10 Sequels That Contradicted The Previous Movie's Message
Anyone can be a Jedi, until you can't....
A film's goal is to resolve plotlines during its running time and finish its characters' numerous arcs. Some movies go the extra mile, however, by having an overarching message that ties the movie in a neat little bow. Whether subtle or not, these consist of simple Aesops or even deep moral stances that the filmmakers will try to impart to their audience.
But when it comes to making sequels, these follow-ups can end up contradicting their predecessor due to a handful of reasons.
For one, the previous movie may have been conclusive and left the story nowhere to go. Because of this, its follow-up will undo the last film just so it can extend the narrative, however jarring it may be. Another reason is due to a change in filmmakers. A new writer or director can have different thoughts on where the story may progress, and in doing so, can end up clashing with what their predecessors were trying to say.
Ultimately, this can lead to two films going against one another, with the end resulting making their respective franchises feel inconsistent.
10. Avengers: Infinity War
While Thor may have one of the best entrances in the Battle of Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War, it comes at the cost of going against what his previous outing was trying to say.
In Thor: Ragnarok, one of the most significant plot points is when the God of Thunder loses Mjolnir to Hela, who easily breaks it. This forces our hero to assemble a team that can defeat the Goddess of Death, and during a critical moment he receives some helpful advice from Odin.
The Allfather tells his son that the hammer does not define him and that Mjolnir was only meant to harness his abilities, not limit them. This gives Thor the push he needs and, in a sequence set to Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song, he goes full force as he tears through his sister's undead army.
Cut to the next film and we see our hero try to find a new weapon to stop Thanos. Sure, Stormbreaker is great, but it undoes Ragnarok as the film kept making it a point that Thor has to rely on himself to find his true potential.