Revisiting a franchise years or even decades later can be daunting. Sequels are tough enough, but adding years between installments makes it harder. Studio executives face a challenge too - deciding if a property still holds interest after years of dormancy. Despite obstacles, it sometimes pays off. Cinematic history shows filmmakers revisiting franchises decades later and matching the original's quality. The original writer, director, or actors may return with their chemistry intact. Alternatively, a fan of the original may inject new life with their own installment. Now it's time to determine which revisits succeeded best.
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Toy Story 3 is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Toy Story 3 appears in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.The film released in 2010.The wait is 11 years.This followsToy Story 2.released in 1999.
Why Were We Waiting? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Toy Story.Toy Story was the first feature-length computer-generated animated film made by the now-famous Pixar. The film was a masterpiece. People followed it up with another.Toy Story 2.A few years later, fans wanted more because the characters were beloved. Pixar does not release films it is not proud of. Fans waited over ten years for the third film.
Why Was It Worth It? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'. Toy Story 3.Toy Story 3 gave fans what they loved in the first films. It added the feeling of Andy, the toys' owner, growing up and leaving for college. The movie played to current kids and those who grew up since the first film.
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How Long Was The Wait? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.The.Mad Max.The Mad Max franchise began withMad Max.Mad Max started in 1980. The next five years brought two more Mad Max movies. The series stopped for 30 years.Mad Max.two more movies arrived, but the series rested for 30 years.The wait was 30 years.This happensMad Max Beyond Thunderdome.Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome came in 1985. Then, Mad Max: Fury Road arrived in 2015, directed by George Miller, ending the three-decade wait.Mad Max: Fury Road.arrived in 2015, George Miller directed it, ending the three-decade wait.
Why Were We Waiting? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Fans wanted the franchise to keep going since the third film. A series of problems stopped the fourth film from being made for decades.a series of difficulties prevented the fourth installmentThe wait came from being shot for decades.
Why Was It Worth It? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.The film.received 10 Oscar nominations.The film earned the respect of Miller's peers. Director Edgar Wright called it his favorite action movie ever. The film showed incredible skill in action, while still having depth and meaning.
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How Long Was The Wait? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Incredibles 2.released in 2018.The wait was 14 years.This follows the release of.The Incredibles.It came in 2004.
Why Were We Waiting? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Like many Pixar films, The Incredibles is an instantly loved modern classic.The Incredibles.Its cliffhanger ending made fans want more during the decade-and-a-half wait. Fans waited for Incredibles 2 because director Brad Bird was unsure what story to tell about the family and would only make another movie if it worked.Incredibles 2.Brad Bird was unsure what story to tell about the family and would only make another movie if it clicked.make another movie if it clicked.Luckily for the fans, it did.
Why Was It Worth It? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.As theEmpire.The review of.Incredibles 2.The review stated, "The Incredibles are back - it's like they never left."Incredibles 2.Incredibles 2 picked up the original film's cliffhanger and carried the baton well. The film lacked the first movie's novelty, but fans who want the same charm and wit will like it.
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How Long Was The Wait? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.Hocus Pocus 2.released in 2022.The wait was 29 years.This follows.Hocus Pocus.It hit theaters in 1999.
Why Were We Waiting? This is in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'.The original Hocus Pocus was a critical and commercial failure but gained cult status over the years. As far back as 2014, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy said they wanted to play the Sanderson sisters again.Hocus Pocus.The original was aIt faced critical and commercial failure.The original gained cult status. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy stated in 2014 they wanted to play the Sanderson sisters again.wanted to play the Sanderson sistersIt failed again.
Why Was It Worth It? Hocus Pocus 2 gave fans what they wanted: nostalgic fun through dance and dark humor. The opening flashback scene, starring actors perfectly playing the younger Sanderson sisters, makes the sequel worth watching. Hocus Pocus 2Hocus Pocus 2 gave fans exactly what they wanted in a sequel: nostalgic fun in the form of dance sequences and dark humor. Its opening flashback scene alone—starring actors perfectly playing the younger version of the Sanderson sisters—makes the sequel worth the watch. Viewers might not have known what to expect from a sequel that went straight to streaming this many years later, but somehowHocus Pocus 2Hocus Pocus 2 nailed what made the first one fun.
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How Long Was The Wait? Finding Dory(2016) was released13 yearsafter its predecessorFinding Nemo(2003).
Why Were We Waiting? Finding NemoFinding Nemo is a Pixar classic. Multiple generations love the film, and plenty of kids grew up with it during the 13 years beforeFinding Dorywas released.
Why Was It Worth It?Dory stole scenes in the original film. Giving breakout stars their own spin-off isn't always a good move, but it worked well withFinding Dory. The Wall Street JournalcalledFinding Dory"compulsively, preposterously and steadfastly funny."
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How Long Was The Wait? The Rescuerswas released in 1977; 13 yearslater, it was followed up byThe Rescuers Down Underin 1990.
Why Were We Waiting? The 1980s were not the strongest years for Disney—especially the early years of the decade. By 1990, The Rescuershad been one of the company's more successful films in recent memory. So, Disney returned to the franchise and madeThe Rescuers Down Under.
Why Was It Worth It?The film was fun and heartwarming, and, as Roger Ebert put it, featured action sequences that "create an exhilaration and freedom that are liberating."
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How Long Was The Wait? The Evil Deadwas released in 1981,Evil Dead IIwas released in 1987, Army of Darknesswas released in 1992, and Ash vs Evil Dead– a sequel series released on Starz – hit screens23 yearslater in 2015.
Why Were We Waiting? WhenThe Evil Deadcame out, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell did not yet know how campy the franchise they were making would be. WithEvil Dead IIandArmy of Darkness, in which Ash goes back to medieval times with a chainsaw arm, the series took full control of its tone, style, and audience. The films—and Ash as the franchise's center—stayed horror icons as new generations found the movies.
Why Was It Worth It? Ash vs Evil Deadcontinued with the series' campy fun and gave fans lots of Bruce Campbell. What is not to love? It got insanely positive reviews,from critics and audiences.
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How Long Was The Wait? Night of the Living Deadwas released in 1968. Its sequel, Dawn of the Dead, did not release until10 yearslater, in 1978.
Why Were We Waiting? Night of the Living Deadis an all-time classic horror film and audiences loved it right away. The film made a new type of villain and is the father of modern zombie films. To show its popularity, the indie film made overThe film cost $12 million against a $6,000 budget..
Why Was It Worth It?Upon its release,Roger Ebert called it.Dawn of the Dead"one of the best horror movies ever made" and said it was "brilliantly crafted, funny, droll, and savagely merciless in its satiric view of the American consumer society."
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How Long Was The Wait? Men in Black 3(2012) was releasedTen years passedafter the previous installment.Men in Black II,came out in 2002.
Why Were We Waiting?The firstMen in BlackThis is a beloved comedy action classic. The sequel,Men in Black II, isn't as beloved, scoring only38% on Rotten Tomatoes.Fans wanted the original's feel back, not just any sequel continuing the franchise.
Why Was It Worth It? Deadspin felt thatMen in Black 3focused on recapturing the original's style and soul. It was a fun movie, reminding fans what they liked about the first.
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How Long Was The Wait? Blade Runner 2049released in 2017,Thirty-five yearsafter the originalBlade Runnercame out in 1982.
Why Were We Waiting? Blade Runneris a classic Harrison Ford sci-fi film. Many of Ford's beloved films had a cult following wanting more material—more from the dystopian world Ridley Scott built.
Why Was It Worth It?Varietyarguedthat not only wouldBlade Runner 2049delight franchise fans, but new viewers might enjoy it more than the original. This installment tapped the acclaimed director ofArrival, Denis Villeneuve, to direct. Villeneuve brought his unique skills to the film, making a blockbuster unlike anything modern screens show, while staying true to the franchise and bringing back Harrison Ford.
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How Long Was The Wait? Tron: Legacy(2010) was releasedTwenty-eight yearsafterTron(1982).
Why Were We Waiting? The originalTronwas a cult classic with a very distinct look.
Why Was It Worth It? Tron: LegacyThis is a beautiful film with anincredible soundtrackby Daft Punk.NPR made a good pointabout the film matching its original: both offer "astonishing sights," yet neither has much plot. Fans ofTron,Tron: Legacyis a strong follow-up, bringing back original star Jeff Bridges to play Kevin Flynn.
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How Long Was The Wait? The originalStar Warstrilogy ended withReturn of the Jediin 1983. A prequel trilogy followed, ending withRevenge of the Sithin 2005. Then, ten years after the prequels andthirty-two yearsafterReturn of the Jedi, theForce Awakens, the first Disney-releasedStar Warsfilm arrived in 2015.
Why Were We Waiting? Fans loveStar WarsDescription of 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens' in the list '17 Sequels Worth The Wait'
Why Was It Worth It? While some may remember the fan discourse around The Force Awakens generating a certain amount of controversy, there's no denying the film was a huge hit. The Force Awakens received extremely positive critical and fan reviews and brought home a boatload of money at the box office. As a reviewer for The Atlantic stated of director J.J. Abrams, "It's borderline miraculous how well he captures the mood and rhythms of the first Star Wars trilogy." The Force Awakens was reminiscent of the original beloved trilogy, while more or less ignoring the lore of the prequels and the fully CGI-dependent filmmaking techniques behind them.
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How Long Was The Wait? The Before trilogy is a trilogy of films each released 9 years apart. Before Sunrise came out in 1995, followed by Before Sunset in 2004 and Before Midnight in 2013.
Why Were We Waiting? Richard Linklater likes to examine and play with time in his work. The Before films feature the same actors, playing the same characters, with each film depicting one night of their lives that essentially amounts to one long conversation. With the release of each installment, audiences got to catch up with the same characters nine years later in their lives.
Why Was It Worth It? Famed film critic Roger Ebert called Before Sunset a "remarkable achievement in several ways." Ebert believed that as good as Before Sunrise was, the sequel was even better, and that the film delivered on its promise of having a more mature conversation by more mature characters. Ebert found Before Midnight to be equally as genius as the previous installments, this time showing the duo after they've been together for nearly a decade.
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How Long Was The Wait? Bad Boys was released in 1995, Bad Boys II was released in 2003, and Bad Boys for Life was released 17 years later in 2020.
Why Were We Waiting? Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are incredible comedic talents with great chemistry. The original Bad Boys films weren't a huge hit with critics but definitely found their audience.
Why Was It Worth It? Bad Boys for Life is the best-reviewed entry in the Bad Boys franchise. This fun-loving movie came out at a not very fun-loving point in culture, where a lot was going wrong, and this film was a great reprieve from all that. The Observer called Bad Boys for Life the "ultimate palate cleanser for our fraught cultural moment."
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How Long Was The Wait? The Netflix limited series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) was released 14 years after the big-screen feature Wet Hot American Summer (2001).
Why Were We Waiting? Wet Hot American SummerThis is a gift to mankind. It is hilarious. Its cast members became more popular over the years.
Why Was It Worth It? Wet Hot American SummerThe film already used older actors for younger roles. Add fourteen years, and the joke hits harder. The original film featured unknown actors. A decade and a half later, the reunited cast is a comedy who's-who, making a prequel full of genuine stars.
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How Long Was The Wait? The original TV show, Twin PeaksIt aired on ABC starting in 1990. A feature film followed in 1992.Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Then, 25 years later, Twin Peaks: The ReturnIt arrived on Showtime, a new network, in 2017.
Why Were We Waiting? David Lynch's Twin PeaksThe show captivated viewers in the '90s. Fans continue to think about it.
Why Was It Worth It? Rolling Stonecalled The Returncalled "unmatched in the medium's history." It argued that just as the original Twin Peaks inspired the golden age of television, this new series jumped ahead of the competition into a whole new era.Twin Peaksinspired the golden era of television. This new series leapfrogged competition into a new era and class.
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How Long Was The Wait? Borat Subsequent MoviefilmIt released in 2020.14 yearsafter Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan(2006).
Why Were We Waiting? BoratBorat was a genius comedy. It set a standard for all road-trip prank films. Sacha Baron Cohen gained fans through his actions as Borat. His lines, like "my wife," still appear in dorm rooms today.
Why Was It Worth It?Returning to a comedy role years later does not build high hopes, but Borat Subsequent MoviefilmThe film matched the original while giving the franchise new life. The movie's topical nature, set before the 2020 presidential election, added intrigue. The introduction of Borat's daughter also gave the film a warm feeling.
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