Hollywood is known for its sequels, prequels, and remakes. Every successful effort appears to get a sequel in the hopes that it would lead to even more success. It’s uncommon, but some sequels outperform the original, sometimes even outperforming it. The critically praised A Quiet Place Part 2 recently proved that, when done correctly, a sequel can be the proper way to go.
Sing 2
Sing, which was released in December 2016, was a surprise success for Universal. The film, which portrayed the story of a group of anthropomorphic animals who gathered for a singing competition, grossed more than $600 million at the box office and garnered mostly excellent reviews.
3rd installment of Sherlock Holmes
The last Sherlock Holmes film, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, was released over ten years ago. The possibility of a third film faded in the mid-2010s, but things heated up in 2019 when Warner Bros. revealed Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher as the film’s director.
However, by October 2020, Fletcher announced that a potential third picture was “waiting on the back burner.” Fletcher made those remarks in the midst of the pandemic, so it’s understandable that he’s concerned about the film’s future. In addition, Downey and his wife, Susan, declared in October their desire to develop the property and turn it into a franchise, with spin-offs and even an HBO Max series.
Last Wish of Puss in Boots
Puss in Boots is already a spin-off of the enormously popular Shrek franchise. The first film starring the orange Antonio Banderas-voiced cat was released in 2011 and grossed $555 million worldwide. The film garnered favorable reviews and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
The film took a long time to come to fruition. It was originally titled Puss in Boots: Nine Lives and 40 Thieves, with a release date of late 2018. The film obtained a new release date, September 2022, and two new directors in March 2021. Banderas will return to the role, but no additional casting announcements have been made.
3rd installment of Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon will reprise her iconic role in Legally Blonde 3. After the first film’s phenomenal success and the second’s lackluster result, plans for a third were put on hold until 2018, when Witherspoon came into negotiations to star in and produce it.
Act 3 of Sister Act
Whoopi Goldberg insisted for years that she would never reprise her role as Deloris van Cartier. She flatly rejected it during a 2013 visit on Watch What Happens Live. She altered her mind in the previous several years, and by 2018, she was actively seeking a third film.
During Disney Investor Day in December 2020, the company officially confirmed the third film, with Goldberg returning and Tyler Perry producing.
Enola Holmes No. 2
With the premiere of Enola Holmes in 2020, Netflix has earned a victory. Millie Bobby Brown played Sherlock’s younger sister in the film, which also starred Henry Cavill as the detective from Baker Street. Enola Holmes was a huge smash for the streaming service, and it is presently the eighth most-watched original film on Netflix, with an audience of 76 million households.
Death Note No. 2
No one would have predicted a sequel based on the success of Death Note. The film, which was released in 2017, garnered unfavorable reviews from critics and anime and manga enthusiasts. They claimed in 2018 that a sequel was in the works, with Greg Russo penning the screenplay.
Crazy Rich Asians Parts 2 and 3
Crazy Rich Asians, released in 2018, was a huge success for Warner Bros. It grossed $238 million worldwide and was well-regarded by reviewers and moviegoers. A sequel seemed inevitable, and in December 2018, producer Nina Jacobson revealed that two sequels would be shot back-to-back in 2020.
