Nothing will excite movie buffs more than a sequel to a film they love! However, producing a great sequel is easier said than done. Countless cinematic follow-ups fail to capture what made the originals so special, resulting in lackluster reviews, box office disappointment and a tarnished legacy.
There’s no shortage of terrible sequels to great movies, but here are ten films you should avoid if you love the original.
1. Bring It On Again (2004)
Universal Pictures
Bring It On (2000) was a surprise hit that became a cult classic. It defined a generation with its quotable one-liners and put the sport of cheerleading into the limelight. With a great ensemble cast including Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, Eliza Dushku and many other recognizable faces, there’s much to love about the original film.
Unfortunately, you can’t say the same about its 2004 sequel, Bring It On Again. The movie lacked original cast members and didn’t capture the same spark. The same goes for its many other sequels! Producers have tried in vain to recreate the original’s magic with six sequels. Aside from some meme-worthy moments and good laughs in the third film, Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), most of the other movies in the franchise have flown way under the radar.
The latest attempt is Bring It On: Cheer or Die (2022), a strange horror/comedy slasher that tries to breathe new life into the franchise. But if you love the original, stay far away and enjoy the classic as a standalone film!
2. The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Warner Bros.
Many consider the original Exorcist film from 1973 the ultimate horror movie. It’s an Oscar-winning film full of tension and true scares, and it stands the test of time to continue scaring audiences today. But the sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, is another story.
Despite starring the original’s Linda Blair, the movie failed to live up to its predecessor in many ways. Some consider it the worst sequel ever made due to its continuity errors, strange plot and awful special effects that don’t hold a candle to the atmosphere and terror of the original. Many believe the sequel fell flat because of the absence of William Peter Blatty, the original screenwriter and author of The Exorcist book.
Blatty returned to write and direct The Exorcist III (1990), which had a much better reception. Other Exorcist films came out in the mid-2000s, and there was even a TV series in 2016. However, fans of the original should save themselves from disappointment and skip those entries. The latest attempts at reviving the Exorcist series arrived in 2023, with The Exorcist: Believer starting a brand-new trilogy. However, that film bombed hard among reviewers and fans, so you may want to stick to annual Halloween reruns of the original to get your Exorcist fix.
3. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
Haxan Films
Ask anyone around during the release of The Blair Witch Project (1999), and they’ll tell you just how crazy it was. The original movie was a box-office smash that made nearly $250 million on a budget of just $60,000! It came out when the Internet was just getting mainstream, relying on a realistic marketing campaign that made moviegoers truly believe they were watching real-life horrors on screen.
The sequel, released in 2000, took a completely different approach. Instead of found-footage horror, it was a thriller based on the original’s success. Critics panned Book of Shadows for its gratuitous violence, sex and nonsensical plotline.
According to the filmmakers, the studio that produced the film took away substantial creative freedom in favor of a quick cash grab. The film’s director and writer, Joe Berlinger, is quite vocal about the troubles encountered during production, including the need to do reshoots to include more gore and sex.
There are many interesting ideas within Book of Shadows. But unless we ever get a director’s cut that returns the movie to the director’s initial vision, this is a sequel you should skip.
4. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
Blue Tulip Productions
The original Speed, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, is a great action thriller. It has a unique plot, characters you care about and a villain you can’t wait to see meet their end. Then, we have the sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Where do we even begin with this awful sequel? Keanu Reeves (rightfully) declined to appear in this follow-up. While Sandra Bullock did return, introducing a new hero was a bit nonsensical for film critics. Pair that with the entire movie taking place on a cruise ship, and the sequel loses everything that made the original great.
While the final action setpiece is impressive and broke records for being one of the most expensive stunts ever filmed at the time, even that couldn’t save this dud!
5. The Saw Franchise (2005 and Beyond)
Lionsgate Films
Saw came out in 2004, introducing us to the infamous John Kramer and Billy the Puppet. It was a unique horror thriller with an innovative concept and light gore. However, the sequels relied less on the thriller aspect and more on gore.
The original Saw film spawned six sequels, becoming a Halloween mainstay during the late 2000s. Each sequel’s plot became increasingly unhinged and difficult to follow. While the original’s twist is a classic, every film afterward attempted to recreate that last-minute unveil to lackluster success. Even after the “final” film, Saw 3D wrapped the original story, two more standalone films came out to less-than-stellar reviews.
There is hope, though. The latest entry, Saw X, saw a return to form and was much-loved by critics and fans of the originals. Newer films are in the works, but only time will tell if they go far into left field like the original series!
6. Grease 2 (1982)
Paramount Pictures
Who doesn’t love Grease? The 1978 classic featuring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta is great fun! It has amazing tunes, a fun plot and many great moments that people continue to reference today.
Sadly, the follow-up from 1982 isn’t as revered. While it stars the incomparable Michelle Pfeifer, Grease 2 is a mess from start to finish. It swaps the roles, giving Pfeifer the bad-girl persona instead of her male counterpart. While that could have set the stage for some interesting plot points, Grease 2 lacks the energy of the original. Many say it’s boring, pointless and uninteresting. Even the music is forgettable!
The original is a classic, so it’s best to stick with rewatches to appreciate the Greasers and Pink Ladies instead of watching the sequel!
7. Legally Blonde: Red, White and Blonde (2003)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Legally Blonde (2001) is another quotable movie that fans love to rewatch repeatedly. There’s something magical about seeing the underestimated Elle Woods conquer in the courtroom while looking amazing in pink! The sequel sees the return of many original cast members, including Reese Witherspoon and Jeniffer Coolidge, but even their presence doesn’t do much to make Legally Blonde 2 worth a watch.
The sequel sees Elle Woods heading to Washington, D.C. The plot had potential, but the execution was “meh” at best. Many feel that it’s an unnecessary cash grab that taints the original’s long-standing legacy. Don’t even get us started on the direct-to-DVD spin-off Legally Blondes from 2009, which doesn’t even feature Elle Woods.
There’s talk about a Legally Blonde reboot featuring Witherspoon in the iconic role, but only time will tell if it lives up to the original.
8. Taken 2 (2012)
M6 Films
The Liam Neeson-led film Taken (2008) showed the world why you don’t mess with daughters! It’s an action-packed flick with tons of suspense and an amazing performance by Neeson.
Taken 2 came out in 2012 and follows the same concept as the first film. But critics panned its execution. Fans of the original say that the sequel was an unnecessary retread that suffered from a bad plot, less-than-stellar cinematography and an overall less-exciting experience. The second sequel, Taken 3, is even worse!
Many argue that Taken should have stayed a standalone film, and fans of the original like to treat it that way. Save yourself the frustration and appreciate the Taken story for what it is without diving into its sequels.
9. The Son of the Mask (2005)
New Line Cinema
Son of the Mask is a movie that often comes up when discussing truly awful sequels, and it’s not hard to see why! The original film, The Mask, came out in 1994 and starred the ever-amazing Jim Carrey. At the time, Jim Carrey was known for his wild antics and over-the-top acting style, making him the perfect match for a movie about an enchanted mask featuring the Norse god Loki.
The sequel arrived over a decade later, starring Jamie Kennedy, and the reception was not kind! Son of Mask is a nonsensical mess, and not in the way that made the original so beloved. It has awful CGI, strange plot points and truly questionable sequences. One such example is the “wacky sperm” scene that leads to the titular Son of the Mask.”
The reception to this sequel was so awful that it inspired its star, Jamie Kennedy, to make an entire documentary about the ordeal and the backlash he received!
10. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Universal Pictures
Finally, we have The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The Spielberg-led original from 1997 was a worldwide phenomenon. It impacted an entire generation and excited the world about dinosaurs of the past. It even spawned theme parks and rides.
The second and third films of the original trilogy didn’t receive the same love. Even Spielberg himself stated that he became disenfranchised with The Lost World during production, and it shows. Critics said the sequel was too dark and lacked direction in the storyline.
Fortunately, The Jurassic Park legacy got a reprieve with the start of a new trilogy in 2015 with the release of Jurassic World. But many fans still say nothing holds a candle to the 1993 original.
Will You Watch These Sequels?
These substandard sequels failed to live up to the legacy of their originals. While they’re often a huge disappointment to fans of the originals, you’ll still find people who think you need to watch the sequels to get the full story. Whether or not you tune in is up to you. But be warned: Set your expectations very low!
