I am an absolute sucker for classic movies. Just me and a bucket of slightly undercooked popcorn, owing to my wonky dorm microwave on a Friday night. From “Jurassic Park” to “The Sound of Music” the best way to pass time is enjoying cinematic masterpieces. However, nothing twists my mind more than a sequel, the utter thought causes my fight or flight mode to activate. Sequels are often money grabs and throw off the trajectory of the original plot. Frequently, moviegoers are disappointed and it creates disdain for the entire franchise.
Except Shrek, that sequel was absolutely phenomenal. The film grossed over 835.3 million USD, passing the prior record of 481.9 million USD. No one should disrespect that.
Even though some movies create cliffhangers to entice viewers and possibly create the idea of extending the plot, it’s useless. Ever heard of that phrase “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”? We need to start saying that again.
Beyond that here are my top 3 reasons why sequels don’t work.
- The original viewing experience cannot be recreated
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It is almost impossible to create that movie magic two times, especially if everything has already been said and done. When I watch a trailer, my expectations are pretty low. This allows my first viewing experience to be surprising. The elements of plot twists and conflicts hold me down while watching a movie for the first time.
A prime example of this could be “Mean Girls” (2004). The plot was perfect and made in a perfect era. Often women were pitted against each other in the media. Who is the thinnest? What blue shadow is she wearing? She’s dating her ex; she must hate her. Tina Fey was inspired by the book “Queen Bees and Wannabes” by Rosalind Wiseman. She took it Hollywood and created a film infused with teenage dramas and how bullying can affect attitudes of others. Over $130 million was made when the film was released. Often if you ask Millennials and Gen Z, they’ll mention how iconic this film is. Even though the movie had a positive ending audiences craved more, and in 2011, “Mean Girls 2” was released.
It was actually terrible. Okay not terrible but it was not up to the level as the original. The acting was mediocre, and the plot was too similar to be enjoyed twice. Trying to recreate that original viewing experience is difficult, there are many more examples of this as well.
- Same repeated plot
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This slightly touches upon the point I made earlier. Remaking the plot does not mean it’ll be good. Personally, I think it loses its magic touch. That’s why sequels fail so often. If I wanted the same plot, I would watch the original movie again. Not some watered-down version of a monument. Perhaps I’m being over-critical, but it is true. These films did not run for these sequels to trip and break an arm.
My prime example is “Jaws.” A simple chief wants to keep the town of Amity Island safe from shark attacks, but the insistent mayor wants to increase tourism, so he refuses help. However, once the attacks get more violent it becomes a classic man vs. nature showdown. The actors and Steven Spielberg directing the film takes the plot to another level.
However, the second “Jaws” grossed less than 50% than the original. Sure, it had the same director and a few main actors, but it was the same plot. The mayor wants to piece back the reputation of Amity Island, but the chief of police insists on stopping tourists once attacks start again. Yes, it was comedic but wasn’t as good as the first. Not even going to mention the 2 other terrible sequels. How many killer human-hungry sharks are there? Why do they keep following the main character and his kids?
- Production
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Often when a movie is a smashing success, the actor from the original is often in the sequel. It helps soften the blow of a terrible repeated plot line. In most cases, the sequel is made a long time after the original and actors do not want to ruin their career. This is seen a lot with actors who have transitioned to a new genre or simply think they’re above that role.
My prime example is the recasting of Scooby in the animation. The original live-action of “Scooby-Doo” was loved by so many. Matthew Iliad was the embodiment of Shaggy, from the looks to the mannerisms and of course the voice. However, the creators of the Scooby-Doo animated movie never even offered the role to Iliad. He posted his reaction on Twitter. It was quite upsetting to many original Scooby and Iliad fans. Nonetheless, he did a spectacular job in the new “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie.
In conclusion, sequels have the reputation of being bad but that doesn’t mean it has to be. I will give every movie a chance. Granted, after reading this it sounds like I wouldn’t. My best advice would be to have low expectations and possibly make it a game.