These movie sequels took so long that when they eventually came out, nobody wanted them anymore. Over the years, there have been several movie sequels that made audiences quit their franchises, and often, this was because the film took forever to be released.

While a lot of movies became iconic in their own right, and in turn built a dedicated fan base that would happily wait decades, some тιтles weren’t as lucky. In fact, multiple movie franchises have more sequels than we realize, and they were simply forgotten about because of the length of time between installments.

Some of these movie sequels ended up being terrible, and audiences were right not to want them. However, it’s worth noting that some sequels received mixed reviews or were decent, enjoyable enough watches, and everyone’s opinions differ, depending on the movie.

The Simpsons Movie 2 (2027)

20 Years After The Simpsons Movie (2007)

While it’s great that The Simpsons Movie 2 is finally happening, the kids who saw the first film in cinemas are now well into adulthood. The highly anticipated release of The Simpsons Movie in 2007 was amazing, with iconic references like Spider-Pig and Bart skateboarding naked quickly becoming well-known even to those who weren’t invested in the film.

However, considering The Simpsons is still airing more than 20 years after its release, it feels like the hype for a sequel to The Simpsons Movie isn’t as prominent as it once was. We are still treated to plenty of Simpsons content on the regular, and as of now, there is no sign of the animated TV show wrapping up anytime soon.

Zoolander 2 (2016)

15 Years After Zoolander (2001)

Although the response to Zoolander was rather mixed upon its release in 2001, it later became popular for its satirical humor and ridiculous characterizations. The Blue Steel look was iconic, and the rapport between the тιтular character and Hansel was fantastically funny, which resulted in many notable memes and references.

When Zoolander 2 was announced, it was unexpected, as the first film’s conclusion wrapped up Derek’s story brilliantly. Sadly, Zoolander 2 didn’t hold up compared to its predecessor, and it lacked the same charm as the original, so perhaps audiences were right to be unbothered by this sequel. However, Ben Stiller believed Zoolander 2 was misunderstood by critics.

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

19 Years After Indiana Jones And the Last Crusade (1989)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull divided audiences and critics, and while it had some good qualities, there was no doubt that it was a disappointment compared to the other Indiana Jones movies. After Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade seemingly brought Indy’s story to an end, audiences were actively vocal about wanting another sequel.

However, after almost two decades, there didn’t appear to be any hope for that, and most of us gave up on the idea. That was until Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out, and many of us were disappointed with it. Harrison Ford reprised his role beautifully, and it was impressive considering how much he’d aged since Last Crusade, but it just wasn’t the same.

Despite this, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull did amazingly well at the box office, and grossed an incredible $101 million in its opening weekend. The numbers prove audiences still cared about Indy in the 2000s, but critical consensus confirmed the window for a worthy fourth entry had pᴀssed.

S. Darko (2009)

8 Years After Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko‘s timeline and ending were weird and wonderful, and they played a big part in the movie becoming such a cult classic. Donnie Darko was a great standalone film that didn’t really need a sequel, but in 2009, we got S. Darko, which followed Donnie’s sister, Samantha, who was plagued with hallucinations and struggled with sleepwalking.

8 years later, Donnie Darko wasn’t as appreciated yet, but enough time had pᴀssed that audiences weren’t even thinking about a sequel. Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko‘s writer and director, wasn’t involved in S. Darko, so perhaps that contributed to why very few cared about the sequel.

It’s also hard to call S. Darko a real sequel. While there were some elements taken from the first film, they felt like coincidences, rather than part of a narrative that was connected to a larger story.

Dumb And Dumber To (2014)

20 Years After Dumb And Dumber (1994)

Dumb and Dumber, one of Jim Carrey’s best movies, was a hugely popular тιтle in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While there were plenty of films from this era that audiences theoretically wanted a sequel to, we all knew realistically that it probably wouldn’t. However, Carrey surprised us all when he and Jeff Daniels returned for Dumb and Dumber To in 2014.

Despite its marketing campaign, Dumb and Dumber To was arriving far too late in the game for most audiences to care. A majority of Dumb and Dumber’s viewers had grown up since, and while Dumb and Dumber To’s humor was similar to the original, many of us had lost interest in it, or realized it just wasn’t as funny anymore.

Disenchanted (2022)

15 Years After Enchanted (2007)

As delayed sequels go, Disenchanted was relatively good, and nowhere near as much of a disappointment as some others. The 15-year gap between the two films worked in Disenchanted‘s favor, as it explored the Philips’ family dynamics years later and how Giselle had adjusted to life in the real world, but it didn’t change the fact that audiences had moved on from Enchanted years previously.

Most reviews of Disenchanted said the same thing: it didn’t compare to the original, but it was a charming enough sequel. Unfortunately, Disenchanted was a movie trapped in development hell, with discussions beginning in 2010. Amy Adams didn’t officially sign on until 2017, too, so it’s no wonder audiences gave up on Disenchanted and lost faith that it’d ever happen.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)

14 Years After My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Shortly after its release in 2002, My Big Fat Greek Wedding became one of the best rom-coms of all time, and it also spawned the TV show My Big Fat Greek Life. Considering My Big Fat Greek Wedding received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, it made sense not to rush a sequel, so the story could be just as good, if not better.

Writer Nia Vardalos revealed she had an idea for a sequel and had started writing it in 2009, but My Big Fat Greek Wedding didn’t come to fruition until 2016. As the original was such a classic, and the TV spinoff was far from that, audiences weren’t really bothered about a movie sequel.

However, perhaps they were right. The response to My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 heavily criticized the fact that the story lacked any meaning and felt hollow, and it was labeled a flop.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

20 Years After Independence Day (1996)

As Independence Day was the highest-grossing movie of 1996, it made sense that audiences wanted a follow-up to the box office hit. However, as the years pᴀssed, it seemed more and more unlikely. In 2016, Independence Day: Resurgence finally arrived, which was released in line with the first film’s 20th anniversary. Unfortunately, though, Independence Day‘s attempt at a birthday celebration wasn’t well received.

The most glaringly obvious sign that Independence Day: Resurgence was doomed to fail was the fact that Will Smith didn’t come back. While other members of the Independence Day cast reprised their roles, like Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, it should’ve been apparent that if Will Smith had moved on from the film, then so had audiences.

Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

25 Years After Space Jam (1996)

Space Jam was another iconic movie that audiences initially begged to see a sequel of, but once again, they gave up as time went on. The idea of a Space Jam sequel first came about in 1997, shortly after the original film was released, and over the years, the script and cast changed due to issues behind-the-scenes that couldn’t be resolved at the time.

25 years later, Space Jam: A New Legacy finally arrived. However, audiences who saw Space Jam back in 1996 had either moved past the film or had children in their lives who would enjoy the premise, but the latter were generally disappointed with the result.

Frustratingly, Space Jam: A New Legacy had many problems, from its acting to its storytelling. Most importantly, though, the trend of real-life figures interacting with animated characters wasn’t really relevant or as entertaining anymore.

Bad Santa 2 (2016)

13 Years After Bad Santa (2003)

While it can be difficult for any franchise to release a sequel years later, especially those who manage to keep audiences on board, it’s even harder for Christmas movies. Bad Santa 2 was a sequel many discussed in the years after its arrival, but eventually, audiences pushed the one-off hit to the back of their minds.

Nobody expected Bad Santa 2 to ever happen, and even when it was announced 13 years later, many of us were hesitant. Although the film is still a relatively popular Christmas тιтle, it isn’t as timeless as Love Actually, for example, and with the power of the internet and streaming nowadays, Bad Santa‘s crude humor and depictions of violence aren’t exactly unique.