5. The Mask
The wacky Jim Carrey comedy of 1994 is the only film Carrey made that year in which he didn’t eventually make a sequel for. But it could be the one that deserves a Carrey sequel the most. Sure, we got The Son of the Mask, but the less said about that film the better, even with Scottish legend Alan Cummings supporting as the character of Loki.
But fans of the original have wanted an extension to the Stanley Ipkiss story for a long time. It wouldn’t be difficult. They establish that the mask comes back to Ipkiss should he ever try to get rid of it, so it wouldn’t be crazy to think he could get hold of it again.
The Mask was Carrey at his best, and with a slew of disappointing films under his belt lately, it would be nice to see him revisit the character. What Hollywood can do visually nowadays, compared to the 90s, it could be a feast for the eyes. Carrey is basically a cartoon as it is. And with modern effects at Hollywood’s disposal, a sequel sounds nothing short of an excellent idea.
4. Bubba Ho-Tep
What can be said about this film? It’s incredibly fun. Not a work of art sure, but so charming and satirical you can’t help but fall in love with it. What isn’t lovable about a movie featuring Elvis Presley fighting an ancient Egyptian evil? This flick displays just how good Bruce Campbell is, and the man certainly needs to be cast by Hollywood more often. At the end of the film, in true Bond fashion, the text reads, “Elvis returns in: Bubba Nosferatu ‘Curse of the She-Vampires’”.
We never got this second outing for Elvis, despite the loud cries from fans of the film. Yes it’s a cult movie, and yes, it will likely not make a huge amount of money. And yes, it might not be commercially or financially viable. But it’s what the people want. If you haven’t seen this film that’s a crying shame. This film deserves love. And if it gets enough, we might get to see Elvis fighting off vampires in a sequel.
3. District 9
This film has had mixed responses over the years, but like it or hate it, when one considers the issues involved in the production of the film, it’s quite the cinematic achievement. It was initially meant to be a movie adaption of the Halo games. But due to issues with the rights of the franchise, this was not meant to be. The filmmakers quickly drafted an original story and recycled the effects that they had been working on.
This culminated in a film that acts as an allegory to racism and does so in a satisfying, low budget, blockbuster sci-fi. Fans of the film have been desperate for a sequel since its release, hoping for the story to come full circle in a continuation.
It’s something the filmmakers have expressed interest in but there have been no announcements regarding pre-production. It’s a shame. The movie has a sufficient fan base to warrant a sequel, but it doesn’t seem likely. Hopefully, they will eventually see the light and get to work on completing the story.
2. Enter the Dragon
Had Bruce Lee not passed away before the release of this 1973 masterpiece, we may well have gotten a sequel based on its success and how universally loved it is. Unfortunately, it would seem disrespectful to his memory if a sequel was made now. It seems more likely that we would get a remake. This shouldn’t happen. The only way this could work involves jumping in a time machine, saving Bruce’s life, and encouraging him to work on a sequel. This is all hypothetical of course. But the dream lives on.
Enter the Dragon is an excellent piece of cinema. All the lines are quotable and well crafted. The action is beautifully choreographed. It’s a great example of transnational cinema. It was the first Hollywood funded film featuring a Chinese protagonist. In fact, China and Hollywood worked together to make this film. The cultural impact of this film couldn’t be more relevant and continues in the minds of fans. A sequel is something we want, but out of respect, it can’t be done.
1. Back to the Future
Last but not least, Back to the Future. Everyone enjoys these movies. So inoffensive and enjoyable for all. The script for the original has been taught to screenwriting students for years, as an example of the “perfect” screenplay. It has structure. Character development. Well timed pay-offs. It is great. It’s no surprise that the public wants more of these movies.
With Michael J. Fox now suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he has had to give up the movie industry to focus on himself. And Christopher Lloyd hasn’t been popular with Hollywood these last few years either. People would love to see them reunite in the Delorean, going on adventures through time. They have collaborated a few times for spoof trailers of sequels that will never happen, but this only numbs the craving for more rather than satisfying it.
However, if you are gagging for more Back to the Future action, they did make a sequel video game about ten years ago. The gameplay isn’t anything special, but the story is incredibly satisfying. The game acts as Back to the Future 4 AND 5. Two entwining stories that beautifully utilize the established world of the original franchise. So if you want to scratch that itch to go back in time with Doc and Marty, check out the game. I promise it’s worth the investment.
The story is far better than a video game deserves. The only issue is, you will be wishing they made an actual movie. Lloyd does return for the role of Doc, but unfortunately, Fox was unable to do the voice recording for Marty. But they both gave their permission for their likeness, and it’s nice seeing these beloved characters on a new adventure.
Any of these films would make some serious money at the box office with huge followings to back it up. Some of these films will never be made, some are very possible, and others would surprise us if they didn’t. With the way the industry has evolved, everything seems to be a sequel or remake of something we love.
It feels like Holywood want to tap into our nostalgia to make a sure hit, rather than creating anything original. This may very well be what is killing the movie industry. It’s becoming saturated with superhero films, fast cars, and nostalgia.
Familiarity is good of course, but when you are creating art, it is advisable to do something unique. When something is unique it will get noticed by more people. All of these movies were groundbreaking at the time, but since their release, we have seen the stories re-hashed and cobbled together over and over again in various other films.
If they make sequels, they should include what made the original so good, but they also need to offer something different. Without something unique, a movie sequel runs the risk of being underwhelming. Let’s pray that the in-production Bill and Ted sequel will be worth all the hype.