Home

 › 

Entertainment

 › 

Movies

 › 

The 49 Biggest Movie Sequel Disappointments in History

The 49 Biggest Movie Sequel Disappointments in History

Published: by

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

49. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

48. Friday the 13th Part V (1985)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

47. Look Who's Talking Too (1990)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

46. Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World (2011)

Courtesy of Dimension Films

45. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

44. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

43. Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

42. I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013)

Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films

41. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

40. An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

39. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

38. Zoolander 2 (2016)

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

37. Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

36. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

35. Jason X (2001)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

34. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

33. Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

32. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

31. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

30. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

29. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

27. Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

26. Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)

Courtesy of Dimension Films

25. The Next Karate Kid (1994)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

24. Halloween VIII: Resurrection (2002)

Courtesy of Dimension Films

23. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

22. Look Who's Talking Now (1993)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

21. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

20. Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

19. Species II (1998)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation

18. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment

17. Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

16. Piranha 3DD (2012)

Courtesy of RADiUS-TWC

15. Daddy Day Camp (2007)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

14. Jaws 3-D (1983)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

13. Batman & Robin (1997)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

11. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

10. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

9. RoboCop 3 (1993)

Courtesy of Orion Home Video

8. Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

7. Caddyshack II (1988)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

6. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

5. 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

4. Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

3. Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

2. Son of the Mask (2005)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

1. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

Cherie Steinberg / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

49. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)
48. Friday the 13th Part V (1985)
47. Look Who's Talking Too (1990)
46. Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World (2011)
45. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)
44. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
43. Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)
42. I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013)
41. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
40. An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
39. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
38. Zoolander 2 (2016)
37. Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
36. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
35. Jason X (2001)
34. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015)
33. Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001)
32. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
31. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)
30. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
29. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
28. The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000)
27. Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)
26. Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)
25. The Next Karate Kid (1994)
24. Halloween VIII: Resurrection (2002)
23. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
22. Look Who's Talking Now (1993)
21. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)
20. Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)
19. Species II (1998)
18. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
17. Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
16. Piranha 3DD (2012)
15. Daddy Day Camp (2007)
14. Jaws 3-D (1983)
13. Batman & Robin (1997)
12. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)
11. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
10. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
9. RoboCop 3 (1993)
8. Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)
7. Caddyshack II (1988)
6. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
5. 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)
4. Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)
3. Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
2. Son of the Mask (2005)
1. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

When a new movie premieres, there is often much hype and fanfare promoting it. Many of these new releases are smash hits, becoming blockbuster successes and capturing the devotion of audiences, and oftentimes critics as well. These box office hits often leave viewers wanting more and hoping that there will be a sequel.

Film sequels are not a novel idea – they have been around since the early 20th century when the silent film “The Fall of a Nation” was released in 1916. This film was the follow-up to the highly successful first silent film, “The Birth of a Nation,” which was released the year prior and starred Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, and Henry B. Walthall. “Birth” told the story of two families during the Civil War, Lincoln’s Assassination, and the establishment of the KKK.

The premise of “Fall” is that the U.S. was unprepared for war, resulting in an attack led by a German army, executing children and war veterans.  It was not as well-received as its predecessor. It was the first sequel failure, both commercially and critically. As a result, no copies exist. (Earlier sequels, like “The Little Train Robbery” that came out in 1905, a parody of 1903’s short “The Great Train Robbery,” were film shorts and not considered a movie sequel.)

When a movie is released, viewers have come to expect that there will be a sequel. This isn’t always the case but it is more common today to have a follow-up film. Filmmakers take a risk when making sequels. Some are tremendously successful and others miss the mark. Fans of original movies may feel there was no need for a sequel, and other movies have so many sequels that they get tired of the franchise. (A film franchise fans still enjoy is “Deadpool”, and the release of the new film, “Deadpool and Wolverine” is expected to be a hit.)

As of 2023, “The Avengers: Endgame” was the best-selling sequel of all time. The movie’s global box office revenue reached almost $2.8 billion, beating “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” and “Jurassic World.” Its performance landed it the Guinness Book of World Records for “Highest-Grossing Movie Sequel.” These movies are among the “Most Successful Sequels Ever” ranked by ticket sales. Many others didn’t fare as well, making our list of the most disappointing sequels.

To determine the biggest movie sequel disappointment in history, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb (an online movie database owned by Amazon) and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes (an online movie and TV review aggregator) as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only sequels with at least 25,000 ratings on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. (Be sure to check out the 20 worst movies of all time.)

To top