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I believe it has become a widely held opinion that sequels are rarely better than the original. Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s really difficult to beat a good original. Despite this, many still try.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sequels; there are times when the story will call for it, and nobody likes an unfinished story. My issue lies with films that have a sequel for absolutely no reason other than greed, when a story is wrapped up nicely, yet, due to popularity, a sequel is created.
In these cases, the film is almost never as good as the original; in fact, sometimes it ruins it.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Ocean's Twelve was released in 2004 and is the sequel to the hit 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven. Steven Soderbergh directs both films and features a main cast of George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt.
Ocean's Eleven follows newly paroled Danny Ocean and his crew of criminals as they attempt to pull off the biggest casino heist in history. The film currently holds an 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and won a César for Best Foreign Film.
I’m a sucker for a heist film, and Ocean’s Eleven is no exception. It does an ensemble film perfectly. Including the ending when, spoiler alert, the crew takes their treasures and goes their separate ways. It’s a realistic ending for a heist film, and I enjoy the ambiguity of where they all end up after this.
Ocean’s Twelve currently holds a 55 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble. It’s a good thing the acting isn’t my issue with the film, moreso the fact that it even exists. In the sequel, the crew gets together again when the owner of the casino they robbed wants his money back, with interest, so naturally they plan a heist to get back the money they’ve already spent.
I think the plot makes it clear that the original film did not plan for the film to have a sequel. It takes away from the mystery of the ending and fails at recreating the magic of the first film.
Joker (2019)
Joker is a 2019 film directed by Todd Phillips. The film currently holds a 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film takes place in Gotham City and follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he struggles to fit into society and finds himself falling into madness, in what is portrayed as the backstory to the DC villain Joker.
I actually enjoyed this film and found it to be a unique take on an already popular character. The film ends in the perfect way, with the city falling into chaos, and Fleck fulfilling what we believe to be his destiny, becoming the Joker. This film having a sequel is the greatest example of doing it for the money rather than in service of the narrative.
Joker: Folie à Deux premiered in 2024, directed by Todd Phillips. It holds a 31 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel follows the events of the previous film, where Fleck is sent to Arkham Asylum and awaits trial for his crimes. While there, he meets Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and the two fall in love.
A very interesting creative direction this film decides to take is making the sequel a musical. Who exactly thought this was a good idea, I’m not quite sure. It adds almost nothing to the plot, but instead takes away from it. There were times when the random musical breaks felt like filler scenes, and had me questioning if I walked into the wrong theatre.
The whole film feels like a fan-made version of the original. Despite this, the truly baffling decision, which essentially ruins the first film, is the ending. In the end, Fleck is stabbed by another inmate, and as he bleeds out, the perpetrator slices that famous smile across his own face. Revealing that Fleck was not the Joker, but rather the inspiration for the real one, who is a random character in the very last scene.
Enchanted (2007)
Released in 2007, Enchanted is a live-action animated musical directed by Kevin Lima and holds a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It stars a main cast of Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, and James Marsden. The film follows Giselle, a stereotypical princess attempting to adjust after being thrust from her animated life in Andalasia into the real streets of New York City.
Enchanted is a fun film that I spent a lot of time watching as a kid, so it holds a special place in my heart. It was romantic, funny, heartfelt, and managed to be entertaining for adults as well as children.
Imagine my surprise when a sequel was released fifteen years later.
Disenchanted was released in 2022 and directed by Adam Shankman; it has a 35 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It features the same cast, with some new additions. The story follows Giselle years later as she lives with her family in the suburbs. When she begins to question her happiness, she accidentally causes chaos for the people in Andalasia and in the real world.
There’s one reason a movie gets a sequel fifteen years later: nostalgia. This is the only plausible reason, seeing as the first film ended as a “Happily Ever After.” Disenchanted, unfortunately, falls flat in terms of plot and character arcs. Enchanted was a unique twist on the stereotypical princess stories, and Disenchanted essentially unwinds all of that.
Jaws (1975)
Jaws is a household classic released in 1975 and directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s rated 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and stars Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Schneider, and Robert Shaw. The film takes place after a woman is killed by a shark at the beach, so an Ichthyologist and a ship captain attempt to capture the unruly beast.
Jaws is a film with a compelling story, fleshed-out characters, real stakes, and an award-winning score. Jaws was the leading agent of the summer blockbuster; there’s a reason why it’s a well-beloved classic. A sequel was likely inevitable.
Jaws 2 was released in 1978 and was also directed by Steven Spielberg; it’s rated 56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Years after the first shark attack, a pair of divers disappear, leading residents in Amity Island to realize they’re not as safe as they thought they were.
Jaws 2 is not completely terrible, but when you compare it to the original, it falls extremely short. Not to mention the fact that, in terms of plot, it feels unnecessary and fits on the list of having no genuine reason for existing.
Sequels are hit or miss in general. I believe the best sequels are the ones that are planned from the start, because it becomes obvious when a film has no idea why it exists. So I think it’s time for Hollywood to put the sequels down and give some fresh ideas a chance.
