The general definition of a movie sequel is that it carries the same—or similar—narrative forward, sometimes incorporating new cast members or changing the setting. Another criterion is that the sequel usually takes place after the original story (in chronological terms). They also have the potential to turn into a series should producers happen to believe in the franchise's marketability.

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Movie sequels are often given the same titles as their predecessors (with a number or a subtitle attached), but there have been examples that change the name entirely—like Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that sequels either fail to capture the spirit of the original films or just completely deviate from the concept.

10 Mean Girls 2 (2011) Fails To Match Its Predecessor's Sass

Mean Girls 2

The combination of Tina Fey, Rachel McAdams, and Lindsay Lohan was responsible for a large part of Mean Girls' original charm, something that didn't really hold true for its sequel.

The mediocre route taken by Mean Girls 2 endeared the movie to neither audience nor critics, with EW bluntly referring to it as a "thinly veiled, low-budget remake of the 2004 hit with which it shares a name." Rehashing the same tropes makes for a very stale story.

9 Jurassic World (2015) Misses The Point Of Spielberg's Version

Jurassic World Chris Pratt

According to The Guardian, Jurassic World was a "terrifically enjoyable and exciting summer spectacular," but the AP had their own reasons for claiming that it contains none of the "deft sense of wonderment, wit and suspense that guided the original."

There is something to be said about the negative critical interpretations of Jurassic World—it is unable to fully manifest the thrill and clarity of the first movie, despite being the second in the franchise to be set on Isla Nublar.

8 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) Is Riddled With Plotholes

The Lion King II Kiara and Kovu

While the sequel to The Lion King (1994) followed the story with a believable degree of accuracy, there are plot scenarios that simply don't add up. For instance, introducing Kovu, Scar's hitherto unknown son, made no sense given that he wasn't mentioned during Simba's return to Pride Rock.

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For all intents and purposes, Simba's Pride can be categorized as a half-decent sequel that didn't match up to its predecessor in terms of musical score or narrative consistency.

7 Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) Flops Miserably Without John Belushi

The Blues Brothers 2000

The Blues Brothers (1980) was favorably reviewed when first released, slowly growing to become the cult masterpiece it is today—helped, of course, by spectacular performances from Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, as well as Carrie Fisher.

On the other hand, Blues Brothers 2000 replaced John Belushi with John Goodman; an excellent choice that ultimately did not have the same level of impact on audiences.

6 Jaws: The Revenge (1987) Takes The Thrill Out Of The Shark Hunt

Movies Jaws: The Revenge

Spielberg's Jaws (1975) defined the era of the Hollywood summer blockbuster, permanently changing the way movies were released and marketed.

Its first direct sequel, Jaws 2 (1978), somehow managed to capture the morbid atmosphere of the first movie, but the next installment, Jaws: The Revenge, achieved rather rare notoriety. Roger Ebert called it "not simply a bad movie, but also a stupid and incompetent one." The very idea of logic is a farce in this narrative, and fans of the franchise would be better off ignoring it entirely.

5 S. Darko (2009) Is A Feeble Copy Of Donnie Darko (2001)

S. Darko- A Donnie Darko Tale

Donnie Darko is one of the most iconic cult movies of the 21st century, not least because of Jake Gyllenhaal's thoroughly eerie role as the titular character. The so-called sequel was released 8 years later, repeating the themes of the original but switching the protagonist to Samantha Darko, Donnie's sister.

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First of all, there was no reason for Donnie Darko to even have a sequel, because it works much better as a standalone story, anyway. More importantly, S. Darko is far too incoherent to fit into the bizarre reality created by Richard Kelly.

4 American Psycho 2 (2002) Subverts The First Movie (But Terribly)

American Psycho 2 Mila Kunis

Bret Easton Ellis' controversially brilliant novel was turned into an equally ingenious movie starring Christian Bale (a serial killer whose life of murder undercuts the ennui he experiences as an investment banker in NYC). While polarizing, American Psycho became a mainstay in the cult circuit, accruing a horde of dedicated fans.

Its sequel, titled American Psycho II: All American Girl, was supposed to be a different project but was re-edited into what most critics considered a travesty, according to MTV.

3 Home Alone 2 (1992) Is Subtitled Lost In New York

Home Alone 2 with Donald Trump

Based on the success of the first Home Alone (1990), it made sense to create a franchise using Macaulay Culkin's adorable star power.

Of course, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York seemingly forgot that there is a big difference between being left behind at home and lost in one of the largest cities in the world. The sequel is almost as charming as the original, but the thematic mismatch between the first and second movies is quite evident.

2 Return To The Blue Lagoon (1991) Meddles With the Original's Ending

Return to the Blue Lagoon Lilli & Richard hugging

The Blue Lagoon (1980) obtained considerable backlash for its almost unbelievable concept—a pair of young children marooned on an island who later grow up to become lovers. As shocking as it may sound, the sequel received far worse critical assessment (and turned out to be a massive flop at the box office).

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Notably, Return to the Blue Lagoon failed to stay true to its own worldbuilding. As critic Roger Ebert wrote about the first movie, the supposedly shipwrecked protagonists "live in a hut that looks like a Club Med honeymoon cottage." The ridiculousness of the idea is significantly worse in the sequel.

1 Book of Shadows (2000) Tramples All Over The Indie Genius Of The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project 2

The Blair Witch Project is responsible for expanding the possibilities available to the horror genre, practically inventing the found-footage cinematic approach. Its semi-sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, is a disastrous testament to the conflict between directorial planning and studio meddling.

This movie was not as unique as its predecessor and was accused of weak and ambiguous narrative depth by the major critics of the time. Book of Shadows has been getting some positive contemporary attention, though.

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