Ordinarily, sequels originate from the same studios that developed the original film or by the same production teams. These projects also bring back a number of returning cast members to create consistency between films. However, there have been instances when other parties made continuations to popular movies, leaving fans a little baffled.
Most of these big screen offerings tend to be of lower quality too, but there are some notable exceptions. Among numerous unofficial follow-ups, a few have offered sensible continuations of stories involving Aliens and Terminators while still including many distinctive elements that made them stand out in their specific genres.
10 Titanic II (2002)
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Making a sequel to Titantic, one of the highest-grossing movies of all time was always going to be a monumental task, so James Cameron didn’t bother. After all, the story was a conclusive one. However, The Asylum decided to do it anyway, setting the story 100 years later, in a different luxury liner.
As lame as the effort might seem, Titanic II has great ecological themes. The disaster happens because of melting caused by global warming and even though the mayhem is exaggerated, the unfortunate occurrence seems like something that would happen in real life. Additionally, the dialogue is creatively written, with one of the most memorable quotes being “Looks like history is about to repeat itself.”
9 War. Inc (2008)
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As a political satire, War. Inc keenly dissects government corruption and the military-industrial complex while still offering numerous comical moments and amazing fight scenes. The performances are outstanding, thanks to the decision to pack in stars such as Ben Kingsley and John Cusack.
War. Inc also happens to be the most glaring unofficial sequel ever made. It shares every single theme and style with Grosse Point Blank. Furthermore, John Cusack plays an assassin once again, with Joan Cusack as his assistant and Dan Aykroyd as a supporting character. Even though there were doubts about whether the two movies were actually related, Joan Cusack later acknowledged that they indeed were (via The Guardian).
8 Terminator II (1989)
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Terminator 2: Judgement Day is a sequel that's better than the original movie, but it took too long to come out. During the gap between the two installments, indie filmmakers took advantage and told their own version of the story. Surprisingly, it was quite good.
Venice, Italy is the playground this time and fans once again meet Sarah Connor, who battles monsters via some well-choreographed fight sequences. She then escapes into the future, fleeing a Terminator keen on killing her. Numerous chases then follow, but the protagonist eventually comes out on top.
7 Never Say Never Again (1983)
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In a move that might have offended Roger Moore, Sean Connery returned to play James Bond at a time when the former was still contracted to portray the MI6 agent. Never Say Never Again is, therefore, not canon. It's not one of the most recommendable Bond offerings, but Never Say Never Again has all the components of a great spy movie.
Since Bond is older, he is more mature, hence he doesn’t use the same leap-before-looking strategy he is known for. He is more analytical than violent, and he goes easy on philandering. On top of that, the location choices are brilliant, allowing for the usual globetrotting and perfect views of picturesque landscapes.
6 The Slave (1962)
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Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus ends with the revolt leader’s death, so it appears like there is nowhere else to go. Still, Italian director Sergio Corbucci still found a creative way to continue the tale by introducing Spartacus’ fictional son named Randal.
Since the Roman Empire is still at its peak when Spartacus dies, Corbucci makes the gladiator's son the new hero and inserts him into actual real-life tales involving Julius Cesar and other prominent members of the regime. Randal’s story is also more fascinating because of the allegiance switch. He starts out working for the Romans only to realize the error of his ways and lead a charge that matches that of his father in magnitude.
5 Alien 2: On Earth (1980)
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Aliens also counts as one of the most breathtaking sci-fi sequels but some of its revenue might have been snatched by the makers of Alien 2, which some fans thought was the actual follow-up. True to the title, the movie differentiates itself from the actual franchise by setting the events on Earth.
Even so, the heart of the story remains. There is a new badass female protagonist as the iconic Ripley is still stuck somewhere in space. She thus gets to obliterate extraterrestrials just as Dan O'Bannon’s character did. The film isn’t without the usual sci-fi clichés either, but events remain entertaining enough to make any viewer ignore the flaws.
4 Zombi 2 (1979)
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The chaos in Zombi 2 unfolds on a Caribbean island where dead people keep coming back as zombies. The continuation follows up on the events of George A. Romero's masterpiece, Dawn of the Dead, and even though there is a gulf in quality, the unofficial sequel serves enough scares to make it consumable to horror fans.
The horror flick’s quality relies on the missing attempts to dial down on the gore. Most scenes are gross and sometimes difficult to watch, but that makes things all the more interesting. Zombi 2 actually birthed its own franchise.
3 My Sassy Girl 2 (2010)
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My Sassy Girl is credited with popularizing the Korean film industry. Surprisingly, its sequel came from China. While not as thematically robust as the original film, My Sassy Girl 2 has plenty of heartwarming moments to satisfy fans of the romance genre.
The rom-com is also a great female empowerment tool. Women are generally depicted as more proactive and ambitious than men but in no way does the other gender get demeaned. On top of that, numerous visual gags make the movie enjoyable for people of all backgrounds.
2 My Blue Heaven (1990)
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Goodfellas is not only one of the best 90s gangster movies but also sits at the zenith of the genre as a whole. Its story ends with Henry Hill going into witness protection after becoming a turncoat and that’s where My Blue Heaven picks up.
Instead of trying to replicate Martin Scorsese’s stylish violence, the unofficial sequel opts for laughter. The comedy shows the antihero having martial problems soon after he gains a new secret residence from the government. Consequently, themes of love and friendship remain more dominant than crime.
1 Happily Ever After (1989)
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Happily Ever After’s release led to a lawsuit from the Walt Disney Company. Thankfully, that was resolved, allowing fans of the classic Snow White tales to enjoy the sequel which is full of amazing musical numbers and neat animation that matches what the giant studio always offers.
The music is indeed the strongest element, with songs such as "Love Is the Reason” by John Lewis Parker and "Thunderella's Song" by Richard Kerr sticking to the viewer’s mind. Additionally, all the supporting characters are well-developed which prevents audiences from only rooting for Snow White.