Sequels and remakes are a tough game. Good ones are rare, and bad ones are many. Firms chase old hits, hoping they sell once more—but we get weak copies. Here are late sequels and remakes that fell short, and why we watch them all the same.
Gladiator II – A Sequel With No Soul
The first Gladiator was raw, hit hard, and stuck with you. Its sequel, though, feels like a weak copy. Big scenes and a grand look can’t fix it. Gladiator II treads the old path—hero rises, bad ruler, seen it all. It’s big but lacks heart.
No Maximus to cheer for and no new leaps. It’s a safe play, and that’s the snag—it feels like an old show in new gear.
Moana 2 – The Charm Is Not The Same
The first Moana drew us in with tune, heart, and deep tales. The next one? Not as much. Though it looks great, the tale is rushed, and new songs lack old charm.
It aims to bring back the fun but misses the spark of the first. Kids might like it, but for grown-ups, it’s a faint trip to a place that once was vast.
Jurassic World Dominion – Big Dinos, No Thrills
Jurassic World Dominion drew crowds and played on old love by bringing the first stars back, but the tale is weak. It wants to be a lot—meet-up, action, earth care—but it’s too much and goes nowhere.
Dinos are there, but the thrill and awe are gone. It’s loud, drags, and misses the heart that made Jurassic Park a hit.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw – Old Game, Less Fun
Spiral aimed to freshen up Saw, with Chris Rock in a dark new part. How’d it go? So-so at best. It toys with big tips like rot, but can’t stick the deal.
The traps are rough, yes—but the tight grip and shock of old Saw films aren’t there. It’s the same, just in new skin. It’s a letdown, yet it kept the Saw name hot and sold.
Why keep on with sequels and remakes, even if we know what’s up? We hope. We miss that buzz the first gave us and think it might hit once more. Firms play this game—they use old charm, not bold new steps.
Some sequels do wow us, but most are just safe moves. Still, we watch—’cause at heart, we’re fans. And hope dies hard. This list is a nudge: some tales should stay as they were, but the pull of “just one more” keeps both Hollywood and us hooked.