While the movie industry today can feel overloaded with a litany ofunnecessary 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.
Many ofthe best directorsvoiced 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 countlessterrible movie sequelsand franchises that should never have been greenlit, occasionally, directors have the final say in whether a sequel can be made. While manygreat movies are crying out for sequels, these are thesequels that filmmakers have refused to make despite clear audience interest.
10Kill Bill 3
Quentin Tarantino
Kill Billwas Quentin Tarantino’s extraordinary back-to-back tribute to martial arts cinema that was released in two volumes,Volume 1in 2003 andVolume 2in 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 Billintroduced a whole new generation of viewers to the martial arts genre.
WhileKill Bill’stwo volumes told a complete story, Tarantino himself proposed the idea of a sequel as he spoke in interviews about his desire to makeKill Bill 3and potentially a fourth film set years later after The Bride’s daughter had grown up (viaBloody 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 ofKill Bill 3feel unlikely.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Cast
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 follows an assassin as she seeks revenge after being betrayed by her former employer, Bill, and fellow assassins. Released in 2003, the film initiates a violent journey of vengeance directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars Uma Thurman as the central character known as The Bride.
9Elf 2
Jon Favreau
The modern Christmas classicElfstarred 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 ofElfin 2003 exceeded all expectations and grossed over $228 million at the box office, and audiences have been hoping for a sequel ever since.
Whiledirector Jon Favreau did express interest in a sequel, whichMental Flossreported in 2013 could be titledElf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas, this never came to fruition. Ferrell himself also expressed a reluctance to return forElf 2(viaIGN) 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 inElf, also said in 2020 (viaThe Wrap) thatElf 2would not be made because Ferrell and Favreau “didn’t get along.”
Elf
Elf follows Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole. As an adult, he journeys to Manhattan to find his biological father, a work-driven businessman. The film explores Buddy’s comedic attempts to navigate human society and his quest to bring holiday spirit to his family.
8Event Horizon 2
Paul W. S. Anderson
Event Horizonwas 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 Horizonwas 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 Horizonflopped 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.
While renewed interest led to Anderson considering expanding the lore ofEvent Horizonwith a sequel, he later abandoned these plans. In 2020, Anderson said he has no plans to return toEvent Horizonfor a sequel or TV series (viaComic 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 audienceafter 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.”
Event Horizon
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.
7Inception 2
Christopher Nolan
The filmography of Christopher Nolan boasted several movies that audiences would have loved to see sequels to. However, excludingThe Dark Knighttrilogy, 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 wasInception, whose thought-provoking and imaginative premise of stealing information from targets’ subconsciouses could serve as the basis for an entire franchise.
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.
WhileInception 2would be a surefire hit at the box office, as the original took in over $839 million globally,Inceptionwas 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 makeInception 2,undoing the impact of a well-told story with a needless sequel has not been Nolan’s modus operandi.
Inception
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, features a skilled thief who uses dream-sharing technology to steal corporate secrets. He is tasked with planting an idea into a CEO’s mind, while confronting his troubled past, which threatens the mission and his team.
6Fight Club 2
David Fincher
Fight Clubwas 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 Clubtapped 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 Clubtapped into the zeitgeist of the era and left viewers craving a sequel.
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 rewatchFight Club. In a 2023 interview withGQpromotingThe Killer, a reporter told Fincher they had just watchedFight Clubthe 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’sFight Club 2sounds like a no-go.
Fight Club
Fight Club, released in 1999 and directed by David Fincher, stars Edward Norton as an insomniac who forms an underground fight club with a soap salesman, played by Brad Pitt.
5Forrest Gump 2
Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gumpwas the second-biggest movie of 1994, with a box office taking of over $678 million, only outgrossed by Disney’sThe Lion King. With Tom Hanks as the titular star,Forrest Gump’sepic 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 (viaSlash 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 theForrest Gumpsequel never went into production.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a drama film released in 1994, starring Tom Hanks as the titular character. The film explores the life of a man with a low IQ who inadvertently shapes several historical events, while his personal journey remains centered on his unrequited love for childhood friend Jenny.
4True Lies 2
James Cameron
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 ofThe Terminatorstarring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the director and star had an ongoing creative collaboration that includedTerminator 2: JudgmentDay and the action comedy hitTrue 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.
While rumors of aTrue Liessequel have been swirling for decades,Cameron continually delayed these plans as he focused onTitanicand hisAvatarseries. 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” (viaJam), and despite interest from viewers and Schwarzenegger in reprising his role,True Lies 2never got made.
True Lies
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.
3E.T. 2
Steven Spielberg
Today, if a movie has as much an effect on popular culture asE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialdid 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 ownJurassic Parkin 1993,E.T.’slegacy remained intactas 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 toE.T.at one point.
Following the original movie’s success at the box office, Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison wrote a treatment titledE.T. II: Nocturnal Fears(viaBirth 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” (viaBlastr) and has since refused to return for a sequel or give his blessing to anyone else continuing its story.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows a young boy named Elliot who befriends an alien accidentally left on Earth. As the task force searches for the extraterrestrial, Elliot, his siblings, and their newfound friend form a deep connection while attempting to return the visitor home.
2The Dark Knight 4
Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knight Trilogywas 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 theBatmanmythos, 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 Knighttrilogy was an anomaly for Nolan that has remained the benchmark by which all modern superhero movies are judged.
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 likeInceptionandOppenheimer, 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 withScreen Rantthat he would consider returning as Bruce Wayneonly if Nolan was in the director’s chair. However, when Nolan was asked in 2023 (viaHugo Décrypte) whether he would direct another superhero movie, he simply said, “No.”
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knightfranchise, also known asThe 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.
1Back To The Future 4
The time-travel nature ofBack to the Futurelends 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 Futurewill remain a trilogy as director Robert Zemeckis vehemently opposes any propositions to make sequels, remakes, or reboots of his most famous franchise. WithBack to the Future’sMarty 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.
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.
In 2008, Zemeckis likened making a newBack to the Futuremovie without Fox to saying, “I’m going to cook you a steak dinner and I’m going to hold the beef” (viaTelegraph.) While Zemeckis has been vocal about not allowing aBack to the Future 4or 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 ofBack 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.
Sources: All box office figures fromBox Office Mojo,Bloody Disgusting,Mental Floss,IGN,The Wrap,Comic Book,GQ,Slash Film,Jam,Birth Movies Death,Blastr,Hugo Décrypte,Telegraph
