Tough Act To Follow: 15 Forgotten Sequels To Classic Stories

Sequels are tough. They’re tough to write, tough to direct, and tough to star in. There’s a lot of pressure to live up to the expectations of the first film, and it’s even tougher when the first film is considered a classic. But that’s what makes classic film sequels so special. When they’re done right, they can be even better than the original. The Godfather Part II is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the impeccable performance of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone. Michael is a complex character, and Pacino brings him to life in a way that is both chilling and unforgettable. It’s no wonder he won an Academy Award for his performance. Classic film sequels are tough, but when they’re done right, they can be even better than the original. Thanks to great performances like Pacino’s in The Godfather Part II, they will always be remembered.

Some sequels are even better than the original; some are just more of the same, for better or worse. But there are some things that absolutely don't need a sequel, so much that you'd think they couldn't have one at all. That doesn't stop anyone, meaning we've gotten unnecessary follow-ups to everything from Psycho to Mean Girls that have been completely overshadowed by the original. We could go on, but don't expect any sequels to this …

15

ZOOLANDER 2 CRACKED Zoolander is definitely way too silly for a sequel, even if Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson weren't sexy male models who were both pushing 50. — Source: IMDB

14

INSIDE MAN: MOST WANTED CRACKED Despite its title, no one wanted this cheap sequel to Spike Lee's cop movie classic, that replaced Denzel with one of the guys from Sense8. — Source: IMDB

13

THE STARLIGHT BARKING CRACKED 20 alse 101 Dalmatians has gotten a lot of sequels, but the OG kids book continued with a story about the dogs magically flying to space, with no Cruella to be found. — Source: Gizmodo

12

SON OF ROSEMARY The Sequel to Rosemary's Baby SON OF ROSEMARY A NOVEL IRA LEVIN New York Times Bests CRACKED Rosemary's Baby is all grown up and ready to end the world in the year 2000, in this sequel that was forgotten as quickly as all the other Y2K paranoia. — Source: Publisher's Weekly

11

THE JESUS ROLLS CRACKED No, this isn't a third Testament, it's a movie about John Turturro's creepy bowler from The Big Lebowskithat Turturro wrote and directed himself. — Source: IMDB

10

PSYCHO II CRACKED Before making sequels decades later was cool, there was this thriller that picked up 22 years later with a reformed Norman Bates fighting his own copycat killer. — Source: IMDB

9

PEE-WEE'S BIG HOLIDAY GRACKED One of Netflix's first original movies brought back Pee- Wee Herman alongside Joe Manganiello playing himself, on a road trip to nowhere. — Source: IMDB

8

DUMB AND DUMBER TO 1 CRACKED This forgettable re-team was the last movie Peter Farrelly directed before winning the Oscar for Green Book, SO who's the real dumb one? — Source: IMDB

7

AfterMASH AFTERMASH It's a smash- and look who's helping Potter & Klinger make love not war CRACKED M'A'S'H was SO unfathomably popular that about five seconds after it ended, there was a sequel show starring anyone who still wanted more money. — Source: IMDB

6

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE CRACKED Any ID4 sequel without Will Smith was probably doomed from the start, but just one single story idea beyond alien's blow us up again might have helped. — Source: IMDB

5

SON OF KONG CRACKED King Kong's child, thought up for a sequel that came out just 9 months later, has been forgotten like SO many large adult sons before him. — Source: IMDB

4

AMERICAN PSYCHO 2 CRACKED Obviously, the next chapter in the story of Patrick Bateman is... Mila Kunis as a college student who kills people to impress William Shatner? — Source: IMDB

3

THE RAGE: CARRIE 2 CRACKED The confusingly-titled sequel to Stephen King's story of high school revenge rehashes the story without anything close to the same level of power (either psychic or emotional). — Source: IMDB

2

CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR CRACKED After surviving Willy Wonka's trials, Charlie's reward is following him on a time-traveling space adventure. There isn't much candy involved. — Source: Roald Dahl

1

MEAN GIRLS 2 GRACKED High school is awkward, but what's more awkward is this made-for-TV rehash that doesn't have any of the original jokes, heart, star power or insight into teen life. — Source: IMDB

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Authors: By Matt Solomon
Published: February 05, 2023
Comments: 3