Movies that shouldn't have had sequels

[samsnee]

What are some great movies that, while still great, got tarnished by a sequel because of how characters turned out, or just an overall dip in quality?

I'll start: Terminator 1/T2. Should have left it alone after that. But studios never learn. To paraphrase T2 "It's in your nature to destroy yourselves."

 

[David H.]

Raiders of the Lost Ark

 

[samsnee]

Nah, Temple of Doom is seriously underrated. Even Last Crusade had its charms.

 

[AverageMan]

Jaws

 

[Schlosser85]

I’ll second Jaws.

The Alien and Terminator franchises should have stopped after #2. Predator should have stopped after 2, at the latest.

Lethal Weapon should have stopped after #3, though #2 is the best.

Indiana Jones should have stopped after Last Crusade.

 

[AverageMan]

Jurassic Park

 

[AverageMan]

Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura, Anchorman

 

[David H.]

Saying Temple of Doom is underrated is overrating it.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

The Descent is a fantastic action-filled, nail-biting, claustrophobic horror tale filled with suspense, thrills, and gore. The Descent Part 2 is an okay-ish horror film when taken on its own but is nowhere near the quality of the first. Plus it craps all over the first movie's ending.

 

[samsnee]

Those are the worst kinds of sequels. The ones that undo the original instead of enhancing it.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Those are the worst kinds of sequels. The ones that undo the original instead of enhancing it.

Definitely!

 

[AResistor]

Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura, Anchorman

How dare you!!!! Ace Ventura Jr. is the best move EVR!!!!!

ADDING: The Mask

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Also, 30 Days of Night is my second favourite vampire movie ever. 30 Days of Night: Dark Days (DtV) is dross (that I made the mistake of buying blind on the strength of the first movie).

 

[Drizzle]

Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura, Anchorman

Maybe an unpopular opinion but I thought Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls was an improvement over the first one. It’s just a shame Courtney Cox didn’t come back.

 

[samsnee]

I honestly don't remember anything about that sequel besides Carey being pooped out of a rhino butt.

First Blood should have never had a sequel. As great a character as Rambo is, he wasn't really supposed to be an action hero.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

First Blood should have never had a sequel. As great a character as Rambo is, he wasn't really supposed to be an action hero.

I agree with that. As much as I enjoy a bit of Sly, as a story I think First Blood should really have stood alone. I kinda feel the same about Rocky too (and I say that as someone who loves Rocky IV).

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yep, as soon as I saw the thread title, I was going to say First Blood. And if they HAD to make sequels, then they should have called them Second Blood, Third Blood, etc. until finishing it off with All Out of Blood.

Others...

The Blair Witch Project (Blair Witch 2 was one of the worst movies I've EVER seen, and it's another one that undoes the first film)
300
Jurassic Park
Ocean's 11 (I did like Ocean's 8, but I wish they hadn't made Ocean's 12)
Trainspotting (The end of the first one had a glimmer of hope; Trainspotting 2 was just depressing in the end)
Pitch Black
Dumb and Dumber
Grease
The Mask
Speed
Bruce Almighty
Jaws
Saw
Saturday Night Fever

 

[_Superman_]

The Matrix.

 

[CJ]

Toy Story. The third one was okay, but the second one really disappointed me. They should've just let the first one stand on its own. Make TV specials if they want to revisit the characters, idk.

Also, Shrek & Wreck-It Ralph.

 

[David H.]

Ocean's 11 (... but I wish they hadn't made Ocean's 12)

Trainspotting (The end of the first one had a glimmer of hope; Trainspotting 2 was just depressing in the end)

Ocean’s 12 is my favorite for being both a much more earnest delivery of the series’ ultimate selling point - a bunch of charming famous people hanging out - and maintaining a wry sense of humor about its existence, which I think is a more difficult balancing act than most people give it credit for and I think T2’s rather tragic closing note is a clever continuation of the original’s; we’re all looking for intimate forms of gratification and these days it’s readily available for purchase. Want a piece of that? Honestly?

 

[_Superman_]

Toy Story. The third one was okay, but the second one really disappointed me. They should've just let the first one stand on its own. Make TV specials if they want to revisit the characters, idk.

Also, Shrek & Wreck-It Ralph.

Good one I forgot about Toy Story. As a matter of fact most of Disney's movies didn't need a sequel. Cars, Frozen, Wrack-it-Ralph, the list can go on.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Home Alone.

 

[terry78]

The irony is that movies that are well done and well received almost always get sequels for that very reason. It's a cosmic ballet.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

The Grudge (US version, I've enjoyed some of the Japanese sequels)
The Woman in Black
Silent Hill

 

[DarkKnight88]

Toy Story? It’s the very definition of being set up for sequels.

And the sequels are great.