Crafting a hit movie is tough, but getting a successful sequel off the ground is even tougher. Franchises like the MCU and Star Wars are all about the sequel, but regular movies looking to have lightning strike twice have a much more difficult road ahead.
There have been plenty of sequels that have been canceled over time, and some had potential to do big business at the box office.
Let's look back on some major sequels that fans would have paid good money to see on the big screen.
10 'Ferris Bueller 2' Was Almost A Thing
It's hard to imagine a sequel to the iconic Ferris Bueller, but years back, this was something that was actually considered. It would have focused on an adult Ferris having a mid-life crisis and needing to find a way to break free from the shackles of everyday living. However, Another Day Off never came together in a meaningful way.
9 'E.T. 2: Nocturnal Fears' Would Have Sold Tickets
Steven Spielberg's E.T. is one of the most celebrated films of all time, and upon release, it became the highest-grossing film of all time. Nocturnal Fears was the proposed sequel to the beloved classic, and in this flick, Elliott was going to be kidnapped by aliens and would need to have ET come in and save the day. The name of the movie alone would have generated ticket sales.
8 'Beetlejuice' Would Have Been Fun To See
The Beetlejuice sequel has been talked about for so many years now, and it's one of those projects that will probably always stick around in conversation. At one point, '90s film darling, Kevin Smith, was offered the chance to work on the script itself, but things still have yet to materialize for this movie.
Related: Will ‘The Italian Job’ Ever Get A Sequel?
7 'Gladiator 2' Could Have Drawn A Crowd
Gladiator was the movie that kicked off the 2000s in style, and a sequel to this classic has been proposed before. As recently as September of this year, Ridley Scott talked about this project being written, but still, it's been two decades, and nothing has materialized yet. At one point, there were talks about this movie including time travel.
6 'Jumper 2' Was Rumored For Years
Hayden Christensen might be best known for his time playing Anakin Skywalker, but some people are sleeping on Jumper. While it was only a modest success, a lot of people loved what this movie brought to the table, and for quite some time, a sequel project seemed almost inevitable. The box office receipts and critical reception of Jumper played a part in a sequel being dashed.
5 A 'Roger Rabbit' Sequel Was In The Works For Years
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is still one of the most impressive feats in movie history, and it remains a beloved classic that pleases audiences. After the monumental success of the movie, a sequel was talked about as early as 1989, but over time, many issues, including some that Spielberg had with the studio, would prevent the sequel from gaining some real traction.
Related: The Real Reason There's Never Been A Good Ghostbusters Sequel
4 'The Amazing Spider-Man 3' Could Have Been Great For Andrew Garfield
Arguably the best Spider-Man ever was given some of the worst material, and yet, Andrew Garfield's movies still made hundreds of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the lukewarm reception to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 put an end to Garfield's time as Spider-Man. However, Garfield's recent appearance in No Way Home reignited interest in his Spidey movies.
3 'Gump & Co.' Would Have Followed Up With Forrest
Forrest Gump is a '90s classic, but it's genuinely hard to imagine that a sequel was actually being considered. The first movie made a fortune during its theatrical run, and you had better believe that movie fans would have been too curious about this failed sequel to have completely skipped out on seeing it.
Related: Why James Gunn's Next DC Project Is Likely A Sequel
2 'Batman Continues' Would Have Brought In Some Iconic Characters
Tim Burton's two Batman movies are classics that redefined the genre, and at one point, it seemed like a third film was all but guaranteed. This, however, was not to be, as Joel Schumacher took over the franchise and gave way to movies like Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. It's a shame we never got a third Burton movie.
1 Fans Still Want A 'Master & Commander' Sequel
Master & Commander has to be one of the most slept on movies of all time, and the movie probably should have been a much bigger hit than it was. Had it been, then maybe fans would have gotten the sequel that they deserved to see all those years ago. Don't discount this sequel from never happening.
Next: Simu Liu Reacts To 'Shang-Chi' Sequel Announcement By Marvel
