10 Movie Sequels That Completely Flipped The Original
8. 22 Jump Street Switches Jenko And Schmidt's Roles
When 21 Jump Street hit our screens in 2012 it was a surprise sleeper hit, a rare action comedy which delighted audiences and critics alike with its winning cast, fresh writing, and the heart-warming chemistry between famous funnyman Jonah Hill and previously-unheralded comedic talent Channing Tatum (who knew the star of Step Up didn’t take himself too seriously?).
However, when it came time to follow up the flick two years later, viewers were understandably afraid that the first film’s formula would prove tired second time around. And they were right, which is why the writers flipped the expected dynamic on its head.
In the first film Hill’s Schmidt gets a taste of high school popularity and excludes his bestie Jenko, giving the former jock/bully a taste of his own medicine. By the time the second rolls around it’s Jenko who’s surprised to find himself popular in college due to his football prowess, and the roles are reversed as Tatum’s hero struggles not to leave out his isolated brother.
The formula flip was an impressive success, buoyed by hilarious writing and another superb supporting cast as well as a string of memorable scenes and set pieces, resulting in another stellar instalment for the franchise.