Hollywood has run out of ideas. Today, all we see are sequels, superhero films and sequels to superhero films. As a result, we’ve listed the worst offenders by compiling the Top 10 worst movie sequels ever. We already made the mistake of watching these films. Do yourselves a favour and stay away from them.
Rank #10: Batman & Robin
When Batman pulled out the Bat Credit Card in Batman & Robin, you knew it was all over. Indeed, Batman & Robin destroyed the Batman film franchise, and in oh-so-many ways: bat-nipples, bad acting, ditching the franchise’s dark mood for a family friendly vibe, choosing Arnold Schwarzenegger over Patrick Stewart as Mr Freeze, and of course, butt close-ups. George Clooney himself admitted how bad the film was, saying “I think we might have killed the franchise”.
Rank #9: Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
This film truly lives up to its name. Dumb and Dumberer is one of the worst sequels of all time because a) It’s not funny b) The main actors of the original film are markedly absent c) It actually reuses some gags from the original. Watch Dumb and Dumberer at your own risk.
Rank #8: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
There was a reason Superman IV didn’t fare well at the box office: It stank. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace may not have Richard Prior, but it looked cheaply made, badly written and amateurishly directed.
Rank #7: xXx: State of the Union
One of the films that put action star Vin Diesel on the map is the original xXx. Likewise, xXx will always be associated with Diesel. This is why it’s such a mystery that xXx: State of the Union came out at all. To make it worse, the film’s producers hired a quasi-tough, chubby lead actor to fill in for Diesel. The results are predictably obvious: State of the Union bombed critically and financially.
Rank #6: Caddyshack II
One of the universe’s greatest enigmas is why a studio insisted on making Caddyshack II in the first place, even without Harold Ramis (although he initially wrote the script), Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray. Naturally, the film was a huge failure commercially and critically. Here’s proof: The original Caddyshack grossed USD39 million, while the sequel mustered only USD11.7 million.
Rank #5: Son of the Mask 6
Bad special effects. No Jim Carrey. Not funny. Jamie Kennedy. No need we say more!
Rank #4: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Episode I may be the lowest-rated Star Wars film, but it’s actually not as panned as the other movies in this list. Then why does The Phantom Menace rank so high? For several reasons, actually, including the following: Jake Lloyd was annoying as young Anakin Skywalker, the anticlimactic fate of Darth Maul and Jar Jar Binks, the most reviled Star Wars character of all time.
Rank #3: Speed 2: Cruise Control
Speed was an excellent action flick because it was incredibly tense, and there was great chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. A movie about an out-of-control bus that needs to keep running at 55mph in a city full of people is just begging for a sequel. But if instead of a runaway bus, the follow-up gives you a runaway…cruise ship? Instead of superstar Reeves, you get…Jason Patric?
Speed 2 is classified as a disaster movie, but is also a disaster of a movie.
Rank #2: Highlander II: The Quickening
The Quickening ruins most of the significant plotlines that the original Highlander film established. While the first Highlander is no immortal classic, its sequel contains the dumbest retcon in the history of dumb retcons. The Quickening is also difficult to follow, dull and over-explained. The result is an incomprehensible mess—a hodgepodge of immortals, aliens, flying skateboards and the ozone layer.
Rank #1: Staying Alive
Entertainment Weekly called Staying Alive the worst sequel ever. By any standards, Staying Alive is a terrible film, even if we were to pretend that Saturday Night Fever didn’t exist. Staying Alive is so bad that it hurt John Travolta’s budding career in the 1980s. It’s a good thing Pulp Fiction was there to bring the actor back on track.
