There’s nothing quite as frustrating as seeing a favorite movie brought down by a sequel that shouldn’t have existed. Whether it’s a miscast protagonist, a tone-deaf script, or an overall misunderstanding of what made the original great, bad sequels not only miss the target—they occasionally blemish the legacy of their ancestors. These ten sequels are reminders that lightning doesn’t always strike twice. Let’s count down from bad to utterly mind-boggling.
10. The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix opened minds when it initially appeared on screens. It was hip, intelligent, and completely out of the box. But by the Revolution’s release, much of the magic had worn off. Rather than providing the intellectual kick and excitement that made the original so iconic, the conclusion was mired in dense exposition and ambiguous resolutions. Fans demanded clarity and resolution—what they received was more confusion dressed in spectacle.
9. Highlander II: The Quickening
Whereas the original Highlander was strange for all the good reasons, The Quickening was simply strange, plain and simple. It redefined the rules of the universe it played in, added tons of inexplicable science fiction elements, and basically left audiences questioning whether the filmmakers had even watched the first film. To undo the charm of a predecessor is something in itself—a feat not to be celebrated.
8. Jaws: The Revenge
The original Jaws was a masterwork of suspense. By the time we reached Jaws: The Revenge, things had gone off in the wrong direction. The premise—a shark personally attacking a particular family across bodies of water—is so ridiculous, it almost requires to be laughed at. Sadly, the movie wasn’t attempting to be humorous. It simply became that way by accident.
7. Speed 2: Cruise Control
How do you sabotage a high-energy action movie about a runaway bus? Cast it on a leisurely cruise ship and take away Keanu Reeves. That’s what was done in Speed 2, which sacrificed intensity for predictability. With minimal chemistry, a slow-moving plot, and little sense of danger, this sequel stalled before leaving the dock.
6. Son of the Mask
The Mask was quirky, colorful, and just right for Jim Carrey’s manic energy. Son of the Mask, on the other hand, chose to follow in a completely different—and misguided—path. Without Carrey and featuring a plot that teetered on the edge of surreal for all the wrong reasons, the sequel tanked big time. Where fun was promised, awkwardness and a strong feeling of “Why was this made?” were delivered.
5. Blues Brothers 2000
The original Blues Brothers walked that fine line between music, comedy, and anarchy. Blues Brothers 2000 attempted to recreate that alchemy but could not quite get into the rhythm. Without John Belushi and from a repurposed story, it was more of an extended tribute band show than a true sequel. Even fantastic music could not help it.
4. Caddyshack II
The first Caddyshack had that loose, irreverent charm that can’t be replicated. But Caddyshack II attempted it and failed. Many of the original cast were not there, the jokes came across as forced, and the whole movie lacked the randomness that made the first one a cult favorite. It was like someone did a sequel without knowing why the first was a hit in the first place.
3. Eternals
Though not a conventional sequel, Eternals was sold as the next great step for the Marvel franchise. Sadly, it proved to be a misstep rather. With an enormous cast and a plot that failed to have the pizzazz of previous installments, the movie felt more like a prolonged introduction than a thrilling new chapter. Rather than setting the bar higher, it set expectations lower for what was to follow.
2. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2
No one was particularly clamoring for a follow-up to Baby Geniuses, but somehow we ended up with one—and made the first movie look like a work of genius compared to this monstrosity. Superbabies is ranked by many as one of the all-time worst movies ever produced, replete with nonsensical plots, wooden performances, and jokes that completely bomb. It’s a sequel that never had a shot—and demonstrated it at every step.
1. Space Jam: A New Legacy
Riding at the very top of this list is Space Jam: A New Legacy—a movie that took childhood nostalgia and smothered it in the depths of corporate synergy. The original Space Jam was heart, was simple, and was just the right amount of absurd. The sequel? More like a two-hour WarnerMedia property advertisement than a film. Rather than charm, we received clunky cameos, cheesy jokes, and incomprehensible adult references. It wasn’t a bad sequel—it was a reminder that not everything needs a reboot.
Sequels are difficult. Done well, they can enrich a story and reunite us with characters we love in rewarding ways. When they fail, however, they fail spectacularly. These movies didn’t just fail—were faceplanted. And in the process, they sullied the originals they borrowed from. If there’s any lesson to be gleaned, it’s this: sometimes you need to just let a great movie stand being great, and leave the rest to memory.