The summer movie slate offers a reminder that the studios are almost exclusively in the franchise business now. It seems like Hollywood greenlights nothing but expensive genre pics designed to spawn sequels, and it seems like Hollywood will sequelize anything no matter how tepid the reception to the first installment was — I guess it’s hard to let all that investment in creating brand awareness go to waste. (Another helping of Hulk, anyone?) Nonetheless, despite the elephant-march of expensive Part IIs and Part IIIs this season, there are still some would-be franchises that turned out to be costly one-shots.
After my recent vacation, I caught up with The Onion AV Club’s list of 13 such projects. It’s a fine list, and I agree with the listmakers’ lament that there were never sequels to Buckaroo Banzai, The Rocketeer (an underrated movie that looks better with age), and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World — as well as their relief that we never saw follow-ups to The Avengers, The Mod Squad, or Wild Wild West. To their list, I would add only a regret that The Shadow (pictured) didn’t become a franchise; it featured a typically sly and wry performance from Alec Baldwin and a worthy romantic foil/adventure sidekick in Penelope Ann Miller. Meanwhile, the commenters managed to turn the conversation into one about franchises they wished had quit after just one installment. (Hello, Neo. Go stand in the corner over there with RoboCop, Axel Foley, and Agents J and K.)
So, PopWatchers, what (repeatable) elements do you think are necessary for a good film franchise? Which movies would you still like to see spawn sequels? And which ones should have quit while they were behind?
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Woould have loved to have seen a sequel to Tom Hanks “Joe Vs. The Volcano”
Gremlins 3 and Monster Squad 2 would have been sweet, but i’ll settle for the Ghostbusters 3…if it’s good.
Once the original movie ends you should say to yourself “Boy I want to see them in this situation” You come up with sequels ideas on your own i.e. Spider-man. I would have liked to have seen a True Lies sequel. They could have visited Jamie Lee Curtis’s parents and have to keep the secret from them. While we all wanted a Matrix sequel it turns out that it should have been the only one.
Best Trilogies: Back to the Future; Lord of the Rings; K.K.’s “Red”, “White”, “Blue”
Best Sequels: Godfather II; Evil Dead II; Spider-Man II
Decent sequels: Lethal Weapon II, Beverly Hills Cop II; Shrek II; Lara Croft II; Gremlins II; Jurrasic Park II; Shanghai Knights
Sucky Sequels: Matrix II/III; Porky’s II; Jurrassic Park III; Cheaper by the Dozen (both); Rush Hour II
Can anyone pick more for each category?
I’m so glad to see “The Rocketeer” get some love around here. It’s truly one of my favorite movies and I would have loved to have seen further adventures.
Add Ghostbusters II to “Sucky Sequels”
How about a sequel to Weird AL’s UHF now that would be awesome.
Okay, Remember George Lucas’s Willow? I do. Barely, but I clearly remember there was sequel set up there.
Godzilla! The American remake. That was terrible. But it was hyped.
Flash Gordon? Still a camp classic. Ming escaped at the end, yet there was no Flash Gordon II. Bad? Yes, but still – that classic theme song.
Just as Matchkitjohn pointed out, seeing the characters develop if the original story arc is not conclusive makes sequels interesting (if done well). Love to see: More from the Master and Commander universe (its originally a series of 18-or-so novels and the film covered episodes 10 and 11 so the material is there), Serenity/Firefly and Green Street Elite. Rather not see sequels to: Confidence, The Ususal Suspects (both can’t possibly be topped), She’s All That 10 Things I Hate About Mean Girls, Pirates of the Caribbean (2 was bad enough, 3 looks like it will be bad enough) and Star Wars.
I always thought it was kind of a shame that people hated M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable.” I’m pretty sure he wanted to make a trilogy based on that story, and I would’ve loved to have seen where he would’ve taken it.
Titanic.
I, too, thought Unbreakable was under-rated. But what about the film that would have been the best sequel of all time – Flash Gordon 2?? The final frame has a perfect shot of Ming’s ring and the word(s) The End….Question Mark?
Darkman, directed by Raimi — a sequel would have been nice. The Incredibles. Daredevil would have been interesting, once they got the intro story out of the way — better than Fantastic Four anyway.
When I left the theater after seeing Master and Commander, I said “I can’t wait for the next one” really thinking there would be another. I’m still waiting. Is there any hope?
I always wanted to see a sequel to The Phantom with Billy Zane. A completely corny movie, but I loved it.
Blurb –
Here are my additions:
Best Trilogy or more: maybe Godfather & X-Men, definitely Harry Potter 1-4 & Indiana Jones
Best Sequels: Aliens, Terminator 2, Desperado, X-Men 2, Superman II, Army of Darkness, Toy Story 2
Decent Sequels: Star Trek II, Batman Returns, Blade 2
Sucky Sequels: The Whole Ten Yards, Superman III/IV, any Jaws sequel, Blues Brothers 2000, Caddyshack 2, Rocky 5, Highlander II/III/Endgame
Worst Sequel: BATMAN & ROBIN
The original Darkman was a guilty pleasure for me…unfortunately they decided to make the sequels into terrible “straight to video” travesties.
I have and will always be waiting for Big Trouble In Little China 2. The creepy bug eyed hairball was in Kurt Russel’s truck!!
I agree with Shaw, Monster Squad 2 would have rocked my world. I always hoped for “Commando II”. I mean, with the way the first movie ended you know that something awesome would have to happen to bring John Matrix out of retirement. Oh the possibilities…
There are sequals to DARKMAN. One of them is titled “DIE DARKMAN DIE!”
That is not a joke, well it is to me at least, but it is really the name of the sequel.
Worst sequels ever? Anything that followed the original Highlander.
Movie that promised a sequel but did not deliver? Mel Brook’s History of the World
I’m so glad that you mentioned The Shadow! That movie doesn’t get all the love it deserves. Peter Boyle, Tim Curry, A young and totally hott Alec Baldwin! It was a great movie! If only I could find it on DVD I’d buy it and make my friends watch it over and over. I love that movie!
Also, X3… Great franchise, terrible movie. I pretend that movie never happened but am looking forward to the fourth installment. Cyclops resurrected anyone?..
Oh yeah, it is a shame we willnever see a sequel to John Candy’s “Who is Harry Crumb?”
Its good to see The Phantom and The Rocketeer getting some love…both are somewhat similar when you think about it. The art deco sets, old time glamour combined with comic book heros against devilish villians. Both are fun for what they are and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. The problem with movies like this is that they lack big action stars and feature reasonably obscure characters.
Sequels are only acceptable if there is something more to tell of the story or an obvious new adventure for the characters to take on. Otherwise things seem forced,like Miss Congeniality 2 or Blues Brothers 2000.
A sequel I’d like to see? Maybe Hot Fuzz with the characters moving back to London. It could have funny moments with the bumbling country cop learning his way around the city.
And I second the True Lies sequel..it would have been great to see Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold together again wtih a new adventure. That story line could have been adapted well for another story.
I’m shocked that people want to see a sequel to Master & Commander. That was one of those movies where I checked my watch every 10 minutes, just in the hope that more time that I thought had passes. Maybe it was enjoyable if you were familar with the books?
As far as what makes a good sequel/a movie that should have a sequel – I think it’s planning. The worst sequels are those that are thrown together when a movie is popular (ie MIB 2). The better sequels are ones that were always meant to be. Except for Matrix, planning did not help those sequels, but I think the awfulnes there had more to do with over-inflated egos.
susan-amazon.com sells The Shadow
Master and Commander is one of my favorite movies and would love to see a sequel. The movie was robbed by Lord of the Rings at the Academy Awards.
I hope they never ever make an Elf sequel. I consider Master and Commander to be the most perfect movie ever made…another one isn’t necessary. They should have never made Home Alone 3. They definitely shouldn’t have made Legally Blonde 2 or any of those crap crap Disney sequels that have been coming out…Cinderella 3 I’m talking to you.
I am actually looking forward to the Fletch prequel but Braff backed out of the movie. I wonder who will take his place. Ghostbusters II, Caddyshack II and Meatballs II and III were pretty hard to swallow.
Agreed about Flash Gordon. It even closed with “The End?” And while Starship Troopers 2 sucked, it’d be nice to see a sequel that actually continues that story. There should have also been a sequel to Zapped where Baio goes to college.
And IMHO, the worst sequels are the horror movie flicks and the Star Treks. Trek would have been fine to end after high points #2, #4 or #8. III and VI were bearable, but 1, 5, 7, 9 and 10 were all pretty crappy.
Horrorwise, Dusk Til Dawn, Haloween, Nightmare on Elm Street and the Jason movies needed to stop while the gettings were good.
I LOVE the mention of “The Rocketeer” – one of my favorite films. I watch it all the time. Billy Campbell was GORGEOUS, I love that time period, Timothy Dalton is a hoot, Alan Arkin is so funny – such an underrated film.
And then you mention “The Shadow” – another movie I love. Yes – it has flaws (mainly Penelope Ann Miller – ugh – dull). But Alec Baldwin was at his height of amazing movie star looks and star quality. And I love the Art Deco details and Iam McKlellan in an early Hollywood role. And what the heck happened to John Lone? He was great campy fun as the villain.
BRAVO for mentioning these great movies! Hopefully more people will buy them on DVD.