10 Horror Movie Sequels Nobody Wanted…. But Everyone Loved
Follow-up films that easily surpassed expectations!
Despite frequently making more money than their predecessors, movie sequels aren’t always welcomed with open arms. In fact, many are met with apathy and confusion – if not disdain – as soon as they’re announced.
Of course, there can be some good reasons for that, such as the original film(s) being so beloved and significant that the mere thought of adding to the legacy is seen as sacrilegious.
On the other hand, maybe those earlier titles were so critically and/or commercially underwhelming that it feels foolish to try again. In more recent years, there’s also been the rise of “legacy sequels” arriving decades later with the presumed purpose of solely being nostalgia-fueled cash grabs.
No matter the motivation, these films leave many cinemagoers asking, “Who is this for?”
As the ten superb follow-ups on this list prove, however, first impressions can be misguided. Regardless of whether they were desired or even necessary, each of them justified their existence and earned plenty of praise from countless viewers.
(Also, note that although some of these titles are narrative prequels, they still count because they came after other entries in their series.)
For film lovers, it’s simply never felt so good to be so wrong.
10. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
The original A Nightmare on Elm Street was a significant success upon its release (in 1984), garnering a lot of love from casual audiences and critics while also heightening the profiles of writer/director Wes Craven and Freddy Kreuger actor Robert Englund.
In contrast, successor Freddy’s Revenge (shoved out less than a year later and without the involvement of Craven) was much less appreciated. The chief reasons were its almost complete disconnection from its predecessor – including altering the rules, tone, and mythos Craven established – and inferior acting, directing, and storytelling.
Obviously, Freddy’s Revenge has received more love in hindsight, but at the time, it did little to generate excitement and validation for more movies.
That’s why it was such a pleasant surprise that said third entry – Dream Warriors – delighted skeptics and detractors alike when it emerged in 1987.
Co-written by Craven and the great Frank Darabont (and directed by the great Chuck Russell), it was a huge improvement because of its stellar characters, engaging connections to the original, poignant social commentaries, mischievous villain, and imaginative set pieces.
Beyond that, Dream Warriors helped turn Freddy into a wisecracking pop culture icon, and many people now deem it the best of the series.