Movies you cant believe got sequels or became trilogies

[Jeremi]

The Purge. Like, one movie is enough to get how this world works.

On the other side of the same Ethan Hawke, Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight is a pleasant candidate for this topic. Can't believe we got a sequel, but glad that it became a trilogy.

I came here to say the Purge as well so lol.

[Jim Kelly]

So the production budget for THE PURGE (2013) was three million dollars and it made ninety million dollars worldwide. This is how Blumhouse has stayed in business--low budgets, high profits.

HAPPY DEATH DAY is a Blumhouse movie that didn't need a sequel, but I'm happy that it got one, because the sequel was a lot of fun.

[Jackalope89]

Liked them myself.

Frankly, the only examples I can think of are direct-to-video at the moment.

Honestly, the book itself is barely long enough for a single film. But stretching it out into 3? A lot of stuff was shoved in there that didn't even exist in the book. Like the Elf woman, Legolas (not to mention him being a center of attention), etc. Oh, and can't forget when the Elven and Dwarven armies clashed. They never did so in the book. The army of Goblins popped up before they could draw swords on one another.

[Midvillian1322]

Wasn't Kevin Smith going to relaunch this? What became of it?

He wrote a script but the network turned it down. I assume the same must have happened to his Sam and twitch show for Syfy

[Indian Ink]

Not much to add at the moment. but to agree, Highlander should have been one film only and The Hobbit should have been two films, not a trilogy.

[j9ac9k]

Not much to add at the moment. but to agree, Highlander should have been one film only and The Hobbit should have been two films, not a trilogy.

I agree about Highlander. Believe it or not, Highlander was made at a time when it wasn't assumed you were building a franchise! That story had an ending. Re-imagining the premise for tv or another film is one thing, but Connor McLoed's story was done and it was too big a hurdle to try to extend that story.

[marshal88]

with horror movies , as long as they make a good profit , expect them to poop up sequels till the well is truly dry. look at the saw franchise , there's 8 of them i think.

[numberthirty]

While I still like Machete and am also a fan of the second film, I still have a tough time figuring out how the second film got made.

[Güicho]

Marvel? (likely just temporarily licensed it)


Moonstone had a prequel comic...?

from what I know and understand the right ownership is a mess

Who owns (is licensing out) the rights?
Or I guess better question what parties are disputing rights?

Or is it cause Spielberg/Amblin now claim ownership of the Oscillation Overthruster, I mean Flux Capacitor? LOL!

He wrote a script but the network turned it down.

Citation, Link , thanks!

[thwhtGuardian]

While I still like Machete and am also a fan of the second film, I still have a tough time figuring out how the second film got made.

I think because they're crazy cheap to make

[Güicho]

Not much to add at the moment. but to agree, Highlander should have been one film only

I agree about Highlander. Believe it or not, Highlander was made at a time when it wasn't assumed you were building a franchise! That story had an ending. ... Connor McLoed's story was done and it was too big a hurdle to try to extend that story.

What's the problem?

Step 1. Bring back the very dead and headless Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez and undo his story arc, purpose and very satisfying end.
Step 2. To achieve that, ignore the 'rules' established in the first, throw out nearly the entire premise and ultimate goal and drive of the entire first film.
Step 3. Insert something it never needed - an "Explanation" ....they are now aliens!

[Güicho]

The Hobbit. I liked this trilogy, but it really should not have been 3 movies.

The way the LOTR trilogy had a huge boxed set special edition release with all the extra exctended scenes added.
I wish they'd release "special edition" of the Hobbit with all the extra (that wasn't in the book) trilogy stuff removed, and reduced to one single movie.

[Immortal Weapon]

Resident Evil. How the hell did it get six movies? They were all trash.

[SpiderClops]

Ghost Rider.

If spin-offs count then Daredevil and Elektra.

[Hypestyle]

... any number of horror franchises fits this bill...