October 12th 2024.
When it comes to film sequels, sometimes they just don't live up to the success of the original. This was the case for a few recent releases, including Joker: 2 and Terrifier 3. Despite starring big names like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Joker: 2 received negative reviews and had a disappointing opening weekend. On the other hand, Terrifier 3 received rave reviews upon its release, following in the footsteps of the highly anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
However, not every sequel can be as successful as The Godfather Part II, Mad Max: Fury Road, or Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back. Some just fail to connect with audiences and fall short of the original's success. Let's take a look at seven of the worst sequels of all time, which not only flopped at the box office but were also heavily criticized by viewers.
The first on our list is Grease 2, which was released in 1982 as a standalone sequel to the romantic musical, Grease. While the original film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta was a hit, Grease 2 was slammed by critics and fans alike. It even received a nomination for Worst Picture at the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. Despite this, if you're still curious about the sequel, you can stream it on NOW TV, Prime Video, or Paramount Plus.
Another flop was Space Jam: A New Legacy, the 2021 sequel to the 1996 smash hit, Space Jam. Starring basketball player LeBron James and his son, the film failed to recreate the success of the original and was even nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as the Razzies, including worst actor, worst screen couple, and worst remake, rip-off, or sequel. If you still want to watch it, you can stream it on NOW TV, Prime Video, or Paramount Plus.
Next up is Exorcist II: The Heretic, which was released in 1977 as a follow-up to the terrifying horror film, The Exorcist. However, this sequel was widely considered one of the worst horror sequels and film sequels in general. Even the director of The Exorcist, William Friedkin, had harsh words for it, calling it a "disgrace" and "the worst piece of s**t" he had ever seen. If you're brave enough, you can rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, or the Sky Store.
Moving on to another sequel that failed to impress, we have Staying Alive, the 1983 follow-up to Saturday Night Fever. While John Travolta wowed audiences in the original, his return as Tony Manero did not have the same effect. In fact, Entertainment Weekly named it the "Worst Sequel Ever" in 2006. However, it did make it onto the list of The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of the "100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made." So if you're looking for a laugh, you can rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, or the Sky Store.
Son of the Mask was another comedy sequel that failed to live up to its predecessor, The Mask, starring Jim Carrey. Instead of Carrey, the 2005 film starred Jamie Kennedy, Alan Cumming, and Mary Mouser. Unfortunately, it was deemed a box office flop and received negative reviews. Kennedy even co-created a documentary called Heckler, which looks at film critics and hecklers at comedy shows. If you're still curious about this sequel, you can stream it on Prime Video.
Next, we have Speed 2: Cruise Control, which had all the ingredients for a great action film, including a star-studded cast featuring Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, and Willem Dafoe. However, the absence of Keanu Reeves, who starred in the original, and a change in direction resulted in this sequel being widely panned. If you want to see it for yourself, you can stream it on Disney Plus.
Last but not least, we have Jaws: The Revenge, the 1987 follow-up to the iconic shark thriller, Jaws. While the first two films were successful, the third installment was a disaster. It was the lowest-grossing film in the franchise and received criticism from one of its own stars, Michael Caine, who called it a "terrible" movie. However, he did admit that the money he made from it was pretty great. If you still want to give it a chance, you can rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, or the Sky Store.
What do you think is the worst sequel of all time? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Share them with us in the comments below. And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to our entertainment team. You can email us, call us, or visit our Submit Stuff page. We can't wait to hear from you.
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