Films with multiple sequels that you would prefer it had been stand-alone

[caj]

What film franchise that had at least one or more sequels where you would have preferred it had been a stand-alone film?

For me, it's the Scream films. I admit to seeing 2 and 3, but neither of them were nearly as great as the original. I wish it had ended with the original.

[numberthirty]

The "Scream..." films got nothing on the "Saw..." films.

Even with Amanda in the second and third films being pretty compelling?

Should have just left it at one film.

[Guy_McNichts]

Highlander

Jurassic Park

Ghostbusters

Men in Black

[numberthirty]

What film franchise that had at least one or more sequels where you would have preferred it had been a stand-alone film?

For me, it's the Scream films. I admit to seeing 2 and 3, but neither of them were nearly as great as the original. I wish it had ended with the original.

One other thing...

If you have not seen the most recent "Scream..." film?

It's worth at least allowing for that you might not have enough of the numbers to get the math right on if they really should have stopped at just one film.

[Adam Allen]

The Matrix.

As a sequel-less, standalone action classic, it would have remained untainted by the revelation that its creators had no more complex story in mind, and ultimately are nowhere near as intellectual as they unfortunately think.

[Vakanai]

Godzilla (2014). KotM was a flawed film, and Godzilla vs Kong was the stupidest thing I've ever seen in the genre, and I've seen all the worst kaiju films!

[DanMad1977]

Casino Royal with Daniel Craig. Went downhill fast from that one.

[Gaastra]

Tremers--first was fun. Rest stunk.

Frozen--second was not that great. We are getting a part 3 now.

major league--second was awful. Never saw the third.

Neverending story--Ugh. Second was blah and third a teen jack black couldn't save this mess.

[Immortal Weapon]

Underworld

[AndrewCrossett]

The Matrix
Men In Black
Highlander
Back To the Future

[ChrisIII]

Highlander

Jurassic Park

Ghostbusters

Men in Black

With Jurassic Park, I think despite the novel ending with some Dinosaurs having escaped to the mainland despite the park being destroyed, Crichton reportedly never intended a sequel and had never done a sequel novel to his other works anyway.

But naturally he came under intense pressure to make a sequel novel. Also I think "resurrecting" Ian and using him as the main character was largely in response to Jeff's interpretation of the character being so popular (Malcolm in the novel spends the latter half of it rambling under pain drugs, while movie Malcolm, while injured, is still generally involved in helping get the power back on and making a lot of jokes).

The movie adaptation did toss a lot of the novel out though (Although there is a rival group on the island, they aren't using the Dinosaurs to build another park).


Spielberg also directed TLW despite not being involved in many sequels apart from Indy mainly because he didn't want the series to wind up like the JAWS sequels (With Indiana I think he largely considered that different because it was a partnership with Lucas). I guess it depends on what one things of III and the World films if that happened anyway.

[ChrisIII]

As a fan of Poltergeist it probably worked best as a stand-alone as well. Although Kane is a memorable villain he largely retcons the fairly simple explanation for the ghosts in the first and the film doesn't quite have the occasional eeriness of the first in the same way. I kind of wondered if the introduction of Kane was because they wanted the bad guy to have a marketable "face" like Freddy or Jason.

[j9ac9k]

I agree about "Highlander" especially since that first film told a complete story. If you had to do a sequel, it only made sense to do it about Connor's progeny, but of course they didn't want to move forward, only retread the original so you could have more swordfights. Something like "The Matrix" had more story to tell, it just so happens a lot of people didn't like how they did it.

[Godzilla2099]

Godzilla (2014). KotM was a flawed film, and Godzilla vs Kong was the stupidest thing I've ever seen in the genre, and I've seen all the worst kaiju films!

I Loved King of the Monsters! Personal favorite of the Godzilla Movies and next to Kung Fu Hustle, its my most watched DVD. It was a full intensity ride from beginning to end

My list:

Transformers
Saw
Pumpkinhead
The Howling
Underworld
Jurassic Park
The Wizard of Oz
Iron Man

[Gaastra]

For transformers i did like bumblebee. Less said about the last knight the better.