10 Movie Sequels That Got A Raw Deal

10. Clear and Present Danger

Clear and Present Danger performed fairly well at the box office, appealing the "mature" crowd that seemed to be gathering in droves for a mid-aged Harrison Ford action flick, so the film did no harm to the director, stars, producers or even viewers. And we're sure Tom Clancy took a nice cut of the profits to continue to fund his campaign to end fictional terrorism everywhere.

At least, that's the tone the cinematic Jack Ryan took. For Clancy may have carried Ryan's story forward (he becomes President in the books, which, at this point, sure), but studios kept on trying to reboot him with more an eye more focused on the Middle East. It wasn't exactly a leap for Ryan, The Sum of All Fears' novel plot does indeed involve Arab extremists, but 9/11 turned it to the main focus.

So spare a thought for the days of Ryan before the world turned upside down, when things were less racially dodgy (slightly) and Ford (and Baldwin before him) would take the time to track down bad Russians or a dirty president.

Clear and Present Danger, of the three pre-9/11 Ryans, is by far the best, with director Phil Alden Robinson flexing his muscles in conspiracy thriller (he'd already turned out the excellent Sneakers). Perhaps for the final time, it also features Ford in fine dramatic and physical form, a fake helicopter jump notwithstanding.