# What is the WORST immediate sequel to a great film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [May 11, 2025, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246 "2025-05-11T07:15:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/61 "2025-05-11T21:33:48Z")
No mention yet of _Exorcist 2, The Heretic_? Genuinely chilling iconic horror classic becomes 50’s rampaging insect movie? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/62 "2025-05-11T21:36:00Z")
Yeah Ghostbusters 2 was fine. Probably the worst aspect was just the premise. As some have mentioned, crapping over the previous film is probably the worst sin for a sequel, and GB2 handwaves the team’s saving of the world and the world becoming aware of the existence of ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/63 "2025-05-11T22:24:07Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > **Our Man Flint** is a great parody of James Bond in the ‘60s. > > **In Like Flint** then takes each detail in the wrong direction. A friend uses the phone ring as the ringtone for his cell phone. [our man flint ringtone + download](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im-3Q9fM8JU) ---
**Author:** ![ewomack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ewomack/32/19149_2.png) [@ewomack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ewomack)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/64 "2025-05-11T22:31:57Z")
I really didn’t enjoy the second Indiana Jones movie, _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom._ It started out fantastically, then took a deep plummet and never really recovered. The third installment almost made up for it. True, worse movies definitely exist, but the momentum from that first movie really made the direct sequel feel like a clunker. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/65 "2025-05-11T22:52:31Z")
With Pacific Rim, I think that the biggest issue is that the original was, let’s face it, a bad movie. It’s possible for a bad movie to still be fun, and good at what it is, and Pacific Rim was one example of that. But while everyone understands what it takes to make a good good movie (they might not always be able to execute it, but they understand it), nobody really understands just what it takes to make a good bad movie. So when you’re trying to make a sequel to a good bad movie, you’re rolling the dice, and very likely to crap out. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/66 "2025-05-11T23:01:56Z")
Smokey and the Bandit 2 was terrible in that it was the same damn movie as the first one. Just substitute an elephant for beer. Same exact plot otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/67 "2025-05-11T23:09:22Z")
Independence Day was, if not a classic, a real barnburner. About 70% RT. Then there was ID Resurgence which I never saw. Reviews were bad, so i waited for steaming - and waited and waited. Finally came up as a pay rental. Nope, free or I wasnt going to waste a few bucks. What say the commentariat? Mistyped streaming; left it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/68 "2025-05-11T23:27:04Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > ID Resurgence which I never saw. Reviews were bad, so i waited for steaming - and waited and waited. Finally came up as a pay rental. Nope, free or I wasnt going to waste a few bucks. What say the commentariat It was not good. It’s on Max, I think for a few years now. Also, being 20 years later it doesn’t really qualify as an immediate sequel. Speaking of, I did appreciate that the sequel is set 20 years later. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/69 "2025-05-11T23:45:28Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > A friend uses the phone ring as the ringtone for his cell phone. > [our man flint ringtone + download](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im-3Q9fM8JU) So do I. It took me a while to figure out how to load the file onto my phone, but I was determined to use it. ---
**Author:** ![TheTyrant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thetyrant/32/19111_2.png) [@TheTyrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTyrant)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/70 "2025-05-12T00:28:01Z")
Having rewatched them all (The Matrices?) a few years ago to prep for the last one, I really feel like the magic of the first Matrix (for those of us who went to the theater at the time) was that _none of us really knew what it was about_ going in. The first one blew me away, after that it just seemed like a bunch of exposition dumps and confusing, convoluted plotlines with new people you have no reason to care about. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/71 "2025-05-12T00:42:57Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Robocop 2 is terribly flawed, Highlander 2 is terrible, period, end of sentence, end of discussion. But lots of others have said it. But it had to be repeated. Forever. Until I can get a MIB flashy thing to obliterate all cinematic sequels to Highlander. IMHO, of course… THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! I agree to all of this but the OP specified a “great” film. _Robocop_ was truly a great film. _Highlander_ was a good film, I enjoyed it a lot, but I would never describe it as “great.” Certainly somewhere below _Robocop_. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/72 "2025-05-12T00:45:41Z")
> [@TheTyrant](#): > > The first one blew me away, after that it just seemed like a bunch of exposition dumps and confusing, convoluted plotlines with new people you have no reason to care about. Me too. Then it got bloated and too full of itself. It still had its moments though (the infinite Smith fight…aka Burly Brawl, the highway chase, a few other scenes). ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/73 "2025-05-12T00:53:03Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > _Robocop 2._ > > Frankly, all the sequels were awful (remake was okish but still not as good). > > The first was outstanding. A truly great movie. Then, crap, crap, crap. Robocop 2 is a weird one. Tonally it’s all over the place, and it can’t quite decide on just what type of movie it wants to be. As a result, it actually does contain a few great scenes that feel like they belong in much better movies, notably the malfunctioning experimental Robocops and the Little League team robbing the electronics store. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/74 "2025-05-12T01:00:39Z")
I don’t really disagree. I was mostly addressing the discussion of such in the thread prior to my response. For the record, I do own a copy of Robocop on DVD. I do NOT own a copy of Highlander on DVD. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/75 "2025-05-12T01:03:21Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > For the record, I do own a copy of Robocop on DVD. I do NOT own a copy of Highlander on DVD. 'Nuff said. Me too (really…I’m the only person I personally know who has a DVD library and player). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/76 "2025-05-12T01:14:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Apparently the Director’s cut isnt so bad. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > enjoyed Nothing can save that movie and cutting out the “we’re aliens” storyline didn’t really help. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I agree to all of this but the OP specified a “great” film. _Robocop_ was truly a great film. _Highlander_ was a good film, I enjoyed it a lot, but I would never describe it as “great.” Certainly somewhere below _Robocop_. I think Highlander is great and Robocop is really good. Highlander is probably on my top 10 of the decade. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/77 "2025-05-12T02:56:02Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > _Highlander_ was a good film _Highlander_ was a good film with a great soundtrack. _Highlander II_ was a bad film with a soundtrack by not-Queen. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/78 "2025-05-12T03:15:50Z")
Greatness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I think it’s safe to say if you think a movie was great and it has a sequel that’s the worst, you don’t have to justify to anyone else whether the movie is in fact great. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/79 "2025-05-12T03:29:35Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I agree to all of this but the OP specified a “great” film. _Robocop_ was truly a great film. _Highlander_ was a good film, I enjoyed it a lot, but I would never describe it as “great.” Certainly somewhere below _Robocop_ So I’ve rewatched both of these recently(ish) for the first time in decades. Before that I’d have ranked them about the same ballpark, in my memory they were both entertaining 80s scifi, a bit cheesy but fun. But seriously that’s not the case I was so wrong. RoboCop is awesome, it’s cheesiness is actually very well done satire. Highlander on the other hand, ooo boy that sucks, it’s almost “Manos The Hands of Fate” levels of bad movie. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246/80 "2025-05-12T03:48:10Z")
“Highlander” was a string of music videos occupying the long-dead skeleton of a movie set, but it was still a work of incredible genius compared to “Highlander 2”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-immediate-sequel-to-a-great-film/1018246.md?page=5)