9 Most Unnecessary Movie Sequels of All Time

Anthony Faccenda

Not all movie sequels are created equal. Some sequels are almost as good, if not better than the original—like The Godfather Part II and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. While other sequels should have never seen the light of day.

Earlier this month, the SyFy channel announced that a second Sharknado sequel, affectionately titled Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, will premier later this summer. This announcement got us to thinking about the most unnecessary sequels in cinema history.

In addition to not being great movies (in some cases horrible movies), the following movies really shouldn’t have ever been made. So just in case you’ve forgotten—or forcibly erased your memory of their existence—here is a list to remind you of the 9 most unnecessary movie sequels of all time. 

---

9. 2010 (1983) 

Possibly the best film on our list, 2010 is nonetheless an unnecessary sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s far superior 2001: A Space Odyssey. Like its predecessor, 2010 is based on an Arthur C. Clarke novel. Interestingly, following the release of Clarke’s follow up in 1982, the writer jokingly tasked Kubrick with making sure a movie version never got made. Like clockwork, however, the movie sequel was released in 1983.

A strong cast all around, 2010 features returning actors Keir Dullea and Douglas Rain, as well as esteemed new cast members like Roy Scheider, Helen Mirren, and John Lithgow. Despite the strong cast and intriguing story, the fact that 2010 is a sequel to arguably the greatest science fiction film ever made will ensure that its forever remembered as an inferior and needless installment.

---

8. Son of the Mask (2005)

A general rule of thumb: Don’t ever replace Jim Carrey with Jamie Kennedy. If only the crack team behind Son of the Mask had adhered to this principal, moviegoers may have been spared this awful and unnecessary sequel.

The plot of the original 1994 film may have been silly, but Carrey’s hilarious performance made the movie a hit. This sequel, on the other hand, involves the protagonist’s dog finding the mask of Loki and dabbles way too much into Norse mythology for a kid’s movie.

---

7. Ace Ventura Jr. (2009)

(See above for explanation on Jim Carrey sequels in which he isn't involved.) In the series’ third installment, Ace’s son, who also has a way with animals, must help his mom from going to jail. (She’s been blamed for the theft of an important panda.)

There’s not much else to say about this direct-to-DVD sequel except that it shouldn’t have been made. 

---

6. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Like many films on this list, Basic Instinct 2 begs the question: Why? As in why was this movie ever made? It features a similar plot to its predecessor except Sharon Stone plays a seductive game with actor David Morrissey instead of Michael Douglas.

If anything, Basic Instinct 2 proved that Sharon Stone was still sexy two decades after the original film. Wait; maybe that’s the point of the film. 

---

5. Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Sure bands have the right to continue when their lead singer dies, but that doesn’t mean people want to listen. In the case of the Blues Brothers 2000, no one wanted to watch or listen.

For the same reason that The Doors aren’t the Doors without Jim Morrison or Queen isn’t Queen without Freddie Mercury, The Blues Brothers aren’t the Blues Brothers without John Belushi.

Blues Brothers 2000 may have some of the same cast and crewmembers, but it just isn’t the same without the star. In this unnecessary sequel Dan Aykroyd returns as Elwood Blues and is joined by John Goodman. Unfortunately, the normally exceptional Goodman cannot save this mess of a movie.

---

4. Caddyshack 2 (1988)

A sequel to perhaps the best movie about golf, Caddyshack 2 is arguably the worst movie about golf. An unfunny rehash, Caddshack 2 features a cast of new characters playing roles eerily similar to those played by the actors in the original film.

This sequel features none of the original cast members except for Chevy Chase who later stated that he regretted doing the sequel. To sum it up briefly: No Bill Murray plus no Rodney Dangerfield equals no good.

---

3. Grease 2 (1982)

It’s difficult for any sequel to survive the loss of a main character. The producers of Grease 2 took a gamble and decided to make a sequel without any of the original film’s stars and it did not end well.

A decent actor in his own right, Maxwell Cauldfield is miscast in the title role and is a poor substitute for John Travolta. The movie’s one bright spot is a young Michelle Pfeiffer, whose talent shines in an otherwise forgettable movie.

Aside from casting different actors, Grease 2 also features different composers, which accounts for the uninspired musical numbers and forgettable soundtrack. Case in point: Everyone knows “You’re the One that I Want,” while no one remembers “Back to School Again.” 

---

2. Staying Alive (1983)

Take away the grittiness and realism of Saturday Night Fever and you’re left with its subpar successor Staying Alive. Directed by Sylvester Stallone, this watered-down sequel takes Tony Manero (John Travolta) off the streets of Brooklyn and places him in Manhattan where he’s a struggling dancer trying to make it to Broadway.

Devoid of the heart of the original film, Staying Alive currently holds a zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was dubbed the “worst sequel of all time” by Entertainment Weekly.

---

1. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Generally considered one of the biggest box office bombs of all time, Speed 2 isn’t just a bad sequel; it’s a bad movie in general.

Sandra Bullock reprises her role as Annie Potter, but Keanu Reeves is absent and sorely missed. His replacement, Jason Patrick, is a talented actor, but not suited for the role or the action genre. The usually-entertaining Willem Defoe takes over for Dennis Hopper as villain, but is laughable where Hopper was menacing—thanks to a script that’s both unimaginative and poorly written. Oh yeah, producers also swapped out a bus for a boat, which isn’t nearly as exciting.


If you’re still in the mood to watch an unnecessary sequel, check out Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! when it premiers Wednesday, July 22 at 9 PM on Syfy.