Sequels: The Good, The Bad, The Overdone

elle wight | sept. 24, 2024 | The fall Supplemental

In recent years, movie sequels have become more prominent in the entertainment industry. This summer, people flooded into theaters to watch the sequel “Inside Out 2” and many are eagerly anticipating the upcoming “Moana 2” releasing in November 2024. So far this year, movie theaters have seen an increase in attendance with profits exceeding $8 billion in ticket sales. This marks a significant turnaround from the dramatic plummet in 2020 due to the pandemic. Franchises have been using sequels to draw viewers of all ages back into theaters, encouraging them to share the experience with friends and family. Although movie sequels appear to have risen in popularity, there are positive and negative viewpoints surrounding their prevalence, both at Stanton College Preparatory School and the community at large.

“If [movie sequels] are done right, they are a great addition,” said junior Teju Vegi. “However, there are also sequels that I never want to see again.”

Sequels have the power to make or break a franchise. While some struggle to meet the expectations set by the original film, others are praised for elevating the storyline. Some sequels can satiate their audience’s eagerness for a resolution.

“When there is a good hook or cliff hanger in a movie, it keeps [people invested] and wanting to come back to watch the [sequel],” said sophomore Prapti Paladagula.

The presence of cliff hangers in movies often leave people feeling apprehensive. Sequels can resolve this as they provide a chance for fans to revisit characters and witness the continuation of their stories. They often follow the same vibe and ideas of the first movie which offers viewers a comfort in familiarity. This nostalgic feeling brings warmth and joy to fans who were fond of the original film. These fans can also gain a change in perspective from sequels, especially when the stories and characters are expanded upon. 

“[Sequels] change my opinion on the original film,” said senior Kenny Huang. “Looking back, I have a whole new perspective because they add to the characters and plot.”

Providing new insight was a common theme among the several sequels released in 2024. But despite the surge of sequels seen this year, the overall production of movies remains slightly low. According to the Los Angeles Times, movie production has been down 40% in 2024 compared to 2022. Among the lower production rates of movies, there is not a significant number of original films being created. This lack of production greatly contributes to the recent popularity of secondary movies, as the spotlight is on sequels rather than new movies. Sequels have been around since the early days of the film industry and are a familiar source of entertainment for all ages. Studios have tended to stick to this style because they have seen it succeed time and time again. 

“Sequels have been in the film universe since more or less the beginning of film,” said International Baccalaureate film teacher Mr. Brandon Cox. “The sense that [sequels] are getting more prevalent now is less about how many sequels are being made and more about how few other films are being made.”

The absence of innovative films has allowed producers to repeatedly create the same formulaic movies. Certain franchises have several sequels, causing some audiences to believe these markets have become oversaturated. There is a financial incentive behind producing additional films in a series. Film producers view them as a way to broaden their audience by reaching out to original fans while attracting new ones as well. In some scenarios, sequels are more financially successful than the original film. For instance, the 2010 sequel “Iron Man 2” earned $623.9 million worldwide, compared to the first “Iron Man” film, released in 2008, which made only $585 million. The financial goals behind the production of sequels can lead to a perceived oversaturation in theaters, with successful films like “Toy Story” having four movies and a fifth coming in the summer of 2026. This is a common pattern among franchises, with several of them sticking to similar plots and ideas rather than stepping out of their comfort zone. 

“The current paradigm of the studio system is [as if] they are allergic to the idea of taking any risks with the films they are financing. Instead, [studios] are retreating to the safety of ‘Well, this has worked before, the audience loved it, so let’s just do that again,’” said Mr. Cox.

This mindset in many producers stunts the creation of fresh films in theaters. However, it can also encourage the revival of fans bases. The 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” was released 36 years after the original film, “Top Gun,” and turned out to be extremely successful, grossing over $1.4 billion. In spite of the immense time gap between the movies, fans of the original film reconnected with their love for the franchise after watching the sequel in theaters in May 2022. People across the globe had positive reviews about the film, as it provided a nostalgic revisitation to old characters with an addition of thrilling action scenes.

Other films have also gone through a similar experience. As seen in 2014 with “Dumb and Dumber To,” which was released 20 years after the original movie, “Dumb and Dumber,” and the 2015 “Jurassic World,” which hit the screens 22 years after the franchise’s debut, “Jurassic Park.” While there may have been a financial incentive behind these films, they offered fans the opportunity to return to their favorite movies. The significant gap between the original and sequel of these franchises allowed film makers to improve on original aspects of the film. “Jurassic World” used modern technology including animatronics, computer-generated imagery, and motion capture to create realistic looking dinosaurs. Even with added advancements to the film universe, sequels have still received criticism from audiences.

Sequels often receive intensive scrutiny. Some feel as though there is a lack of innovation or effort put into new releases, as movie sequels are frequently criticized for storyline disappointments. 

“Everyone hates on [sequels],” said Huang. “Sometimes they ruin the franchise if unnecessary elements are added [after the original], or if it’s just a bad movie.”

Although opinions on sequels are divided, a significant portion of viewers continue to enjoy the additional films. The nostalgic aspects of childhood films returning to screens can rekindle the joy the original once brought them. A popular example is the 2013 “Frozen” franchise. The original movie is still a fan favorite, and the 2019 sequel received similar positive feedback.

“Frozen 2 was great,” said Vegi. “I really did love the sequel. Kristoff proposing to Anna was the highlight.”

There are numerous opinions surrounding the increasing prevalence of sequels. While they are a fun opportunity for fans to experience their favorite character dynamics a second time, they can also be overproduced for financial gain. Even with the variety of opinions surrounding sequels, they continue to serve as a prevailing entertainment source for people across the globe.