8 Movie Sequels That Ruined A Perfect Franchise Ending

James Whale accomplished the near-impossible with his Frankenstein films, delivering a first film that was an immediately revered classic (Frankenstein in 1931) and then following it up with a sequel that was even more highly regarded (Bride of Frankenstein in 1935).

To top it off, Bride of Frankenstein ended on an entirely perfect note in which Karloff's Monster, who had spent the entire film on a journey of self-discovery and searching for love, is rejected by the mate that Dr. Frankenstein has made for him. As a result, the Monster destroys the entire castle with him and the Bride inside, saying, "We belong dead".

A full-circle moment that closes out Whale's daring and innovative horror franchise in the best way imaginable, right?

Nope. Only four years later, Universal opted to continue the franchise without Whale, making Son of Frankenstein. The follow-up saw Dr. Frankenstein's son coming to the castle which is inexplicably still standing and finding the Monster buried in a casket alongside his father.

Not only does this narratively contradict pretty much every piece of the ending of Bride of Frankenstein, it's also just a smirch on the legacy of the brilliance of the prior two films. If one really needs a worthwhile Frankenstein threequel to round out the trilogy, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein is actually a far better and more fitting version of this same story.