Taste of Cinema

Pop Culture | Movies | 90s

10 Movie Sequels From The 90s That Were Embarrassingly Bad

Taste of Cinema

Let's be honest, most movie sequels are cringe worthy at most, and unimpressive at best.

A major motivator for follow-up films is money, but adding a second film to a legacy can end up backfiring on movie executives and dissatisfying die-hard fans.

The 90s was a fantastic decade for a slew of classic films, but also produced major bombs.

To save you time and disappointment, here are the top ten worst movie sequels of the era:

1. Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

The Blues Brothers was an excellent movie, unfortunately it's sequel was not. The chemistry between lead actors, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi was comedic genius. Sadly the latter  passed away in 1982 and John Goodman failed at being a decent replacement. Some say this film tarnishes the original film's iconic legacy.

2. Batman & Robin (1997)

Originally a dark, action-packed series, the fourth and final installment of the Batman movies was turned into a living cartoon by entertainment executives looking to make a quick buck. George Clooney even apologized for ruining the beloved superhero franchise.

3. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

While technically a prequel, this movie fails to sustain any of the original movie magic from the original cast. It also features the introduction of Jar Jar Brinks, a character fans have argued is the worst in the franchise's history.

4. The Godfather: Part III (1990)

Unlike the two other phenomenal films, the third Godfather movie falls short with mediocre writing and awful acting from Sofia Coppola. Director, producer, and writer Francis Ford Coppola originally refused to come back for another sequel but only did so after realizing he needed money. The film ultimately took a nosedive when he asked for six months to write the script, only to be given six weeks.

5. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Another movie unable to reach the brilliance of it's predecessor, the characters in The Lost World: Jurassic Park failed to be as likable or memorable as the original cast and omitted the sense of isolation the first film thrived off of. While there are more dinosaurs, the excitement of the ancient creatures have worn off.

6. Young Guns II (1990)

The western film is jam-packed with a mixture of poor acting and writing. With a superficial premise and a cast looking like they're playing dress up, it makes the original movie look like a masterpiece.

7. The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)

While the original Carrie flick contained the perfect combination of terror, suspense and empathy, the poorly made sequel fails to maintain the same quality or effort. It features plenty of redundant flashbacks and scenes filled with unnecessary angst.

8. Robo Cop 2 (1990)

Blatantly made to ride the coattails of the original Robo Cop, the sequel feels like a sleazy cash grab attempt. It's been argued the first film didn't require a series of follow-up movies, especially due to confusing plot lines of it's successors, primarily using Frank Miller's poorly written script as a scapegoat.

9. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

With Keanu Reeves abandoning the Speed sequel, it was almost a premonition the movie wouldn't succeed. The writing, plot line and characters received the most negative feedback from fans and critics alike. The movie veered off from the original film's style and originally, earning it eight Golden Raspberry nominations and the award for Worst Remake or Sequel.

10. Home Alone 3 (1997)

With the beloved Kevin McCallister switched out for an irritating replacement, the Home Alone series lost it's charming appeal. If the original cast moves on, it's unfathomable the two movies wouldn't be compared. Unfortunately for this sequel, it didn't contain any form of a saving grace.

What do you think about these movie sequels?