While the movie industry today can feel overloaded with a litany of unnecessary sequels, some directors have refused to come back for a follow-up film. Despite overwhelming audience interest in seeing more of a particular story or characters, certain filmmakers have stood their ground and decided that they did not feel the need to make another movie just because viewers were clamoring for more. This rare commitment to artistry deserves praise, as the only real reason a sequel should be made is if it had a story that truly needed to be told.
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Many of the best directors voiced their opposition to sequels being made of their most famous movies and have actively stood in the way of studios producing follow-up films. While the rights to a movie can often be out of a director’s hands, which can lead to countless terrible movie sequels and franchises that should never have been greenlit, occasionally, directors have the final say in whether a sequel can be made. While many great movies are crying out for sequels, these are the sequels that filmmakers have refused to make despite clear audience interest.
10 Kill Bill 3
Quentin Tarantino
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Kill Bill was Quentin Tarantino’s extraordinary back-to-back tribute to martial arts cinema that was released in two volumes, Volume 1 in 2003 and Volume 2 in 2004. This incredible story starred Uma Thurman as The Bride, seeking vengeance on the titular Bill, who tried to have her and their unborn child killed. With fantastic cameos from legends of Kung Fu movie history, Kill Bill introduced a whole new generation of viewers to the martial arts genre.
While Kill Bill’s two volumes told a complete story, Tarantino himself proposed the idea of a sequel as he spoke in interviews about his desire to make Kill Bill 3 and potentially a fourth film set years later after The Bride’s daughter had grown up (via Bloody Disgusting.) However, Tarantino has also been particular about his legacy and desire to retire after making ten feature films. With just one more feature film left before Tarantino supposedly shifts away from directing films toward other projects, this makes the long-teased release of Kill Bill 3 feel unlikely.
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10/10 Kill Bill RThrillerCrimeAction
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a classic tale of betrayal and revenge. When the Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma, she sets out to settle the score with the team of assassins that betrayed her at the behest of her former boss, Bill (David Carradine). Tracking and killing the world-class assassins isn’t easy, but the Bride uses all the tools at her disposal in her relentless pursuit of revenge.
Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 10, 2003 Writers Quentin Tarantino Cast David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox Runtime 111 minutes Franchise(s) Kill Bill Sequel(s) Kill Bill Vol. 2 Budget $30 million Expand
9 Elf 2
Jon Favreau
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The modern Christmas classic Elf starred Will Ferrell in the hilarious story of a human raised in the North Pole by Santa Claus and his elves. After growing up in a world of wonder at Santa’s workshop, Buddy Hobbs arrived in New York to track down his real father and discover what life was like away from the magic of Christmas. The release of Elf in 2003 exceeded all expectations and grossed over $228 million at the box office, and audiences have been hoping for a sequel ever since.
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While director Jon Favreau did express interest in a sequel, which Mental Floss reported in 2013 could be titled Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas, this never came to fruition. Ferrell himself also expressed a reluctance to return for Elf 2 (via IGN) as he wouldn’t want to rush in making a follow-up film unless they had a “story that justifies having an extension of the first one.” The late James Caan, who played the supporting role of Buddy’s father in Elf, also said in 2020 (via The Wrap) that Elf 2 would not be made because Ferrell and Favreau “didn’t get along.”
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10/10 Elf PGFamilyComedyFantasy
2003 Christmas comedy classic Elf follows Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human raised among Santa’s elves at the North Pole, when he sets off to New York to find his biological father (James Caan). After learning that children’s book publish Walter Hobbs is his father, Buddy works to immerse himself in human culture – including getting a job in a department store, where he meets and falls in love with fellow “elf” Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). However, when Santa’s sleigh crashes and Christmas is threatened, only Buddy can help save the holidays.
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*Availability in US Director Jon Favreau Release Date November 7, 2003 Studio(s) New Line Cinema Distributor(s) New Line Cinema , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers David Berenbaum Cast Will Ferrell , Zooey Deschanel , James Caan , Mary Steenburgen , Edward Asner , Bob Newhart , Daniel Tay Runtime 97 minutes Budget $33 million Expand
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8 Event Horizon 2
Paul W. S. Anderson
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Event Horizon was an extraordinary Lovecraftian sci-fi story that took viewers into the very heart of a doomed rescue mission. As a space crew was forced to confront their deepest fears and regrets, Event Horizon was a dark and thrilling cult classic boasting a fascinating narrative, compelling performances, and stunning visuals. While it has since come to be regarded as a defining piece of sci-fi horror cinema, Event Horizon flopped upon release in 1997, and it was only years later that critics came to reappraise it as an underappreciated classic from Paul W. S. Anderson.
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While renewed interest led to Anderson considering expanding the lore of Event Horizon with a sequel, he later abandoned these plans. In 2020, Anderson said he has no plans to return to Event Horizon for a sequel or TV series (via Comic Book) and wants to let the original film’s legacy remain intact. “I’m immensely proud of the movie we made,” Anderson said while explaining how glad he was it finally found an audience after being so badly received upon release, “And, for that reason, I didn’t want to go back to the same world and ruin it for anybody.”
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9.5/10 Event Horizon RHorror Sci-FiThriller
Paul W. S. Anderson steps further into the world of sci-fi horror with Event Horizon, a movie set in the future following a crew of Astronauts attempting to locate a missing ship known as the Event Horizon. When the crew finds the ship floating near Neptune, the distress signal relayed is haunting, followed by the discovery what awaits the rescue team isn’t the crew of the missing ship but something far more sinister.
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*Availability in US Director Paul W.S. Anderson Release Date August 15, 1997 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Philip Eisner Cast Jason Isaacs , Kathleen Quinlan , Sean Pertwee , Laurence Fishburne , Richard T. Jones , Joely Richardson , Sam Neill Runtime 96 minutes Budget $60 million Expand
7 Inception 2
Christopher Nolan
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The filmography of Christopher Nolan boasted several movies that audiences would have loved to see sequels to. However, excluding The Dark Knight trilogy, Nolan has avoided following up his films. Nolan’s style of filmmaking leans toward standalone stories, and even though the rich and imaginative worlds he has created lend themselves to sequels, he has preferred to consistently move on to new and unique projects. One movie that audiences would love to see a sequel to was Inception, whose thought-provoking and imaginative premise of stealing information from targets’ subconsciouses could serve as the basis for an entire franchise.
Related Why Christopher Nolan Never Made Inception 2
Despite being regarded as one of his best movies, Christopher Nolan never made a sequel to 2010’s Inception. Here’s why Inception 2 hasn’t happened.
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While Inception 2 would be a surefire hit at the box office, as the original took in over $839 million globally, Inception was conceived as a standalone film, and Nolan appears happy to keep it that way. Returning for a sequel would also diminish the film’s subjective, open-ended conclusion, as this would force a definitive answer to questions about whether Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) was dreaming or not. While it’s not impossible to imagine another director stepping in to make Inception 2, undoing the impact of a well-told story with a needless sequel has not been Nolan’s modus operandi.
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8.1/10 Inception PG-13Adventure Sci-FiThrillerAction
Christopher Nolan’s 2010 Sci-fi action film Inception follows a thief who enters the dreams of others to steal information and, after being caught, is given a chance to clean his slate by performing an untested concept – implanting an idea within another mind. An ensemble cast is brought together by former target Saito, who seeks to implant the idea of destroying his own company into his father’s mind. In a complex labyrinth of dreams and untested theories at the forefront, survival is not guaranteed in this psychological heist where the stakes are high, and nothing is what it seems.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 16, 2010 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Christopher Nolan Cast Tom Hardy , Elliot Page , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Cillian Murphy , Ken Watanabe , Marion Cotillard , Leonardo DiCaprio Runtime 148 minutes Franchise(s) Inception Budget $160 million Main Genre Action Expand
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6 Fight Club 2
David Fincher
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Fight Club was one of the most controversial movies of the 1990s and a definitive release in the careers of David Fincher, Edward Norton, and Brad Pitt. As a cult adaptation of a novel by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club tapped into the cynicism of Generation X as it deconstructed issues of capitalism, masculinity, and moral decay. With a story about a lonely, dissatisfied, and insomnia-suffering man (Norton) embroiled in a conspiracy of fight clubs, dual identity, and a plot to destroy and rebuild modern society, Fight Club tapped into the zeitgeist of the era and left viewers craving a sequel.
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While Palahniuk wrote a 2016 graphic novel sequel, viewers shouldn’t hold their breath for Fincher to return to tell the continued story of Tyler Durden. Not only does Fincher appear disinterested in making a sequel, but he’s on record stating he does not even want to rewatch Fight Club. In a 2023 interview with GQ promoting The Killer, a reporter told Fincher they had just watched Fight Club the night before, to which he replied, “I haven’t seen it in 20 years. And I don’t want to.” With that quote in mind, Fincher’s Fight Club 2 sounds like a no-go.
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37 8.8/10 Fight Club RDrama
Fight Club, David Fincher’s 1999 thriller starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter, is the cinematic adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s eponymous 1996 novel. In it, reckless soapmaker Tyler Durden helps the desolate Narrator find meaning in his monotonous life by creating an underground fight club where dejected men release their frustration in the form of fistfights.
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*Availability in US Director David Fincher Release Date October 15, 1999 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Jim Uhls Cast Brad Pitt , Meat Loaf , Edward Norton , Jared Leto , Helena Bonham Carter Runtime 139 minutes Franchise(s) Fight Club Budget $63 million Main Genre Drama Expand
5 Forrest Gump 2
Robert Zemeckis
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Forrest Gump was the second-biggest movie of 1994, with a box office taking of over $678 million, only outgrossed by Disney’s The Lion King. With Tom Hanks as the titular star, Forrest Gump’s epic story about a below-average-intelligence man’s journey across the history of 20th-century America struck a chord with viewers and earned six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Hanks, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. Director Robert Zemeckis and Hanks even planned for a sequel based on the original author’s follow-up novel, Gump and Co.
While viewers connected deeply with Forrest’s story in 1994, the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 made Zemeckis reconsider his plans for a sequel (via Slash Film.) Screenwriter Eric Roth said he turned in the script for the sequel the day before 9/11, but after that world-changing event, he, Hanks, and Zemeckis all decided it was no longer relevant. “The world had changed,” Roth said, and the Forrest Gump sequel never went into production.
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10 8.6/10 Forrest Gump PG-13RomanceDrama
In this iconic piece of American film history, the presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the events of the Vietnam war, Watergate, and other history unfold through the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75.
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*Availability in US Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date July 6, 1994 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Winston Groom , Eric Roth Cast Mykelti Williamson , Gary Sinise , Tom Hanks , Robin Wright , Sally Field Runtime 142 minutes Budget $55 million Main Genre Drama Expand
4 True Lies 2
James Cameron
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Director James Cameron has had one of the most impressive careers in Hollywood history and has been responsible for several of the highest-grossing movies of all time. With a career that truly kicked off with the release of The Terminator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the director and star had an ongoing creative collaboration that included Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the action comedy hit True Lies. As a box office smash, it’s no surprise that viewers have long expressed interest in Cameron and Schwarzenegger reuniting for a sequel, but the director has been more concerned with other projects.
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While rumors of a True Lies sequel have been swirling for decades, Cameron continually delayed these plans as he focused on Titanic and his Avatar series. While a script had been completed in 2001, the planned production was halted following the September 11th attacks. Cameron later said, “Terrorism is no longer something to take as lightly as we did in the first one” (via Jam), and despite interest from viewers and Schwarzenegger in reprising his role, True Lies 2 never got made.
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True Lies RComedyThrillerAction
In James Cameron’s 1994 action comedy True Lies, the spy Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives a double life as a mellow computer salesman and keeps his real job secret from his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). However, she joins him when he discovers a terrorist plot to destroy America.
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*Availability in US Director James Cameron Release Date July 15, 1994 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century , Universal Pictures Writers James Cameron Cast Tom Arnold , Eliza Dushku , Bill Paxton , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Jamie Lee Curtis Runtime 141 minutes Budget $115 million Expand
3 E.T. 2
Steven Spielberg
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Today, if a movie has as much an effect on popular culture as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial did during the 1980s, not only would a sequel be guaranteed, but it would serve as the basis for a massive ongoing franchise. Despite becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time before it was dethroned by Steven Spielberg’s own Jurassic Park in 1993, E.T.’s legacy remained intact as it stood as one of the best family-friendly standalone films ever made. But this wasn’t always the plan, as Spielberg did consider making a sequel to E.T. at one point.
Following the original movie’s success at the box office, Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison wrote a treatment titled E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears (via Birth Movies Death.) This ill-advised sequel would have focused on Elliott and his friends getting kidnapped by evil aliens and contacting E.T. for help. However, Spielberg later realized that this sequel would “do nothing but rob the original of its virginity” (via Blastr) and has since refused to return for a sequel or give his blessing to anyone else continuing its story.
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7.3/10 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial pg Sci-FiAdventure
Steven Spielberg’s 1982 sci-fi classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial tells the story of Elliott Taylor (Henry Thomas), who befriends a small alien left stranded on Earth. When government forces come to take the benevolent creature away, Elliott does everything he can to protect his new friend, risking his own safety in the process in order to help E.T. return home.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 11, 1982 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Melissa Mathison Cast Drew Barrymore , Henry Thomas , Robert MacNaughton Runtime 1h 55m Franchise(s) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Budget 10.5 million Expand
2 The Dark Knight 4
Christopher Nolan
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Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy was one of the most important superhero franchises ever created and had an undeniable effect on the genre itself. As a dark and gritty reimagining of the Batman mythos, Nolan brought a level of artistry and depth to this superhero story that had previously been missing from feature film depictions of masked vigilantes. As a director who never made any sequels outside of this franchise, The Dark Knight trilogy was an anomaly for Nolan that has remained the benchmark by which all modern superhero movies are judged.
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Related Christian Bale Would Only Return To Batman If Christopher Nolan Asked
EXCLUSIVE: Christian Bale talks about potentially reprising Bruce Wayne/Batman in the DCEU, saying that he’s open to it if Christopher Nolan asks.
Despite completing his trilogy and moving on to new projects like Inception and Oppenheimer, viewers have never given up hope that Nolan would reunite with Christian Bale for a fourth installment in their acclaimed franchise. Bale himself said in a 2022 interview with Screen Rant that he would consider returning as Bruce Wayne only if Nolan was in the director’s chair. However, when Nolan was asked in 2023 (via Hugo Décrypte) whether he would direct another superhero movie, he simply said, “No.”
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight franchise, also known as The Dark Knight Trilogy, is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film series directed by Christopher Nolan. It is a darker and more realistic take on the Batman character, exploring themes of justice, chaos, and redemption. The trilogy revitalized the Batman film series and is often credited with raising the bar for superhero films, particularly through its exploration of complex moral dilemmas and the iconic portrayal of villains like the Joker.
Created by Christopher Nolan , David S. Goyer First Film Batman Begins Latest Film The Dark Knight Rises Cast Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Gary Oldman , Morgan Freeman , Heath Ledger , Tom Hardy , Anne Hathaway , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Liam Neeson , Aaron Eckhart Character(s) Batman , Alfred Pennyworth , Commissioner Gordon , Lucius Fox , Bane , The Joker , Catwoman , Two-Face Video Game(s) Batman Begins
Summary
The Dark Knight franchise, also known as The Dark Knight Trilogy, is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film series directed by Christopher Nolan. It is a darker and more realistic take on the Batman character, exploring themes of justice, chaos, and redemption. The trilogy revitalized the Batman film series and is often credited with raising the bar for superhero films, particularly through its exploration of complex moral dilemmas and the iconic portrayal of villains like the Joker.
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1 Back To The Future 4
Robert Zemeckis
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The time-travel nature of Back to the Future lends itself to endless stories that traverse the length and breadth of world history. However, despite its iconic legacy and clear interest from audiences for more, Back to the Future will remain a trilogy as director Robert Zemeckis vehemently opposes any propositions to make sequels, remakes, or reboots of his most famous franchise. With Back to the Future’s Marty McFly actor Michael J. Fox also retired due to declining health caused by Parkinson’s disease, there are many roadblocks to bringing Marty and Doc Brown back for one more adventure.
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Related Robert Zemeckis Wants To Make Another Back to the Future Movie (With A Twist)
Director Robert Zemeckis says that he is interested in making another Back to the Future movie, but it wouldn’t be the sequel most expect.
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In 2008, Zemeckis likened making a new Back to the Future movie without Fox to saying, “I’m going to cook you a steak dinner and I’m going to hold the beef” (via Telegraph.) While Zemeckis has been vocal about not allowing a Back to the Future 4 or a remake with a new actor, he hasn’t entirely ruled out returning to the franchise. Instead, Zemeckis claimed he’d be interested in making a feature film version of Back to the Future: The Musical, although he claimed when he floated the idea with Universal Pictures, they weren’t interested…
Back to the Future
“Back to the Future” is a science fiction adventure franchise that follows the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown. Created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the series is known for its clever use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic DeLorean time machine. The franchise explores themes of causality, destiny, and the impact of individual actions on the future. Its blend of humor, heart, and innovative storytelling has made it a beloved classic in film history.
Created by Robert Zemeckis , Bob Gale First Film Back to the Future Latest Film Back to the Future Part III First TV Show Back To The Future Latest TV Show Back To The Future First Episode Air Date September 14, 1991 Cast Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Lea Thompson , Crispin Glover , Thomas F. Wilson , Elisabeth Shue , James Tolkan , Claudia Wells , Mary Steenburgen Spin-offs Back To The Future TV Show(s) Back To The Future Character(s) Marty McFly , Dr. Emmett Brown , Lorraine Baines , George McFly , Biff Tannen , Jennifer Parker , Clara Clayton , Jules Brown , Verne Brown Video Game(s) Back to the Future: The Game
Summary
“Back to the Future” is a science fiction adventure franchise that follows the time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown. Created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the series is known for its clever use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic DeLorean time machine. The franchise explores themes of causality, destiny, and the impact of individual actions on the future. Its blend of humor, heart, and innovative storytelling has made it a beloved classic in film history.
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Sources: All box office figures from Box Office Mojo, Bloody Disgusting, Mental Floss, IGN, The Wrap, Comic Book, GQ, Slash Film, Jam, Birth Movies Death, Blastr, Hugo Décrypte, Telegraph