10 Movies that deserved a sequel but never got one 

Movies have a special way of connecting with the audience and staying with them for a long time. Their world-building, vivid characters, and surreal plotlines often create cult followings and forge lasting emotional connections. They leave us craving more—often in the form of a sequel. They instigate curiosity and inspire nostalgia and comfort. But our wishes do not always come true, and we are left wondering and daydreaming about what could have happened. Here is a list of 10 movies across several genres that totally deserved a sequel in the eyes of the fans but never actually got one.

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10 Movies that deserved a sequel but never got one

1) Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan-directed super hit film Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is among the top-ranking movies of all time. This science fiction managed to build a world so intricate that we, as an audience, often lost our grip between what is reality and what is illusion. Despite its acclaim, it ended on an ambiguous note, dividing the world about what actually was the fate of Dom Cobb—if he ever managed to escape the dream world or not.

Since then, it has been the subject of many conspiracy theories that tried dissecting scenes for hints that might suggest a conclusion. However, the answer remains unknown. Fans were really eager for a sequel, as the story and characters had too much potential. But as it stands, the director—Sir Christopher Nolan—believes it should remain a standalone, as the mystery is what makes it so compelling.

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2) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Back in 1982, when E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released, it created a unique bond with the audience. The beauty with which it presents the innocence of childhood and the empathy and emotional bonding ability that children possess leaves a lasting impact. It is considered one of the best movies, directed by Steven Spielberg, who truly managed to create a world of wonder and magic.

The movie received commercial and cultural success, and it is because of these achievements that the audience has been in hopes of a sequel ever since. But the decision rested with the director. Spielberg felt that the movie ended on a perfect note, and creating a sequel just for commercial sake poses the risk of tarnishing its legacy. Hence, to this day, it remains a standalone.

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3) Se7en (1995)

David Fincher’s Se7en, starring big names like Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, and Gwyneth Paltrow, is another blockbuster with an intriguing and unique plot. The story is about two detectives trying to uncover and stop a serial killer who has made it his life’s mission to kill people who have committed crimes resonating with the seven deadly sins.

A sequel to this cult classic thriller would have broken records. Fans would have loved to see the detective universe expand, exploring darker philosophical themes and human despair. In fact, several studio proposals were made, including one titled Ei8ht. However, both director David Fincher and lead actor Brad Pitt rejected it, believing a sequel could never do justice to the original plotline.

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4) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

No coming-of-age comedy has captured the same rebellious, charming, and heartwarming spirit as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. With Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara in the lead, it celebrates making the most of every moment. The movie had a tremendous potential for a spinoff. Because the first part took place in high school, a sequel showing Ferris in college or an office tackling adult life could have been compelling. It could have appealed to both longtime fans and a new generation.

Despite the high demand for a sequel, John Hughes firmly believed that the movie was phenomenal on its own, and adding to it any more would just spoil its legacy. The movie had a charm of the 1980s in it, which couldn’t be captured again, and thus it was left without a sequel.

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5) Tangled (2010)

In the world of Disney movies, one that receives a lot of love happens to be Tangled. The film is about Rapunzel, a princess with extraordinary magical long hair who is kidnapped by an evil witch. The witch wants to harness Rapunzel’s magic to stay young—but of course, you already knew that.

On the eve of her 18th birthday, she is rescued by a thief who takes her out of her locked-up tower and into a world full of amazement, opportunities, and lanterns lighting up the entire horizon. With voiceover done by Mandy Moore, this movie—with its surreal animations and heartwarming songs—is loved by audiences, kids and adults alike. Mother Gothel was a standout villain, and her return in a sequel would’ve thrilled fans. Fans would have loved another movie, perhaps in culmination with other Disney films like Frozen, but unfortunately, a big-screen sequel didn’t happen.

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6) Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)

While Mr. and Mrs. Smith is praised for a lot of things, the dominant theme always happens to be the sizzling chemistry of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The film is about two skilled assassins who have been married for “five or six” years but still remain unaware of each other’s real occupation. As fate brings them face to face, it sparks a war between these two killing machines, who are always one step ahead of the other. As much as we love an enemies-to-lovers trope, a lovers-to-enemies arc was fresh and engaging.

If the makers wanted, they easily could have built on the spy-couple theme, which would have been commercially successful. Maybe even a glimpse of Jane and John balancing their assassin life with a kid would have sealed the deal. But unfortunately, it did not happen—possibly due to Brangelina’s breakup or creative differences behind the scenes. But I, for one, will always be on the lookout for a sequel to this amazing movie.

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7) Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Live. Die. Repeat. was the tagline of the Tom Cruise starrer Edge of Tomorrow, but there was no repeat for this fantastic movie, unfortunately. Fans were desperately hoping for a sequel, but one doesn’t always get everything they want, right?

Set in a dystopian future, when Earth is under siege by aliens, Major William Cage finds himself in a time loop, reliving the horrific day again and again. He must find a way to break the cycle—and save Earth from invasion. The movie vividly created a dystopian world that had the potential to be expanded through a sequel. In fact, a sequel was in development under the name Live Die Repeat and Repeat. However, it faced several setbacks, including the busy schedules of its stars, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

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8) Van Helsing (2004)

When we enter the genre of Gothic horror and supernatural movies, one film that repeatedly finds its name at the top happens to be Van Helsing. Starring Hugh Jackman, the movie is about a monster hunter sent by the Vatican to Transylvania to kill Count Dracula. Featuring many iconic villains like Wolfman, Frankenstein’s Monster, and Vampire Brides, this story stands at the zenith of vampire movies.

With its strong and charismatic lead—Hugh Jackman—the movie was practically asking for a full-blown mythical superhero cinematic universe. But maybe because of the lack of a proper genre or average box office performance, it never received a sequel, and the story remains untapped potential.

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9) Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Back in 2009, when Jennifer’s Body, starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, was released, who knew it would develop such a cult following? Set in a small town, this horror movie is about Jennifer, a high school student who gets possessed by a teenage boy–eating demon. Now it is up to her best friend, Needy, to save her and the town. The movie, with its themes of female friendship and empowerment, revenge, betrayal, and hardcore horror, eventually earned widespread appreciation.

The ending of the movie was open to interpretation, and because of its timeless theme of female empowerment, it could have done well with a sequel. Both the lead actors are phenomenal and, without a doubt, would have delivered another hit. But because the movie was a sleeper and took time to develop a dedicated fan base, the studio passed over the opportunity for a sequel.

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10) The Nice Guys (2016)

The Nice Guys featured two great actors—Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe—who, together, had an unparalleled screen chemistry that was adored by fans. The movie, set in 1970s Los Angeles, is about two investigators working together to uncover a death and a disappearance. The movie centers around corruption and conspiracy, with a 70s nostalgia to it. It has dark humor and an edge of witty banter, reviving the ‘buddy cop’ satire.

As the movie ends with these two detectives opening an agency of their own, called The Nice Guys, it is but natural that fans would want more. They could have built a lot on the 70s noir LA crime and mystery genre, and also, by marketing its two powerful leads, could have propelled a sequel to success. But unfortunately, the film didn’t meet the studio’s expectations. Its performance was particularly affected by competition from X-Men: Apocalypse and The Angry Birds Movie, leading the studio to shut down any hopes for a sequel.