cinematic comedies are becoming a dying breed, and there’s an urge to take every idea that works and turn it into a franchise.Indeed, there is a distinct trajectory telegraphed at the end meet my parentsbut the two subsequent films never come close to their original heights.
meet my parents It’s a funny subversion of the stressful experience of meeting in-laws for the first time. meet friends The tables turn when Greg Focker’s parents enter the equation. meet friends Disappointing, but Little Fockers It really sucks.
3/10 The quirky franchise finally starts turning the wheels
F9: Fast Saga
fast and furious started out as an average action movie about small-time vehicle-wielding criminals, but has grown into a multi-billion dollar blockbuster franchise. fast and furious It doesn’t really start to come into its own until the fourth entry, and its self-aware, exaggerated tone leads to some seriously funny antics throughout the fifth and eighth installments.
F9 It’s the first time a franchise has started to show so much fatigue that it’s out of the way. Fast X is slated to come out in 2023, and either put the series back on course or push it further into the mundane.
2/10 Classic creature functionality turns into generic action fodder
Jaws 2
Steven Spielberg’s chin is an exceptional creature feature that probably shouldn’t be in the franchise because none of its sequels can surpass the height of the original. chin]There are many concerns about the sequel, Jaws 2 is actually the most capable of many, making unique stylistic choices that ostensibly serve as a slasher movie.
Roy Scheider’s Martin Brody once again finds himself at odds with a killer shark who seems to be harboring personal revenge against him and his family. Jaws 2 take the original chin Establish it off its pedestal chin A sequel is fair game.
1/10 The sequel trilogy sets a bad precedent for repeating the past
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
After George Lucas star wars prequel trilogyfans were accustomed to getting new content from the Extended Universe novels, video games, and comic books. Star Wars And Marvel Studios has kept George Lucas’ signature sci-fi alive.of Star Wars The Disney+ series has been critically acclaimed, sequel trilogy Much more controversial.
The lack of proper planning across these three films results in a messy and wasteful narrative, but many of these problems exist with JJ Abrams. Episode VII – The Force Awakensestablishes a framework for repeating hits of the past with empty nostalgia.
