We often hear movie fans bemoan that Hollywood is out of original ideas and that there’s too much reliance on sequels in recent years. This becomes even more noticeable when movie studios greenlight follow-up films that nobody asked for, and there are several projects that it’s easy to imagine will get the go-ahead within the next decade and a half.
While none of these movies are in active development, they all feel inevitable as production companies increasingly rely on established properties to draw audiences to theaters. Although there’s a chance these sequels could defy all expectations and be genuinely compelling, if they’re ever made, it will likely have more to do with gaining a big payday than genuine artistic necessity.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All at Once was a surprise hit from directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert that went on to become A24’s most successful film. As a Best Picture winner that swept award ceremonies all around Hollywood, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before plans are put into place to try and replicate its success with a sequel.
As an absurdist comedy exploring the endless potential of the multiverse, Everything Everywhere All at Once could easily return for a sequel, but the question is whether it should. As a rare example of originality, the best course of action would be to allow the Daniels to continue exploring new projects and not force them to retread the past.
Gladiator III
Ridley Scott had been teasing a sequel to his Best Picture-winning success Gladiator since the first film was released in 2000. When these plans finally came to fruition, the result was a husk of its former self that failed to live up to the legacy of the original or have anything new or interesting to say.
Despite the artistic failure of Gladiator II, this hasn’t stopped Scott from pondering the possibility of a third installment, which would continue the adventures of Paul Mescal’s Lucius Verus. While very few fans are crying out for more Gladiator movies, the box office numbers don’t lie, and it’s likely that part three will hit theaters within the next few years.
The Hangover 4
Nostalgia is a strange thing; it has a way of making even the worst ideas seem oddly enticing. That’s why I can’t shake the feeling that The Hangover 4 will eventually happen, as audiences’ memories of how awful the sequels were slowly fade from memory.
The original Hangover was a smash success, destined to go down in movie history as an all-time comedy classic. Unfortunately, Part II and Part III dragged the franchise to the ground and ruined its legacy entirely. Still, it feels inevitable that one day Hollywood will try to resurrect the Wolf Pack for another ill-conceived, nostalgia-fueled misadventure.
Sєx And The City 3
Audiences have been enthralled by the chaotic personal lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda since the original Sєx and the City TV show premiered back in 1998. Even after the show went off the air, the friends reunited for two feature films and even returned for the spin-off sequel series And Just Like That…
While the last Sєx and the City movie came out in 2010, the recent cancellation of And Just Like That… means it feels like only a matter of time before Carrie returns to the big screen. It might take a few years before this conversation truly gets going, but I’d be surprised if Sєx and the City 3 doesn’t become a reality one day.
A Complete Unknown 2
Timothée Chalamet truly lost himself in the role of folk music icon Bob Dylan in the music biopic A Complete Unknown. With an Oscar-nominated performance, Chalamet spent years learning how to channel Dylan’s unique mannerisms and expertly replicate his back catalog of legendary songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”
While most biopics tell a cradle-to-grave life story, A Complete Unknown only focused on a brief period of Dylan’s life during the 1960s, meaning there are still decades of material left to adapt. Although most aren’t crying out for a sequel to A Complete Unknown, Chalamet has expressed an interest, and it would be a real treat for die-hard Dylan fans.
Forrest Gump 2
Forrest Gump was one of the defining American movies of the 1990s, as it traversed 20th-century United States history through the life experiences of one intellectually challenged man. While the reception to the film’s melodramatic presentation has evolved over the past three decades, Tom Hanks’ performance remains a cultural touchstone and an integral part of pop culture.
For this reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel to Forrest Gump were made within the next 15 years, revisiting the character as he awkwardly inserts himself into the defining moments of the 21st century. With Hanks and Robert Zemeckis still collaborating as recently as Here in 2024, it’s not unthinkable that they might reunite for a sequel.
Ratatouille 2
While some Pixar movies, like Toy Story and The Incredibles, lend themselves well to sequels, there’s no reason the studio should return to the well to make Ratatouille 2 (or Rata2ille?) As a perfect standalone film, it’s hard to think of how a sequel could be made without undermining the emotional power of the original movie.
However, releases like Monsters University, Finding Dory, and the Cars series prove that Pixar isn’t opposed to tarnishing classic movies’ legacies with unnecessary sequels. Even though all signs point toward it being a terrible idea, I can’t shake the feeling we’ll be dining out on another serving of Ratatouille whether we like it or not.
Barbie 2
The success of Barbie was truly a lightning-in-a-bottle moment, which, paired with the unexpected marketing goldmine that was the Barbenheimer phenomenon, helped propel this Mattel toy adaptation to box office takings of nearly $1.5 billion. This is an achievement that cannot be repeated, and if Mattel were smart, they wouldn’t even try.
Still, few things feel more certain than a Barbie 2 hitting theaters one day soon and all the personal growth Margot Robbie’s doll-to-life went through being undone in yet another half-hearted sequel. Director Greta Gerwig had a significant feminist point to make with Barbie, and milking this property for sequel after sequel would likely lessen the impact of the first film.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 2
Steven Spielberg created something timeless with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a family classic that stands perfectly on its own without sequels or spin-offs. Although plans for E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears began in 1982, Spielberg wisely abandoned the idea, preserving the magic of Elliott and his alien friend’s story as a singular cinematic masterpiece.
While Spielberg has long protected E.T.’s legacy, the reality is that he may not always be around to prevent a future studio cash-in. Once that safeguard is gone, the door will open for E.T.’s return as a hollow legacy sequel destined to lack the heartfelt Spielbergian magic that made the original work in the first place.
Back To The Future 4
Back to the Future stands as one of the most acclaimed film trilogies ever, whose legacy has remained intact since the release of Part III in 1990. Thankfully, director Robert Zemeckis has been very firm in his opposition toward any sequels, remakes, reboots, or spin-offs of the series, although his grasp on the franchise can only hold for so long.
Although Michael J. Fox’s battle with Parkinson’s makes his return as Marty McFly unlikely, Back to the Future 4 would still guarantee mᴀssive box office success regardless of who’s involved. As one of the few sci-fi classics untouched by endless sequels, I hope it stays that way, though I can’t shake the fear it won’t.
