Science fictionmovies never quite seem to be safe from unnecessary sequels, with some franchises being revived even decades later to disastrous results. It’s the nature of Hollywood to yearn for sequels, especially where expensive blockbusters, like science fiction movies tend to be, are concerned. This has resulted in a great number ofbrilliant sci-fi filmsreceiving totally unnecessary and critically inept sequels that attempt to cash in on an already completed story.
Franchises liketheStar Warsseriesor James Cameron’s burgeoningAvatarfilms have proven time and time again that science fiction is perfect for carrying tentpole blockbuster films across the finish line. However,not every science fiction story leaves enough room in their premise for sequels to mine for additional narrative. As a result, many science fiction sequels can feel totally unnecessary or even disrespectful to their predecessors.
The Matrix Resurrections
Cast
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
With the last film rounding out theMatrixtrilogy releasing in 2003, it seemed as though the series could rest easy as a mostly beloved franchise that admittedly had a shaky end. Yet the sudden renaissance of Keanu Reeves in Hollywood seemed to necessitate a sequel, demanded by the studios in the form ofThe Matrix Resurrections.After almost 20 years, Reeves returned again as Neo, who finds himself once again held captive by the system he once rebelled against.
The film seems to almost openly mock its own existence with the meta narrative of Neo’s return.
The Matrix Resurrectionsis so unnecessary that it almost hurts to see classic characters like Neo and Trinity return for such a mediocre installment.The film seems to almost openly mock its own existence with the meta narrative of Neo’s return, leading to some fans to theorize that LanaWachowski madeThe Matrix Resurrectionsout of spite. Even if this isn’t true, it’s easy to see how a viewer could come to this conclusion after watching a film that adds nothing worthwhile to the establishedMatrixmythos.
Independence Day: Resurgence
Set 20 years after the original, this sequel to Independence Day sees the nations of Earth use the alien technology to develop an advanced defense system for the planet. But nothing can prepare them for an unprecedented force of alien attackers out for revenge. It’s up to a few brave men and women to save the world from extraterrestrials once more.
At leastThe Matrixalready had some precedence for sequels by the timeThe Matrix Resurrectionscame out, as the same can’t be said forIndependence Day: Resurgence.The originalIndependence Dayis one of the most beloved action movies of all time, showing a plucky humanity fending off an alien invasion with superior technology.After laying dormant for two decades, the IP was revived for one last gasp withIndependence Day: Resurgence.
In the sequel, a unified humanity benefitting from the aliens' technology has to once again fight off a new invading army bent on harvesting resources from the Earth’s molten core, destroying the planet in the process.The film suffers from a tremendous lack of stakes - Whereas the aliens' terror in the original is very much on display, the enhanced resources and expertise that the humans ofIndependence Day: Resurgencehas makes them never feel truly in danger. Pepper in an audacious attempt at seeding more sequels, and the follow-up remains totally unworthy in the shadow of its predecessor.
The Predator
The Predator follows a group of ex-soldiers and a scientist who band together to battle a new evolution of lethal alien Predators. As these hunters descend upon Earth, the team must fight to prevent humanity’s extinction.
Films likePreyhave proven that thePredatorfranchise has more than enough fuel left in the tank as long as a simple formula in which the vicious alien killers are dropped into some novel new setting is obeyed.This will be adhered to inthe upcomingPredator: Badlands, which will see the Yautja hunters attack a post-apocalyptic world, but the franchise has previously attempted more serialized storytelling.
Enter 2018’sThe Predator, which tried and failed to accelerate the series' canon into bizarre new territory.
InThe Predator, a group of traumatized soldiers and a scientist have to defend humanity from the Predators' new insidious plans. Infamously,The Predatorincluded an autistic character whose autism is thought to be the next stage of human evolution by the Predators, enabling him to pilot their technology. Trying to turn the franchise into a cataclysmic world-threatening story it never intended to be,The Predatoris destined to be forgotten as an unneeded speed bump in the series' history.
Men In Black: International
Starring Chris Hemsworth as Agent H and Tessa Thompson as Agent M, Men In Black: International marks a new beginning for the MiB franchise after the success of the Will Smith-led trilogy. This time, the dark-suited heroes face an infiltrated threat in the organization, which could trigger a weapon of mass destruction if they don’t act fast.
Oddly enough,Independence Day: Resurgenceisn’t the only alien-themed franchise featuring Will Smith that attempted to revive years later without the benefit of Smith’s stardom.Even great franchises run out of steam sooner or later, andMen in Black: Internationalproves that it’s better to leave well enough alone rather than try to push something that was never meant to be.The originalMen in Blackmovies thrived on Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (and Josh Brolin’s) chemistry as Agents J and K, with the alien set dressing being mere icing on the cake.
Tess Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, both ofThorfame, do have a good enough chemistry to almost carryMen in Black: Internationalacross the finish line.However, the tired plot threads of shapeshifting aliens appearing in human form and sterile sense of comedy leaves something wanting from the originalMen in Blackformula. Even if the last movie in it was a great one, not every science fiction franchise necessarily needs to return for fourths.
Highlander II: The Quickening
Highlander II: The Quickening is a science fiction film directed by Russell Mulcahy, serving as a sequel to the 1986 Highlander. Set in a dystopian future, the film follows Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert, who must confront an ecological disaster while battling new enemies. Sean Connery reprises his role as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, aiding MacLeod in his quest. The narrative explores themes of immortality, power, and environmental destruction.
One of themost infamously hated sequelsof all time,Highlander II: The Quickeningis one of the only science fiction films that wasn’t only an unnecessary second installment, but retroactively ruined the story of the original. In the firstHighlander, the Immortals' origins are left mysterious, with little known about them outside of the strange rules they must follow, with the infamous tagline “There can be only one” summing up their struggle for dominance. However,the sequel had its own ideas about how the mysterious beings worked.
Highlander 2 Is One Of The Worst Movies Ever Made, But A Much Better Sequel Happened Only 1 Year Later
Highlander 2: The Quickening is one of the worst sequels ever produced - but thankfully, the franchise was redeemed the following year.
InHighlander II: The Quickening, it’s explained that the Immortals are actually alien beings from the planet Zeist, sullying the mysticism of the previous film.Not only that, but the century-spanning plotline is hard to keep up with, leaving the finished product more unwieldy than a Scottish claymore. In the end, theHighlanderfranchise should have abided by its famous quote.
Deep Blue Sea 2
Deep Blue Sea 2 follows billionaire pharmaceutical mogul Carl Durant, who experiments on genetically modified bull sharks in a remote underwater facility. As these intelligent predators start exhibiting deadly behavior, the scientists must band together to survive. Directed by Darin Scott and starring Danielle Savre and Michael Beach, this sequel explores the consequences of tampering with nature’s design.
More or less a sophisticated clone ofJawsitself,Deep Blue Seaalready isn’t the most capable science fiction movie when it comes to an expansion for a sequel. The premise of an underwater research facility coming under attack by hyper-intelligent sharks was more or less explored to completion.But that didn’t stop aDeep Blue Sea 2from getting made, somehow even more shallow than the original.
Deep Blue Sea 2more or less tells the exact same story over again, with the idea of genetically altering sharks to have human levels of intelligence not getting any better the second time around.Boasting a rare 0% freshness rating on RottenTomatoes.com, it’s clear that the film is simply a worse version of the original, without the benefit of strong actors like Samuel L. Jackson to carry the absurdity across the finish line.It’s hard to find a science fiction sequel no one asked for as much asDeep Blue Sea 2.
Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation is set in post-apocalyptic 2018, where John Connor leads the human resistance against powerful machines. The arrival of Marcus Wright introduces uncertainty, as Connor seeks to uncover Wright’s origins—be it future or past—and establish if he is an ally or enemy.
TheTerminatorfilms peaked long ago withTerminator 2: Judgment Day, one of the best action movies of all time. WhileTerminator 3: Rise of the Machineswas a dramatic step down in quality, it still had its moments, though the effort made it clear that it was time for the franchise to hang up the leather jacket and shades once and for all. Sadly,the series had to continue shuffling onwards withTerminator Salvation, the first (and arguably, worst) of many unnecessary sequels.
The action is as mechanical and by-the-numbers as ever, with a tone shifting startlingly towards the establishment, marring the ideological impact of the entire franchise.
The onlyTerminatorfilm to-date not to feature Arnold Schwarzenegger in some capacity as a T-800,Terminator Salvationhas a total void of charisma not filled by Christian Bale’s angry performance as John Connor.The action is as mechanical and by-the-numbers as ever, with a tone shifting startlingly towards the establishment, marring the ideological impact of the entire franchise. It’s no wonder thatTerminator Genisysopted to start a new timelineallogether, ignoring the events of the disastrous fourth installment.
S. Darko
S. Darko is a sequel to the cult film Donnie Darko, following Samantha Darko as she becomes stranded in a desert town. Haunted by strange visions foretelling the end of the world, she confronts personal challenges while attempting to alter the course of events to save both the universe and herself.
Donnie Darkois a perfectly self-contained, if confusing, story about time travel as told through the lens of teenage isolation and angst.For all its fame, most are unaware thatDonnie Darkohas a sequel at all, made without any involvement from the original’s director and writer Richard Kelly.S. Darkois named after Donnie’s sister, Samantha, who goes on to have a bizarre time-hopping journey of her own years later after the mysterious death of her brother unfolds.
S. Darkohas just as confusing and ambitious of a script as the original without the same masterful control of narrative that narrowly allows it to work.The superficial dialogue and one-dimensional characters also can’t do justice toDonnie Darko, settingS. Darkoeven further apart from its famous progenitor. Though time may loop in the setting, it’s clear that the world ofDonnie Darkoonly ever needed to be visited once.
Like most ofPaul Verhoeven’s work,Starship Troopersis a revolutionary science fiction film that re-defines what a space opera can be as a story, subverting the message of the original book into scathing anti-fascist satire.As potent as the message may be, at the end of the day, the spectacle of the war on bugs and futuristic aesthetic is more than enough to inspire an unnecessary franchise.Thus wasStarship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, taking the I.P. on its first steps towards becoming basic sci-fi action noise.
Much of the runtime ofStarship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federationis spent introducing cool new additions to the series' lore such as laser weapons and psychic soldiers from a boots-on-the-ground perspective. This action-forward mode of storytelling only leaves a small denouement available for the series' political messaging, hammering home a point with far less subtlety and nuance than the original was able to accomplish.Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federationpaved the way for many more unwarranted expansions of the original universe.
The Cloverfield Paradox
The Cloverfield Paradox is the third installment in J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield franchise. In it, a team of scientists aboard the Cloverfield space station accidentally jump into an alternate dimension while attempting to harness a new form of energy that could solve Earth’s energy crisis. The movie was initially conceived as an original idea, but was later modified to connect with the previous two films.
TheCloverfieldfranchise is an odd one, to say the least.The originalCloverfieldworks well enough on its own as a found-footage giant monster movie, and10 Cloverfield Lanewas a pleasant surprise as a tangentially-related follow-up vaguely in the same series. After that, however,The Cloverfield Paradoxtried and failed to unite the series together with a firmer identity via a bizarre science fiction movie taking place in space.
InThe Cloverfied Paradox,scientists onboard a space station begin to encounter strange phenomena that seems to suggest the presence of an alternate reality merging into their own. The fact thatThe Cloverfield Paradoxwas initially an unrelated script that was only retroactively fitted to relate to the originalCloverfieldis quite obvious, resulting in a disjointed feeling that the series never needed to continue past the first film at all.The Cloverfield Paradox’s own confusingscience fictionstory doesn’t help matters, not making the argument for why the franchise should have ever developed.
