One more sequel? Why endless follow-ups fail us all

Why are some sequels spectacular and others so trashy? The trick is to know what made the OG special to begin with

The trailer for Kung Fu Panda 4 has dropped and, even with 20 million views, has made no splash whatsoever. This is a series that has practically zero haters and a fan base that spans the ages of eight to 80. So, why the tepid response ? Because the studios aren’t bringing back Tiger, Mantis, Monkey, Viper and Crane. Director Mike Mitchell says they’re off on individual missions. We’ll get only a “glimpse” of the Furious Five. What does that even mean? Who asked for this? Who okayed this? Why make a fourth movie in the first place?

Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) followed the same formula as the 1996 movie but had none of the fun, and failed.

Sequels, for the most part, make great sense for everyone: The characters are already well loved, the stories offer familiar entertainment, and the second film is often cheaper to produce because the recipe is set. But there’s a tipping point. We saw it in 2023 with Dream Girl 2, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Fukrey 3, Tiger 3 or Scream 6.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is introducing new characters no one asked for.

It’s not like good sequels don’t exist. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) knew exactly how much nostalgia to mix into a new adventure. But for every Scream 2 (1997), The Godfather II (1974), or The Dark Knight (2008), we have Dumb and Dumber To (2014), Zoolander 2 (2016), Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), Mean Girls 2 (2011), and Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), awful films that also flopped.

Could it be that the secret ingredient sequels fail to consider is simply time? Maybe the longer we wait, the better a sequel is received? Take Avatar 2: The Way of Water that released in 2022, 13 years after the first film. We trusted the process (Okay, we trusted James Cameron). He delivered a simpler plot, better visuals and his sequel made $2.4 billion worldwide at a time when people had written off 3D movies.

Still, long-gestating sequels have it tricky. Any ’80s and ’90s kid knows that the 1996 Space Jam, featuring Michael Jordan, the Looney Tunes and a basketball match against evil aliens, is only the best movie, ever. Its sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), with LeBron James seemed to milk nostalgia without establishing any kind of story.

Logan, the third and final instalment in the Wolverine trilogy, had a very strong script.

It really does all boil down to the writing. Take Logan (2017) which is not only non-Marvel universe (for now), but it also breaks from the formula of a superhero trying to save the world. The movie about Wolverine saving one little girl received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, in case anybody forgot.

Writing is also what helped sequels such as Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015), Badhaai Do (2022), Ocean’s 12 (2004) and Bahubali: The Conclusion (2017) . They did more than trail their predecessors, they added to the story. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) and Incredibles 2 (2018), just about managed to do that. Incredibles 2 released 14 years after the original but managed to give characters more depth, more complexity. It focused on Mrs Incredible’s career while Mr Incredible became a stay-at-home dad. It was fresh, and for Pixar, which doesn’t have a great history with sequels (apart from Toy Story. Remember Monsters University and Finding Dory? Shudder) it was a blessing. Incredibles 2 made $1.2 billion worldwide.

Avatar 2: The Way of Water delivered on visuals and was a worldwide hit.

The new trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), the fifth film in the franchise has dropped too. Part 2, 3 and 4 were ghostly duds, so we’re reserving judgement. All we can say is, if it isn’t Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), don’t make it. But wait, hang on, did someone say they’d be open to making another Shrek? OMG, we can’t wait.