Recently we were visiting with WoC’s family in Alabama. One day, while hanging out with my brother-in-law, Charles, we got to talking about movies (who would have imagined?). The conversation turned to which movie was the worst sequel of all-time. He leaned towards the movie Rocky II, while I suggested the 5th Die Hard or 4th Indiana Jones movie. This of course got me thinking…..what is, statistically, the worst sequel ever made?
On our long drive home (Alabama to Virginia), I was mentally putting together a list of movies that could earn the title…Worst Sequel Ever. Finally, I came up with my hypothesis….Speed 2: Cruise Control. When we got home, I started a massive search through our UltimateMovieRankings (UMR) movie database (36,908 movies). I quickly realized Speed 2: Cruise Control would not be the winner (or is it loser?). Actually, when we were done with our research, Speed 2 was not even in the Top 10.
Our database, ranks movies using box office results, critic and audience reviews and award recognition. The following 10 movies had the largest discrepancy between the original movie and the sequel that followed. Ok…enough exposition….let’s get to the Top 10.
Dumb and Dumber (1994) earned $543.62 million in adjusted worldwide box office. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) earned $58.41 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 10.68% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Dumb and Dumber (1994) a review rating of 62.24%…..the sequel sits at 30.44%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 3,189th best movie, while the sequel,, is ranked as the 34,997th best movie….that is a difference of 31,808….which makes Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003) the 10th worst sequel ever.
Caddyshack (1980) earned $144.36 million in adjusted domestic box office. Caddyshack II (1988) earned $25.74 million in adjusted domestic box office. That is 17.83% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Caddyshack (1980) a review rating of 73.50%…..the sequel sits at 16.70%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 3,971st best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,708th best movie (or 200th worst) movie….that is a difference of 32,737….which makes Caddyshack II (1988) the 9th worst sequel ever.
Police Academy (1984) earned $216.77 million in adjusted domestic box office. Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow (1994) earned $0.27 million in adjusted domestic box office. That is less than 1% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Police Academy (1984) a review rating of 60.52%…..the sequel sits at 28.00%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 3,425th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,623rd best movie (or 285th worst) movie….that is a difference of 33,198….which makes Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow (1994) the 8th worst sequel ever.
Basic Instinct (1992) earned $762.83 million in adjusted worldwide box office. Basic Instinct 2 (2006) earned $52.66 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 6.90% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Basic Instinct (1992) a review rating of 59.70%…..the sequel sits at 25.30%. Basic Instinct (1992) picked up two Oscar® nominations….the sequel got no Oscar® love. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 3,240th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,645th best movie (or 263rd worst) movie….that is a difference of 33,405….which makes Basic Instinct 2 (2006) the 7th worst sequel ever.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) earned $440.76 million in adjusted worldwide box office. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) earned $79.44 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 18.02% of the original. Critics and audiences gave The Blair Witch Project (1999) a review rating of 80.70%…..the sequel sits at 28.50%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 1,302nd best movie, while the sequel,, is ranked as the 35,058th best movie….that is a difference of 33,756….which makes Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000) the 6th worst sequel ever.
The Mask (1994) earned $772.95 million in adjusted worldwide box office. Son of the Mask (2005) earned $83.97 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 10.86% of the original. Critics and audiences gave The Mask (1994) a review rating of 68.70%…..the sequel sits at 22.50%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 2,280th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,579th best movie….that is a difference of 34,299….which makes Son of the Mask (2005) the 5th worst sequel ever.
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) earned $509.79 million in adjusted domestic box office. Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) earned $16.70 million in adjusted domestic box office. That is 3.27% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Smokey and the Bandit (1977) a review rating of 56.80%…..the sequel sits at 24.50%. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 2,258th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,579th best movie (or 200th worst) movie….that is a difference of 34,321….which makes Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) the 4th worst sequel ever.
The Karate Kid (1984) earned $242.44 million in adjusted domestic box office. The Next Karate Kid (1994) earned $19.59 million in adjusted domestic box office. That is 8.08% of the original. Critics and audiences gave The Karate Kid (1984) a review rating of 75.70%…..the sequel sits at 25.00%. The Karate Kid (1984) picked up one Oscar® nomination…..the sequel got no Oscar® love. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 1,646th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,472nd best movie….that is a difference of 34,826…which makes he Next Karate Kid (1994) the 3rd worst sequel ever.
Jaws (1975) earned $2.07 BILLION in adjusted worldwide box office. Jaws: The Revenge (1987) earned $119.02 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 5.74% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Jaws (1975) a review rating of 93.70%…..the sequel sits at 24.30%. Jaws (1975) picked up four Oscar® nominations (including a Best Picture nomination…it won 3 Oscars®)….the sequel got 7 Razzie® nominations. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 143rd best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 35,549th best movie….that is a difference of 35,406….which makes Jaws: The Revenge (1987) the 2nd worst sequel ever.
Superman (1978) earned $1.15 BILLION in adjusted worldwide box office. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) earned $68.35 million in adjusted worldwide box office. That is 5.42% of the original. Critics and audiences gave Superman (1978) a review rating of 88.30%…..the sequel sits at 23.00%. Superman (1978) picked up three Oscar® nominations….the sequel got no Oscar® love. In our UMR movie data base, the original is ranked as the 712th best movie, while the sequel, is ranked as the 36,217th best movie….that is a difference of 35,505….which makes Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) the WORST SEQUEL EVER.
When I think of the ‘worst sequels ever’ two immediately spring to mind- Jaws the Revenge & Superman IV. Glad you included them in your top 10.
So as the title makes clear this is based on box office stats not degrees of awfulness though some of these movies are definitely awful.
Trying to think of others… Independence Day 2 was pretty bad, so was Pacific Rim 2.
Staying Alive? sequel to Saturday Night Fever. Grease 2? Rocky V?
Interesting topic. Vote Up!
Hey Steve….glad the two that immediately came to your mind, are out Top 2 picks.
Mmmm….let me see how some of your other movies did
Independence Day is our 2,491 best movie…while ID2 is our 15,648 best movie…..for a difference of 13,157
Rocky is our 73rd best movie….while Rocky V is our 20,192nd best movie for a difference of 20,119
Saturday Night Fever is our 915th best movie….while Staying Alive is our 13,715 best movie for a difference of 12,800….Staying Alive was a box office success even with it’s dismal reviews.
Grease is 1,288th best movie while Grease 2 is our 29,423 best movie…for a difference of 28,135…..which is pretty close to our Top 10.
Thanks again for the comment, visit and suggestions.
I’m a little confused by what all the ellipses are trying to say.
Past that I think this is an interesting article. I would only disagree with the premise in one way: This data appears to be “the worst sequel compared to the first movie in the franchise” instead of either “the worst movie that is a sequel”, or “the worst sequel compared to its previous movie in the series”. Both of those, I’d argue, are worth testing for and make more sense for the headline.
Hey Bobby……felt I need to use our database to answer the question which was worst statistically speaking. I originally was only going to include the first sequel…..but every list I looked at included all sequels in a franchise. Your suggested titles are good ones….they are just too long for titles….especially when looking at SEO title rules. I appreciate the feedback.
I haven’t even seen most of these originals! You would have thought they would have taken the hint the first time.
Thanks for checking and commenting Katie….your feedback is greatly appreciate it. Some of these sequels are pretty good…Jaws, The Karate Kid, Superman, Caddyshack and Basic Instinct…were all “event movies” back in the day. Good stuff.
I have not seen any of the sequels on this list.
I have, however, seen 5 of the original movies. In order of preference they are:
Jaws
The Karate Kid
Smokey and the Bandit
Basic Instinct
Caddyshack
My favourite sequel ever is Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Hey Flora…..thanks for checking out this sequel page…especially since many are pretty recent movies. 5 of the 10 originals is not bad at all…and lucky for you that your total is zero for the sequels mentioned. Of the 20 movies….I have seen 17 of the 20…..only missing horrible sequels Mask 2, Police Academy 7 and Karate Kid 3. Good feedback.
Interesting way too rank these movies. Not to be so needy but how did some of the other movies mentioned rank, Die Hard 5, Indy 4 and Rocky 2? As for the ten listed, truly some god awful movies.
Thanks Steve. Glad you liked this breakdown. I will see if I can add some stats for some other sequels……the ones mentioned…actually made lots of money…..which helped their UMR score…which kept them off this list.