15 Fan-Favorite Movies That Never Got A Sequel (And Totally Deserved One)

Summary

• Several fan-favorite movies like The Iron Giant and The Nice Guys never received sequels despite deserving one.
• Films like Hancock and Dredd were overlooked for sequels despite unique concepts and potential for a franchise.
• Despite successful films like District 9 and Edge of Tomorrow, plans for sequels have yet to materialize, leaving fans waiting.

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You are watching: 15 Fan-Favorite Movies That Never Got A Sequel (And Totally Deserved One)

Today’s movie industry has often felt awash with a litany of unnecessary sequels, but this ignores all the fan-favorite movies that never received a follow-up despite deserving one. For one reason or another, some films that could have acted as the starting point for a fantastic new franchise or series have just been left as one-off cinematic events. This can be related to poor box office numbers, an inability to get the sequel’s script right, or simple disinterest from the filmmakers or studios in producing a follow-up.

Certain fan-favorite movies have had long-festering sequels that just never managed to get off the ground, and with each passing year, they begin to feel increasingly unlikely as they loom in development hell. Other movies were underappreciated in their own time, but due to the advent of home video and the age of streaming, they have found a second life that has left audiences craving more. Whatever the reason, plenty of fan-favorite movies never got a sequel despite totally deserving one.

15 The Iron Giant (1999)

Directed by Brad Bird

The Iron Giant was the directorial debut of Brad Bird, who would go on to have major success at Pixar with films like The Incredibles and Ratatouille. This heartfelt first film failed to make much of an impact when it was released in 1999 but has since become a cult classic and a favorite among animation enthusiasts. Despite this, The Iron Giant bombed upon release, making just over $31 million against its $50 million budget (via The Numbers), meaning that, despite its incredible quality, all talk of a sequel was quieted before it began.

The Iron Giant
PG
Action
Sci-Fi
Family
Comedy
Animation
Drama
Adventure

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Set in 1957 Maine against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who finds an alien robot crashlanded in the woods outside his hometown. Determining that the robot is friendly, Hogarth quickly becomes its protector against forces in the US Army who wish to use the robot for their own means. Eli Marienthal voices Hogarth, with a further cast that includes Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald. 

Director Brad Bird Release Date August 6, 1999 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Tim McCanlies Cast Vin Diesel , Christopher McDonald , Harry Connick Jr , Jennifer Aniston , Eli Marienthal Runtime 86 minutes Budget $70 million

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14 The Goonies (1985)

Directed by Richard Donner

As one of the most beloved family-friendly films of the 1980s, it’s shocking that The Goonies never received a sequel. As the story of a group of kids on an adventure to uncover the treasure of a 17th-century pirate, The Goonies was a classic coming-of-age tale that echoed the timeless appeal of the work of Steven Spielberg, which made sense as it was based on a story by Spielberg himself. While a Goonies sequel felt like a no-brainer, director Richard Donner moved on to the Lethal Weapon series, and it never happened.

The Goonies
PG
Family
Adventure
Comedy

When a small Oregon community is threatened by the foreclosure of their homes, a group of young misfits who called themselves the Goonies set out to find an ancient treasure in order to save the town. From a story by Steven Spielberg and a screenplay by Chris Columbus, Richard Donner’s The Goonies is one of the most iconic adventure movies of the 1980s, with a cast comprising the talents of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Jeff Cohen, Robert Davi, and Joe Pantoliano.

Director Richard Donner Release Date June 7, 1985 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Chris Columbus , Steven Spielberg Cast Josh Brolin , Jeff Cohen , Corey Feldman , Ke Huy Quan , Sean Astin Runtime 114 minutes Sequel(s) The Goonies 2 Budget $19 Million

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13 The Nice Guys (2016)

Directed by Shane Black

So much of the discourse surrounding the modern filmmaking era has related to the influx of sequels, prequels, and franchises and the lack of original ideas in Hollywood. Then came The Nice Guys, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, an excellent action buddy-cop movie that delivered everything audiences could want from an original film. Sadly, this was not reflected in the box office numbers, and despite being a cult favorite that was incredibly deserving of a sequel, The Nice Guys has disappointedly remained a one-off.

The Nice Guys
R
Mystery
Thriller
Crime

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Directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys tells the story of a private investigator and a hired enforcer who team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the 2016 comedy thriller puts a modern spin on the noir genre.

Director Shane Black Release Date May 20, 2016 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Anthony Bagarozzi , Shane Black Cast Ryan Gosling , Ty Simpkins , Rachele Brooke Smith , Russell Crowe , Yaya DaCosta , Margaret Qualley , Kim Basinger , Keith David , Matt Bomer , Yvonne Zima Runtime 116minutes Budget $50 million

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12 Constantine (2005)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

The superhero horror Constantine starred Keanu Reeves as the cynical exorcists traversing Earth and Hell in a story loosely based on the Hellblazer graphic novel series. Despite holding the potential to become a major franchise, Constantine received mixed reviews upon release and was criticized for how much it changed from the source material. However, Constantine was still an incredibly unique film that gained a cult following. Rumors about a sequel have swirled around for years, and in 2023, an update from director Francis Lawrence hinted it could still be on the cards (via Deadline.)

Constantine
R
Fantasy
Horror
Action

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Supernatural exorcist and demonologist John Constantine helps a policewoman prove her sister’s death was not a suicide, but something more.

Director Francis Lawrence Release Date February 18, 2005 Writers Jamie Delano , Garth Ennis , Kevin Brodbin , Frank A. Cappello Cast Keanu Reeves , Rachel Weisz , Shia LaBeouf , Djimon Hounsou , Max Baker , Pruitt Taylor Vince Main Genre Fantasy

11 El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

Directed by Vince Gilligan

In 2019, Breaking Bad lovers were shocked to learn about the release of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie on Netflix, which followed up on the incomplete story of Jesse Pinkman. A highly satisfying epilogue to the main series to accompany the prequel series Better Call Saul, El Camino helped resolve lingering questions about Jesse’s life after he fled the compound where he had been held prisoner in the finale of Breaking Bad. While more Breaking Bad-related sequels may not be necessary, if Vince Gilligan had the right idea, it would be for a deserving project.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
TV-MA
Drama
Crime
Action

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El Camino wraps up Jesse Pinkman’s story after he escapes from a group of Neo-Nazis at the end of Breaking Bad. Written, directed, and produced by Vince Gilligan and starring Aaron Paul, the 2019 movie revolves around Jesse’s attempt to flee to Alaska and start a new life, leaving behind his past with meth kingpin Walter White.

Director Vince Gilligan Release Date October 11, 2019 Studio(s) Netflix Distributor(s) Netflix Writers Vince Gilligan Cast Krysten Ritter , Jonathan Banks , Matt Jones , Aaron Paul , Robert Forster , Bryan Cranston , Jesse Plemons , Charles Baker Runtime 122 minutes Franchise(s) Breaking Bad Budget $6 million

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10 Hancock (2008)Directed by Peter Berg

The Will Smith superhero film Hancock came out during a definitive year for the genre as it coincided with the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU has since become a sprawling franchise across film and television, Hancock was an often-overlooked but exceedingly interesting film that seriously deserved a sequel. With a protagonist who did want to be a hero or save the innocent, Hancock had the potential to explore a different side of the superhero genre and highlight those who chose to reject the great responsibility they had been bestowed with.

Hancock
r
Action
Comedy

Hancock is a 2008 superhero film starring Will Smith as John Hancock. Despite being a superhero, Hancock could care less about the damage he causes in the city as long as he catches the criminals he’s after. But after he saves Ray (Jason Bateman) the two work together to help his public image and turn him into a real hero.

Director Peter Berg Release Date July 2, 2008 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony , Columbia Pictures Writers Vince Gilligan Cast Will Smith , Charlize Theron , Jason Bateman Runtime 102minutes Budget $150 million

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9 World War Z (2013)

Directed by Marc Forster

As one of the best fast zombie movies ever, World War Z followed Brad Pitt as a United Nations investigator trying to find a solution for a worldwide zombie apocalypse. World War Z made over $540 million at the box office and became the highest-grossing zombie film of all time, which made it even more shocking that this successful film never got a sequel. A follow-up had been planned with David Fincher to direct World War Z 2, but sadly, it was scrapped in part due to the Chinese government’s ban on films featuring zombies and ghosts (via HR.)

World War Z
PG-13
Horror
Adventure
Action

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Based on the novel by Max Brooks, World War Z tells the story of a world ravaged by a zombie virus. Former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) braves the apocalypse in search of a cure. He is tasked with finding the point of origin of the virus in order to synthesize a vaccine, reluctantly doing so in exchange for his family’s safety. His search takes him around the world, where he witnesses all the devastation of the apocalypse.

Director Marc Foster Release Date June 21, 2013 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Matthew Michael Carnahan , Drew Goddard , Damon Lindelof Cast Brad Pitt , Daniella Kertesz , Mireille Enos , James Badge Dale Runtime 1h 56m Franchise(s) World War Z Budget 190 million

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8 Inception (2010)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

If Inception had been made by any writer-director other than Christopher Nolan, it likely would have acted as the starting point for a long-running dream-based franchise. With an incredibly creative concept and endless possibilities, it’s a shame there was never an Inception sequel, as its extraordinary visual spectacular mixed with psychological intrigue made it a clever blockbuster crowd-pleaser. As audiences still debate the ending of Inception to this day, interest would be huge for a potential sequel.

Inception
PG-13
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Action

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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.

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

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7 Dredd (2012)

Directed by Pete Travis

Despite bombing at the box office, Dredd has built up a reputation as a cult favorite and was well-deserving of a sequel, as its visual effects, excellent casting, and incredible action sequences made it an effective sci-fi satire. As an engaging character study that featured Karl Urban as the law enforcer Dredd years before he found success in The Boys, Dredd had the potential to be a major series, but the property was badly handled and marketed. While Urban previously stated there were discussions about a Dredd TV series, these never came to fruition.

Dredd
R
Action
Crime
Sci-Fi

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Based on the comic character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, Dredd is a sci-fi action movie that stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcement officer who can commute sentences as quickly as he issues them. Set in a dystopian New York-like city called Mega-City One, Dredd is tasked with hunting down a drug lord who controls a massive 200-story apartment complex named Ma-Ma, pushing a new addictive drug called “Slo-Mo” that has become widely used in the slums. 

Director Pete Travis Release Date September 7, 2012 Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Alex Garland Cast Karl Urban , Rachel Wood , Andile Mngadi , Porteus Xandau Steenkamp , Jason Cope , Emma Breschi Runtime 95 minutes Budget $50 million

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6 Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Directed by Adam McKay

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was one of the funniest comedies of the mid-2000s, as its hilarious look at the NASCAR industry was comedic gold. Directed by Adam McKay, it was unfortunate that instead of following up on the story of Talladega Nights, he produced a lackluster and unnecessary sequel to the directional debut, Anchorman. In the years since Talladega Nights’ release, McKay has shifted his filmmaking style toward socially conscious satires like The Big Short and Don’t Look Up, so now a continuation of the story of Ricky Bobby feels highly unlikely.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
PG-13
Comedy
Sport

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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 comedy directed by Adam McKay, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Ferrell plays a successful NASCAR driver who almost loses his family, best friend, and his career when a French Formula One driver attempts to take his number one spot in the world of racing.

Director Adam McKay Release Date August 4, 2006 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , Relativity Media , Apatow Productions , Mosaic Film Distributor(s) Sony Writers Will Ferrell , Adam McKay Cast Will Ferrell , John C. Reilly , Sacha Baron Cohen , Gary Cole , Michael Clarke Duncan , Leslie Bibb , Jane Lynch , Amy Adams Runtime 108 Minutes Budget $72.5 Million Main Genre Comedy

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5 True Lies (1994)

Directed by James Cameron

The excellent 1994 action-comedy True Lies was James Cameron’s last movie before the unprecedented success of Titanic, after which he shifted focus to Avatar, which was in development for years before it was finally released. Sadly, this contributed to True Lies 2 never happening despite a script being written and Arnold Schwarzenegger expected to return in the lead role (via Variety.) These plans were scrapped entirely in the wake of September 11th, as Cameron stated True Lies 2 would not be made under the “current world climate” (via Caneo.)

True Lies
R
Comedy
Thriller
Action

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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.

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

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4 Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

Directed by Doug Liman

Edge of Tomorrow was one of the very best action sci-fi movies in living memory that, despite its fascinating concept, never received a sequel. As a cross between Saving Private Ryan and Groundhog Day, there has long been discussion around an Edge of Tomorrow sequel, but these plans never came to fruition. Viewers still hold out hope for a sequel, and the movie’s star, Tom Cruise, has expressed an interest in returning (via Collider); the stars have yet to align to make this long-awaited sequel a reality.

Edge of Tomorrow
PG-13
Sci-Fi
Action
Thriller
Adventure

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Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s novel All You Need is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow follows Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), who finds himself drafted into humanity’s ongoing war against a seemingly unstoppable race of hostile aliens called Mimics. Cage is killed in combat, but wakes in a time loop, reliving the same battle day after day. Gradually, he realizes that if he teams up with the decorated war hero Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), he can exploit the time loop to defeat the Mimic army and save the human race. 

Director Doug Liman Release Date June 6, 2014 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers John-Henry Butterworth , Christopher McQuarrie , Jez Butterworth Cast Emily Blunt , Tom Cruise Runtime 1h 53m Sequel(s) Edge of Tomorrow 2 Budget 178 million

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3 District 9 (2009)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

District 9 was director Neill Blomkamp’s feature debut, which signaled him as an action-sci-fi filmmaker of incredible talent. As a partial found-footage film that addressed themes of xenophobia and segregation through the story of aliens placed in an internment camp in South Africa, District 9 was a highly political story that mimicked the country’s real apartheid history. While Blomkamp previously spoke about a script titled District 10, in 2023, he stated, “I don’t know if I even want to make that right now” (via HR) although he reiterated that the sequel may happen someday down the line.

District 9
R
Action
Sci-Fi
Thriller

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Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 combines sci-fi with social commentary in an alternate history in which humans and aliens eke out a tentative coexistence. When a large alien ship appears outside of Johannesburg, humans find it full of sickly and malnourished extraterrestrials they name “Prawns”. After housing the aliens in a slum named District 9, one human finds himself far closer to the Prawn community than he bargained for.

Director Neill Blomkamp Release Date August 5, 2009 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Writers Terri Tatchell , Neill Blomkamp Cast Sharlto Copley , Jason Cope , Nathalie Boltt , Sylvaine Strike , Elizabeth Mkandawie , John Sumner Runtime 112 minutes Franchise(s) District 9 Budget $30 million

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2 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Directed by David Fincher

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was David Fincher’s adaptation of the first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium crime novel series. Despite plans to make two back-to-back sequels adapting sequels of The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest, these plans were continually delayed, and eventually, the series was rebooted with Claire Foy playing Lisbeth Salander in an adaptation of the non-Larsson fourth novel The Girl in the Spider’s Web with Fincher’s involvement. Sadly, audiences never got to witness Fincher’s full vision for the trilogy, although Swedish adaptations of the three books have been released.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
R
Thriller
Drama
Crime
Mystery

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Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.

Director David Fincher Release Date December 21, 2011 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Steven Zaillian Cast Christopher Plummer , Robin Wright , Stellan Skarsgård , Rooney Mara , Steven Berkoff , Daniel Craig Runtime 158 minutes Franchise(s) Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Sequel(s) The Girl Who Played With Fire , The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest (2009) Budget $90 million

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1 The Social Network (2010)

Directed by David Fincher

The Social Network was among the greatest movies of the 21st century, and when it was first released in 2010, a sequel did not feel necessary. However, in the years since, the dominance of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg has only continued to grow, and the company has become marred in controversy around data protection, surveillance, and political influence. Now, almost 15 years later, there has been plenty of material to base a sequel on, as the later history of Zuckerberg and Facebook seriously deserved to be told.

The Social Network
PG-13
Biography
Drama

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David Fincher’s The Social Network chronicles the birth of Facebook and the rise of tech mogul Mark Zuckerberg. Following Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) as he creates his famous social network along with his friend and investor Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). As Facebook’s popularity grows, Zuckerberg faces legal action from former friends, with The Social Network following his journey from an innovative young student to a titan of industry.

Director David Fincher Release Date October 1, 2010 Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , Relativity Media , Scott Rudin Productions , Michael De Luca Productions , Trigger Street Productions Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Aaron Sorkin Cast Jesse Eisenberg , Rooney Mara , Andrew Garfield , Justin Timberlake , Armie Hammer Runtime 120 minutes Budget $40 Million

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Sources: The Numbers, Deadline, HR, Variety, Caneo, Collider, HR

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Category: Entertainment