10 Horror Movie Franchises That Overstayed Their Welcome

Is there actually a good Leprechaun movie? That's up for debate, but the closest the franchise has got to delivering anything of quality was with the initial film back in 1993. Often looked upon fondly due to having a pre-Friends Jennifer Aniston in a starring role, even that first Leprechaun isn't particularly amazing.

Still, by comparison, the '93 picture is a masterpiece when compared to the dross which would come in later years for the franchise.

Leprechauns 2 and 3 were far from great, but they at least didn't go as outright bonkers - and not in a good way - as the films that followed them. That second movie had Warwick Davis' titular Lubdan on the lookout for love, and obviously his precious gold, while Leprechaun 3 took the action to the bright lights of Las Vegas. And there was where the franchise should've realised it had already outstayed its welcome.

Not just does Leprechaun 4: In Space do exactly what you'd imagine from that title, but it jumps ahead to the future year of 2096 and has Lep lusting after an alien princess. From there, Leprechaun in the Hood dumped our maniacal monster in a hip-hop setting alongside Ice T, and that in itself was followed by Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood - which has a similar premise to its predecessor but without any of the same characters.

2014's Leprechaun: Origins and 2018's Leprechaun Returns tried to breathe new life into the franchise - with another reboot currently in early development - but this is a series that never should've made it past its third film; and that's being generous.