Why Movie Sequels are (Almost) Always Terrible
We have seen this pattern over and over again where you see great movie, get excited for the sequel and then end up saying, “That definitely wasn’t as good as the first one.” With that being said, I am going to attempt to answer the question: Why are movie sequels almost never better or even as good as the original?
Beginning with the biggest problem, most movie sequels are made for the sake of making money, not a great movie. They see an opportunity to make a quick buck by using a fan favorite name (i.e. Jurassic Park, Cars, Transformers). Script writers don’t have to work as hard to create something original and gripping because most of their audience is returning for the same (already established) characters and familiar world. This process often can be repeated for about 1-2 sequels before they lose their audience. To be fair, from a business perspective I completely understand why those in the movie industry take advantage of the easy money opportunity a sequel provides. From the perspective of a consumer however, this process is terrible and wastes the time and money of those who bother to see these films in theaters.
For those who actually want to put their time and effort into making a great sequel, they face the problem of telling a new and original story using the same characters in fairly similar scenarios. Not to mention that the writers often have to think of a new antagonist to pit against the protagonist which many times will lead to one-dimensional, cliche villains with little to no backstory. Often this uphill battle that script writers face for making sequels leads to a movie that feels too similar to the first and ultimately leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied.
Lastly, and most notably, script writers will recycle the formula that made the first movie a success. This decision is neither good nor bad in my eyes because in some cases it leads to critical acclaim (Marvel) whereas in other cases it leads mediocre reviews with the audience getting tired of seeing the same movie over and over again (cough cough Fast and the Furious cough cough). Honestly, it’s difficult to predict how long a film series can successfully continue this trend before the audience gets bored because it varies wildly.
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