Plenty of movie franchises overstay their welcome , and two film is often enough to see whether a franchise has a viable future . The first continuation often dictate whether a franchise can be more than just one smashing picture . For good example , John Wickwas designed as a standalone movie , but its first subsequence set up an challenging story that necessitated an total franchise . For everyJohn Wick , there are many more franchise which deliver underwhelming sequels .

Not all movie should set up long - running franchises , and not all franchises should be design to continue indefinitely . There are plenty of franchises with just two or three movies that are the double-dyed distance . Unfortunately , studios do n’t always know when to quit . There ’s an artistic creation to knowing the right time to call it renounce , and a lot of film franchises would be held in high regard if they had arrest at just two movies .

10The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola’s Masterpiece Didn’t Need Its Coda

Francis Ford Coppola make the great duology in the history of film withThe GodfatherandThe Godfather Part IIin the 1970s , but the third movie in the series is often derided asthe ultimate case of an unneeded sequel . The Godfather Part IIIisn’t quite as badas some people make it out to be , and it ’s worth call back that it was nominated for Best Picture . However , it still constitutes a massive let - down .

There are some great second , but ultimatelyPart IIItaints the impeccable legacy of theGodfatherseries .

The first twoGodfathermovies tell the fib of Michael Corleone ’s turn of events toward a life of violent crime , and it masterfully contrasts his journey with that of his father . Released 16 years later , The Godfather Part IIImeanders a niggling while it struggles to arrive up with a story half as captivate . There are some gravid moments , but ultimately it defile the impeccable bequest of theGodfatherseries .

A composite image of Eddie Murphy smiling while looking over his shoulder and Donkey from Shrek grinning broadly

9Home Alone

Macaulay Culkin’s Exit Changed The Franchise

TheHome Alonefranchisenever deal to recover from Macaulay Culkin ’s exit , and even the 2021 reboot fell flat . Home Aloneand its first sequel ask a lot of Culkin , buthe grapple to keep things compelling and funny , which is no well-off effort for such a untried actor . The franchise attempt to keep on going after he left the character of Kevin McCallister behind , but the quality cursorily dropped off a drop-off .

AlthoughHome Sweet Home Alonecounts as an improvement on the franchise ’s bad picture show , it does n’t come tight to refer the first two movies .

After three paltry sequels that conk out to recapture the conjuration of the first twoHome Alonemovies , the dealership came back with a 2021 reboot starring some great comedic actor , include Rob Delaney and Aisling Bea . AlthoughHome Sweet Home Alonecounts as an improvement on the franchise ’s worst movies , it does n’t come close to touching the first two movies . Home AloneandHome Alone 2 : Lost in New Yorkwill probably continue in the Christmas gyration for many days . The franchise should have renounce at that .

Fox’s X-Men Movies side-by-side image, including Storm, Jean Grey, Mystique, Wolverine, Deadpool, Apocalypse, Magneto, and Angel

8Shrek

Shrek Is Still Kicking Somehow

TheShrekfranchise often revolutionize a argumentation about which of the first two flick is the best . WhileShrekhas Lord Farquaad , a perfectly insurgent fairy story story and Donkey ’s hilarious love affair with the Dragon , Shrek 2introduces more great characters like Puss in Boots and the Fairy Godmother . The subsequent twoShrekmovies never move into the conversation , since they ’re such a unsatisfying footstep - down in quality .

The Shrek franchise continues to uprise with the declaration of a trade name - new spinoff that will focus on the beloved Eddie Murphy quality , Donkey .

Shrek the ThirdandShrek Forever Aftersimply work out of juice , fail to occur up with a story that ’s as exciting and vital for the fictional character . WithShrek 5 in developing , it ’s potential that the franchise could continue this downward trend . The one reason to be optimistic aboutShrek 5isPuss in Boots : The Last Wish , the 2022 spinoff that delivered the enfranchisement ’s biggest jest and most thrilling activeness sinceShrek 2.IfShrek 5can mixture in the same fixings , it could revive a flailing franchise .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

7Scream

Scream’s Self-Parody Has Been Pushed To Breaking Point

The long - runningScreamfranchise has produced some effective movies in late years , but none have been quite as exciting as the first two . WithScream7on the manner , the enfranchisement looks probable to uphold its salubrious boxful office staff returns despite some behind - the - tantrum arguing . However , even ifScream 7and any likely continuation turn out to be bang-up slashers , it ’s nigh impossible for them to recapture what made the first two movies so special .

The long - runningScreamfranchise has produced some undecomposed movies in recent years , but none have been quite as exciting as the first two .

The firstScreamis an exciting blend of mystery and repugnance , but what relieve oneself it stand out is the way it deconstructs the slasher genre . screaming 2takes this one step further with the in - universeStabfranchise , awitty self - parody that satirizesScream ’s satire . After this , Screamdevolved into exactly what it had been mimic , without the intelligent mode of ego - cognizance . Screamstill makes playfulness of its similarity to the excessive and redundantStabfranchise , but this is n’t quite enough to excuse its own existence .

Imagery-from-Home-Alone-and-X-Men

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

6Terminator

The Terminator Franchise Doesn’t Work As Well Without James Cameron

James Cameron delivered back - to - back bona fide action classics with the first twoTerminatormovies , but the enfranchisement could n’t corroborate this impulse after Cameron relinquished directorial duties . It probably did n’t facilitate that the thirdTerminatormovie came follow a 12 - class fracture . The franchise has never been able to get back to its best in the 21st century , despite several attempts .

The franchise has never been able to get back to its respectable in the twenty-first century , despite several attempts .

Each newTerminatorsequel comes on a moving ridge of hype , but the franchise ’s repeated failures stand for that more and more trepidation is creeping in among the sports fan base . Cameron has confirmed thatTerminator 7is in the other stages of development , but neither Arnold Schwarzenegger nor Linda Hamilton will be turn back . No matter how the subsequence form up , it seems unlikely that it will be as lively or meaningful as the enfranchisement ’s first two movies .

Movies

5The Hangover

One Sequel Was Acceptable, But Two Was Unwise

Comedy sequels are notoriously unmanageable , and there are very few comedies which can sustain intact franchise while stay on funny and surprising the whole way through . The Hangover ’s huge box office succeeder meant that a sequel was always a possibility , even if the assumption did n’t call for one . One sequel should have been enough . It was worth seeing whether the enfranchisement could reinvent itself and keep the laughs coming , but the results of this experimentation did n’t justify a third movie .

It was deserving discover whether the franchise could reinvent itself and keep the joke coming , but the results of this experimentation did n’t guarantee a third movie .

It ’s loose to say in hindsight thatThe Hangovernever should have had a subsequence , although this belief course takes the end product into business relationship . The Hangover Part IIIwas unambiguously a spoiled idea . Without refresh up the recipe , the threequel stood little chance of achiever . Despite a drawing string of terrible reviews , there have been rumor about a potentialHangover 4for a while .

4Kingsman

Kingsman Started Strong But Quickly Fell Apart

Thefuture of theKingsmanfranchiseremains in limbo , with conflicting reports about whether the third movie in the master plot line will ever be made . If there are no further moving picture , the franchise ’s death will be assign to the disappointing spinoff , The King ’s Man . The prequel looks at the founding of the Kingsman Agency during the First World War , with a bizarre plot that insinuate that the fundamental shape of the war were all part of some vague conspiracy .

If there are no further movies , the dealership ’s death will be attributed to the disappointing spinoff , The King ’s Man .

The King ’s Manends with the strange post - credits vamper of a World War II - based sequel , as a untested Adolf Hitler steps into the luminance . If certain reports are true , this is the final image of a dealership that started so strongly before veering off into cockeyed spy - fi . Kingsman : The Secret Serviceis a brainy action at law drollery . The Golden Circledoesn’t reach the same peak , and it should have been signal as a word of advice sign that the franchise did n’t have as much in the armored combat vehicle as the first flick suggests .

3X-Men

X-Men Eventually Bounced Back

AMarvelX - Menmovieis officially in the whole kit and caboodle , and it ’s already becoming one of the MCU ’s most heatedly - anticipate project ever . There ’s a lot that the MCU can determine from the Fox StudiosX - Menmovies , both positive and negative , but Marvel will also be keen to put their own stamp on the lineament . TheX - Menfranchise go through some turbulent ups and down at Fox , and it seemed at one full point as if it top out too soon .

The X - Men movie enfranchisement has spanned many twelvemonth , spinoffs , and different reactions - comprise some of the best and worst superhero film to appointment .

2000’sX - Menand 2003’sX2were the franchise ’s only good movies for a long time . X - Men : The Last StandandX - Men Origins : Wolverineset the dealership on a downward flight . Fortunately , the dealership undergo a successful reboot with mostly new actors entering the fold . Again , thing drip off after an telling starting . Marvel will be hoping for a longer period of sustained winner .

2Men In Black

Men In Black Has Repeatedly Failed To Reinvent Itself

The originalMen in Blackis a hilarious sci - fi comedy that adopt heavily from the brother cop genre . Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones equilibrate each other out perfectly , and their unlikely chemical science is a joy to watch . The first movie end by setting up a sequel that never occur , as Agent K leaves to enjoy his retreat , and his protégée Agent J begin to mentor Agent L. Surprisingly , Linda Fiorentino is nowhere to be seen inMen in Black II .

The first continuation lacked the excitation of the first movie , and the franchise should have ended there .

Jones and Smith ’s uproarious dynamic turned out to be too good to ignore , andMen in Black IIconcocted a means for them to team up up once again . The subsequence lack the excitement of the first movie , and the franchise should have ended there . Men in Black 3tried to freshen things up with a time - change of location plot , andMen in Black : International ’s full reboot was just as unsatisfying . The dealership now seems dead for good , but it was dragged out for far too long .

1Alien

The Alien Franchise Struggled After Its First Sequel

TheAlienfranchise started with two sci - fi classics , each with their own strengths and unique style . Alienis a tense horror movie with a mysterious brute permit sluttish on a spaceship full of potential victim , whileAliensis a gun - toting eighties spud ‘em up . IfAlienhad ended things there , it could have had an unblemished disc , but the potential for more report was always run to be hard to resist .

IfAlienhad ended things after two movies , it could have had an unblemished record .

The franchise ’s trouble began withAlien 3.Unlike James Cameron’sAliens , Alien 3failed to bring a new linear perspective to the story , and it was criticise as being derivative and timid . There have been many more revolutionaryAliensequels in the 21st hundred , but not all of them have been democratic . The assorted response toAlien : Romulussums up how far the franchise has fall .