A couple of years ago I read an article listing the various incarnations that film follow ups take, sequels, prequels, sidequels, and so on. The amount of sequels spawned nowadays is definitely larger than in earlier decades and the rate of reboots is becoming almost parody.
But the one thing that has always annoyed me is the speed in which sequels are announced. Sequels used to be announced after the film was finished it's run on the home market, then it came at the end of the cinema run. If the film made enough bank then a sequel was greenlit, even without a script, or story. Now sequels are announced not after the opening weekend but after the first night indicators. That's right, indicators of projected box office. Anyone remember what happened to Enron when they tried that?
I know the movie industry is a business first and foremost but you have to wonder at the nature and quality of intent in a project who's sole basis for inception is how much profit you can make.
Look at the top thirty box office globally, twenty-four of them are franchises. This is the number one reason why sequels are continuously made and films rebooted. Familiarity. Cinema is more expensive than ever now and it makes sense for people to spend their money in places they are more sure about spending it. It's like going into a restaurant and ordering something you've had before because if you order something else you might just have paid for the pleasure of sitting down to something you don't like. Also, kids. Kids can make and break franchises and films are relentlessly marketed towards them, even ones that shouldn't be. Look at Wolverine, that should have been a hardcore action smash up but instead it was safe, muted and a a bit lame. Why? Because Hugh Jackman pushed for a PG13 rating to secure a higher box office by cornering the kids market. So the choice was, a hardcore action film with a lower budget that would still make a fair amount of bank due to already existing familiarity in a well liked character or a family friendly audience tested wet blanket to try and ensure a kids market.
Sequels are fine, sometimes good. But they should only ever be written with these basic tenets in mind.
1. Is the story finished? Is there more story to tell?
2. Were any of the characters so interesting as to warrant seeing more of their world?
That's it. That's all you need. Now I know that we will always have simple retreads for box office sake but why can't those retreads be more like Terminator 2 than the Mummy Returns?
And Hollywood, quit announcing sequels to films that people haven't even seen yet and that you don't even have written yet. It's bugs people. I think.