Buzz
In modern Hollywood, the strategy is to create sequels for almost every major hit... This trend was evident in 2007 with a wave of third installments such as Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Rush Hour 3. These films raked in massive profits, proving that if a movie succeeds, studios will keep revisiting the franchise until its potential is exhausted.
Interestingly, even some iconic and highly acclaimed films have spawned sequels, though these follow-ups rarely achieved the same legendary status. Many of the movies listed below weren’t planned as “official” sequels but still extended the narratives and characters of earlier masterpieces. Unofficial sequels can sometimes succeed... a few, like The Lion in Winter (a follow-up to Becket, featuring Peter O’Toole as King Henry II in both) and The Silence of the Lambs (a sequel to Manhunter, with Frankie Faison as the only recurring actor), have gained popularity. However, most of these attempts failed, as audiences remained loyal to the original classics.
10. The Sting II 1983
Universal attempted to replicate the triumph of the 1973 classic featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford but fell short. By casting Jackie Gleason and Mac Davis instead of the original stars — the key to The Sting's brilliance — the filmmakers essentially admitted they were producing an inferior follow-up. The movie flopped, and The Sting II was relegated to obscurity.
9. Return to Oz 1985
Far from being The Wiz, Disney’s follow-up to the iconic The Wizard of Oz arrived 46 years after the 1939 masterpiece, securing its place in the record books. Sadly, that’s its only claim to fame, as it bombed both commercially and critically. Director Walter Murch aimed to minimize ties to the original, staying true to L. Frank Baum’s novels — the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion appear only briefly. But why distance itself when the sequel’s purpose was to leverage the original’s success?
8. The Last Days of Patton 1986
George C. Scott returned as the formidable General George S. Patton in this CBS TV movie. Similar to the original, it draws from a book by Ladislas Farago, focusing on the post-World War II era as Patton nears death following a car crash. With his wife (Eva Marie Saint) by his side, the General reflects on his pre-war glory days. Ron Berglas portrays a younger Patton. It’s puzzling why a legendary war film like 1970’s Patton would spawn a modest TV movie sequel, especially with George C. Scott reprising his iconic role. The film ranked ninth in ratings that night, leaving one to wonder if viewers were disappointed to see such a larger-than-life figure fade quietly rather than go out with a roar.
7. Return from the River Kwai 1989
Nick Tate, Timothy Bottoms, Edward Fox, and George Takei (!) headline this war epic sequel to the 1957 classic The Bridge on the River Kwai. Inspired by a 1979 book by Joan and Clay Blair, which recounts a true story, the film follows the workers from the original bridge as they are transported to Japan after its destruction. The journey is packed with intense wartime action and drama.
6. A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia 1990
A year after the original film returned to theaters, an unofficial TV sequel emerged, starring Ralph Fiennes as the lead. Aired on PBS’s “Great Performances” in 1992, the movie focused on Lawrence’s role at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference post-World War I. The New York Times praised Fiennes’ portrayal as more genuine than Peter O’Toole’s, depicting Lawrence as a complex, conflicted, and somber figure rather than a flamboyant adventurer. Steven Spielberg, impressed by Fiennes’ performance, reportedly cast him as a Nazi in Schindler’s List.
5. Happily Ever After 1993
Filmation, the animation studio behind Star Trek: The Animated Series and Fat Albert, had the ambitious idea in the 1980s to create sequels to iconic Disney films. Their first attempt was Happily Ever After, a follow-up to the 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, continuing the story where it left off. Snow White encounters the Seven Dwarfelles, relatives of the original dwarves, and together they battle the villainous Lord Malice. Despite boasting a star-studded cast including Ed Asner, Carol Channing, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Malcolm McDowell, the film was widely panned. Filmation also produced another Disney-inspired sequel, Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night, which had an intriguing title but little else to offer.
4. It Runs in the Family 1994
A Christmas Story is a holiday favorite, but its sequel, released over a decade later, failed to capture the same magic. Kieran Culkin steps into the role of Ralphie, whose new adventure revolves around a dice game rather than the iconic Red Ryder BB Gun. Tedde Moore reprises her role as Ralphie’s teacher, and Jean Shepherd returns as the narrator, but the rest of the original cast is absent. MGM later renamed the film My Summer Story, and it’s safe to say this one won’t make your holiday must-watch list.
3. The Queen 2006
You’re likely familiar with The Queen, but did you know it serves as a follow-up to the 2003 TV movie The Deal? Both films star Michael Sheen as Tony Blair and were penned by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Frears. The Deal revolves around a supposed agreement between Blair and Gordon Brown, where Blair convinces Brown to let him lead the Labour Party while granting Brown influence over domestic policies.
2. Sahara 2005
This falls into the category of “technically a sequel” films. The 1980 movie Raise the Titanic featured Richard Jordan as Dirk Pitt, a role later taken by Matthew McConaughey in Sahara. Both films are adaptations of Clive Cussler’s novels about the adventurous Dirk Pitt, and both suffered from massive budgets and box-office failures. The producer of Raise the Titanic famously joked that it would’ve been cheaper to “lower the Atlantic.” A nod to the original film appears in Sahara’s opening credits, where a newspaper clipping in Pitt’s office mentions the Titanic’s raising.
1. Scarlett 1994
The 1991 novel Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley, a sequel to Gone With the Wind, was adapted into a TV miniseries in 1994. Joanna Whalley starred as Scarlett O’Hara, with Timothy Dalton stepping into the role of the charming Rhett Butler. Refusing to accept Rhett’s famous dismissal, Scarlett embarks on a journey to Ireland to win him back. This eight-hour CBS miniseries, aired during the November sweeps, attracted decent ratings but fell short of the network’s expectations. It marked the end of the epic miniseries era, though it’s still worth a watch if you can track it down—especially for Sean Bean’s portrayal of the villainous Lord Fenton.
