Marvel Studios has recently announced that they want Deadpool 3 to elevate the series in the same way that Thor: Ragnarok did. This has gotten movie fans on Reddit thinking about other examples of movies whose sequels made big changes both stylistically and narratively from the original (for better or for worse).
Particularly in a time when sequels and spin-offs are becoming more and more common, it isn’t that surprising that franchises can experience some serious change over the course of a few movies. Whether Jurassic Park or Rocky, Reddit has given its strongest examples of those that have changed the most.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s original adaptation of Jurassic Park is often hailed as one of the most engaging and exciting family films ever made, but its sequels sadly don’t receive the same praise. Despite being revived for a new generation with Jurassic World, these films sadly feel completely different from the original.
Reddit user onwardalan notes this, writing that “not even the original group from Jurassic Park could save [the sequels]… the first two were the only good films (with the first being a classic) but even The Lost World felt a lot different to Jurassic Park.” To make matters worse, the latest Jurassic film, Jurassic World: Dominion, was anything but a movie focusing on dinosaurs, where the franchise’s main spectacle was merely put in the background serving such an insignificant purpose to the central storyline.
Alien (1979)
There are many movie fans that call Ridley Scott’s Alien the best horror film ever made, but it’s admittedly hard to imagine how the sequels changed so drastically both in tone and quality. The suspense element of Scott’s original film has been completely wiped out and replaced by extensive sci-fi elements and action sequences.
It’s Redditor stanthemanchan that suggested this film as having the most unrecognizable sequels, and they write that “Alien changed a lot from one film to the next almost to the point where I’d hesitate to call it a “franchise”. The only thing that is the same is the xenomorph.”
Mad Max (1979)
Although all the films have a similar dystopian tone, there’s very little that connects all the Mad Max films other than their shared protagonist. George Miller’s films all feel like they take place in separate universes, with so much plot happening in between the movies that it’s sometimes hard to keep up.
Reddit user ty_kanye_vcool comments on this, writing that “Every Mad Max film is completely unlike any of the others, but the first one doesn’t even take place after the apocalypse.” Whilst this doesn’t make the films bad at all, it is definitely something that audiences will have to adjust to.
The Purge (2013)
Many people are often surprised upon revisiting the original The Purge that the film only focuses on one family, given that the subsequent sequels are much bigger and center on the city-wide conflict that ensues every year on Purge Night. However, movie fans on Reddit seem to feel that this change was warranted.
One of these Redditors is ambitious_log_1884, who writes: “I feel like The Purge… changed for the better. It took on a much bigger scope that allowed for it to explore its potential. The first movie was basically The Strangers on a larger scale set in a dystopian future.”
Die Hard (1988)
There’s no denying that John McClane is one of the most iconic ’80s action heroes ever written, but the difference in his character between the original Die Hard and its subsequent sequels is shocking. Whilst the original film is more of a survival thriller with plenty of action, the rest of the franchise is much higher-stakes and less relatable.
Redditor 1stchairholophonor picks up on this, noting that “John McClain is just this normal guy, you know? He’s just a normal New York City cop who gets his feet cut, he gets beat up. But he’s an everyday guy. In Die Hard 4, he is jumping a motorcycle into a helicopter in the air. You know? He’s invincible.”
Rocky (1976)
There’s a reason that Rocky is considered one of the best sports movies ever made, but this high praise doesn’t always carry over to the sequels. Whilst the original is an intimate story of ambition, perseverance and success, the sequels focus more strongly on Rocky’s career and develop a very different tone.
Redditor moviebuff90 agrees with this opinion, writing that “The first Rocky is a realistic, down-to-earth story of a boxer getting his shot at the big leagues. By the fourth one, the franchise had become a silly, over-the-top, commercialized series where said boxer fights a new villain in every installment.”
Star Wars (1977)
Although it’s become one of the most popular franchises of all time today, there was a point in time when Star Wars was merely a single film about the battle between good and evil political forces in space – completely unrestrained by the thousands of pages of background reading that exists within the franchise today.
Some Redditors believe that the extensive attempts to expand the Star Wars universe have actually diminished the quality of the original. Redditor ghastly_mcnasty argues that “Star Wars was meant as an art film. Then everyone took it a little too straight and a little too seriously. Now look where we are.”
Mission: Impossible (1996)
It’s difficult to believe now, but the original Mission: Impossible was actually a pretty low-stakes mission when people consider how intense and dramatic the later installments have been. The original focused much more on the characters and the intricacies of the plot than the action and spectacle, which hardly happens now.
Although Fallout is popularly cited as one of Tom Cruise’s best films, it’s undeniable that the series has changed a lot. Reddit user frightened_by_bark writes: “The Mission Impossible movies now are entirely different from the espionage thriller De Palma made, where the big set piece was a near silent computer hack.”
Saw (2004)
The Saw franchise has developed a pretty negative reputation over the years, and whilst it’s mostly warranted, it’s still a shame to see the legacy of such a momentous and inventive piece of horror ruined by a batch of subpar sequels.
Most audiences seem to agree with this opinion, such as Redditor holdfast02, who writes that “Saw 1 was great – the twist at the end I did not see coming. But after that, it seems they were just after more and more gore and shock. Not fun to watch.”
The Fast And The Furious (2001)
Upon watching a gang of small-time criminals pull off a minor robbery in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, nobody could have expected that the very same characters would be engaging in high-stakes battles and international espionage merely a few years later.
Reddit user ausernameisfinetoo agrees that the films have changed drastically since their original installment, stating that “characters were real(ish) and relatable… now they’re indestructible super soldiers until the plot does/doesn’t need them to be.” On top of this, the selling point has always been about the race car driving aspect that made the early installments distinctive from other franchises, but these scenes have become less realistic as each film took on bolder adventures.
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