There’s no denying that there are a lot of forgettable and downright bad films out there – and we can deal with that. But there are few things more heartbreaking than the sequel of one of your favorite films being released… Only for it to be a massive let-down. To prove the truth of “all good things must come to an end,” and just how much movie studios want to string out a good thing, we’ve compiled a list of some of the worst movie sequels ever made.
Mean Girls 2 (2011)
Whatever you think of the original Mean Girls film, released in 2004, you can’t deny that it’s anything but iconic. The source of many a sassy catchphrase still knocking about over ten years after it was released, Mean Girls has definitely left its mark on the landscape of popular culture. While the end of the film hints at the next generation of baby Plastics heading just round the corner, Mean Girls 2 attempted to actually realize what would probably have been best left a teaser. You might be seriously craving bitchy one-liners and baby pink everything, but don’t come here for your dose.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Another pop culture icon, another (two) disappointments. The first Matrix was a triumph of mind-fuck (although perhaps not particularly sound) philosophy, pleather, and intense Keanu Reeves glares, but the two sequels were a big let-down. Confused, with windy, flabby plot lines, The Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions are both proof that the Wachowski sisters should maybe have left it at one. That said, the two films are still handy for when you want to dive into an alternative and aesthetically-pleasing world – good-looking sci-fi doesn’t have to have a good plot-line.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
The ultimate film to watch wrapped in a duvet, working your way through a pot of ice cream – as demonstrated so wonderfully by Bridget herself above – 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary is funny, endearing, and a little bit tragic. But the proceeding Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason was just perplexing, with plot twists including Bridget eating a magic mushroom omelette and tripping on a tropical beach, ending up in a Thai women’s prison for accidentally trying to smuggle an animal horn full of cocaine onto the plane, and her teaching her many cell-mates the real lyrics to Like a Virgin by Madonna. Entertaining, yes, but not a patch on the original.
The Godfather Part III (1990)
The third film in the Godfather Trilogy, many people feel that the Godfather Part III was a flop. Despite having the same director and many of the same actors, the acting in the third installment was lacklustre, a lot of the star characters of Parts I and II had been killed off – and director Francis Ford Coppola erroneously cast his daughter, the now famous in her own right director Sofia Coppola, in the film. Perhaps not the worst film in the world, but compared to the first two, considered classics, the final volume fell short.
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
It had a different director, different cast, and different plot – the only thing connecting the prequel/sequel/remake/reimagining of the 1987 smash hit Dirty Dancing is the name. Slammed by critics, and with a meagre 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Havana Nights bears all the marks of a terrible sequel: bad acting, a weak storyline, and a failed attempt at recreating the original. Luckily this one has probably already been forgotten – and Dirty Dancing is still going strong, 30 years after its release.
Featured image courtesy Matrix Reloaded
