25 Sequels We Waited A Long Time For

By Rachel West. 9 Jun 2020 12:28 PM

It can take a long time to kick a franchise back into action. Years after their predecessor was released – some with prequels and ill-fated reboots along the way – these direct sequels finally made it to the big screen. While they may not always have been worth the wait, here are the followups fans waited years for.

Disney

20th Century Fox

Universal Pictures

Disney

Disney

Universal Pictures

Paramount

Paramount

Sony Pictures

Columbia Pictures

Universal

‘Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull’

Paramount Pictures

Maple Pictures

Universal Pictures

Sony pictures

universal pictures

Buena Vista Pictures

Disney

VVS Films

Warner Bros.

Disney

Warner Bros.

Universal Pictures

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‘Toy Story 3’
Disney
Release Date: June 18, 2010

Preceding Film: “Toy Story 2” (1999)

Years Between Films: 11

Earning even better reviews that its predecessor, “Toy Story 3” became the second Pixar movie (after “Up”) to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film. Luckily for fans, the original voice cast, including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, reunited for the next franchise entry just nine years later.
‘Live Free Or Die Hard’
20th Century Fox
Release Date: June 27, 2007

Preceding Film: “Die Hard With A Vengeance” (1995)

Years Between Films: 12

After initially being put on hold following 9/11, the “Die Hard” sequel finally hit theatres in 2007. The movie was a hit and led to yet another instalment in the franchise, 2013’s “A Good Day To Die Hard”, which couldn’t sustain interest and was released to overwhelmingly negative reviews.
‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’
Universal Pictures
Release Date: September 16, 2016

Preceding Film: “Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason” (2004)

Years Between Films: 12

Following a six-year acting hiatus, Renee Zellweger dusted off her British accent to return to her romantic-comedy alter ego Bridget Jones. With Colin Firth once again by her side, the movie was received mostly positive reviews and became a box office hit in the U.K., earning more than $211 million worldwide.
‘Finding Dory’
Disney
Release Date: June 17, 2016

Preceding Film: “Finding Nemo” (2003)

Years Between Films: 13

Following a long-running fan campaign for a sequel, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) finally got her chance to just keep swimming 13 years after the original animated film.
‘The Incredibles 2’
Disney
Release Date: June 15, 2018

Preceding Film: “The Incredibles” (2004)

Years Between Films: 14

“The Incredibles 2” was definitely worth the wait for audience to have Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their voice roles in the animated superhero flick. The movie grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide.
‘The Best Man Holiday’
Universal Pictures
Release Date: November 15, 2013

Preceding Film: “The Best Man” (1999)

Years Between Films: 14

The entire cast of the 1999 original, including Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard and more all reunited for a new Christmas-set story that takes place 15 years after the original. The movie was a hit with audiences looking for a bit of nostalgia, earning $71 million on a $17-million budget.
‘Escape From L.A.’
Paramount
Release Date: August 9, 1996

Preceding Film: “Escape From new York” (1981)

Years Between Films: 15

With the original film set way in the future of 1997, the sequel saw the return of Kurt Russell and director John Carpenter for a new tale set in the post-apocalyptic future of… 2013. Unfortunately, the movie only recouped half of its $50 million budget in ticket sales and garnered mostly negative reviews. But Carpenter took an optimistic approach to the negative reviews, comparing it to the lukewarm reception his now-adored “The Thing”: “People didn’t want to see ‘Escape’ that time, but they really didn’t want to see ‘The Thing’... You just wait. You’ve got to give me a little while. People will say, ‘you know, what was wrong with me?’”

Carpenter is still waiting for that time to come.
‘Zoolander 2’
Paramount
Release Date: February 12, 2016

Preceding Film: “Zoolander” (2001)

Years Between Films: 15

Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Ferrell hit the runway once again in “Zoolander 2”, the sequel no one asked for. The movie received abysmal reviews but did earn a number of award nominations…at the Razzies. Kristen Wiig inevitably won the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actress.
‘The Godfather: Part III’
Paramount
Release Date: December 25, 1990

Preceding Film: “The Godfather – Part II” (1974)

Years Between Films: 16

It’s really hard to make a follow-up to what’s widely-regarded as one of the best sequels of all-time. But despite mixed reception for Francis Ford Coppola’s final chapter in “The Godfather” trilogy, the movie still earned seven Oscar nominations, though it ultimately came up short.
‘Rocky Balboa’
Sony Pictures
Release Date: December 20, 2006

Preceding Film: “Rocky V” (1990)

Years Between Films: 16

Sylvester Stallone brought Rocky out of retirement for one final fight in “Rocky Balboa”. The movie was well received but was nothing compared to the success of the next instalment in the series, “Creed”, 12 year later.
‘Bad Boys For Life’
Columbia Pictures
Release Date: January 17, 2020

Preceding Film: “Bad Boys II” (2003)

Years Between Films: 17

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence re-teamed for the third time for this R-rated outing that surpassed the $100 million mark at the box office just two weeks after its release. With the new entry reinvigorating the franchise, it’s no surprise that “Bad Boys 4” has already been given the green light.
‘Glass’
Universal
Release Date: January 18, 2019

Preceding Film: “Unbreakable” (2000)

Years Between Films: 19

M. Night Shyamalan pulled the biggest surprise twist of his already twisted career: the 2017 James McAvoy thriller “Split” exists in the same universe as “Unbreakable”. While “Glass” is a direct sequel to “Split”, it’s also a followup to “Unbreakable” with original stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson reprising their roles as men with unusual gifts.
‘Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull’
Paramount Pictures
Release Date: May 22, 2008

Preceding Film: “Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade” (1989)

Years Between Films: 19

“Crystal Skull” brought Indy back into action with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford, earning more than $786 million worldwide and becoming the top-grossing film of the franchise. After a 13-year absence, Ford will return for the fifth installment, due out in 2021.
‘Rambo’
Maple Pictures
Release Date: January 25, 2008

Preceding Film: “Rambo III” (1988)

Years Between Films: 20

Maybe Sylvester Stallone thought he was on to something after reviving Rocky 16 years later. He tried the same tactic with a return to his other iconic character -- John Rambo -- in “Rambo”. The movie was a flop but that didn’t stop him from trying again with “Rambo: Last Blood” in 2019…which was an even bigger bomb than its predecessor.
‘Dumb And Dumber To’
Universal Pictures
Release Date: November 14, 2014

Preceding Film: “Dumb And Dumber” (1994)

Years Between Films: 20

Twenty years after we met Harry and Lloyd, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reunited for another dumb adventure. The movie bombed with critics but still managed to make more than $169 million worldwide.
‘T2: Trainspotting’
Sony pictures
Release Date: March 31, 2017

Preceding Film: “Trainspotting” (1996)

Years Between Films: 21

Director Danny Boyle’s 1996 film was a Cannes Film Festival breakout that became an eventual Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nominee. Twenty-one years after his star-making performance, Ewan McGregor and original castmates Jonny Lee Miller, Ewan Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Shirley Henderson and Kelly Macdonald all returned for the sequel. With positive reviews, “T2” was a big hit at the BAFTAs, nabbing six nominations and four wins including Best Feature Film.
‘Psycho II’
universal pictures
Release Date: June 3, 1983

Preceding Film: “Psycho” (1960)

Years Between Films: 23

Maybe a follow-up to one of the best Hitchcock thrillers of all-time wasn’t the best idea. The sequel picks up with Norman Bates returning to society after spending 22 years in a psychiatric facility. Both Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles reprised their original roles for “Psycho II” with Perkins returning for two more sequels in 1986 and 1990.
‘The Color Of Money’
Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: October 17, 1986

Preceding Film: “The Hustler” (1961)

Years Between Films: 25

Paul Newman reprised his role as pool shark “Fast Eddie” Felson in the followup to Robert Rossen’s “The Hustler”. Directed by Martin Scorsese and co-starring Tom Cruise, “The Color Of Money” finally nabbed Newman his Best Actor Oscar.
‘TRON: Legacy’
Disney
Release Date: December 20, 2010

Preceding Film: “TRON” (1982)

Years Between Films: 28

Praised for its groundbreaking visuals, the original “TRON” blended live-action and computer-generated imagery for a state-of-the-art look. The technique proved to be too experimental for the Academy, who saw using computer-generated effects as “cheating”. Twenty-eight years later, Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner returned to their original roles in “TRON: Legacy” which was again praised for its visual effects.
‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’
VVS Films
Release Date: August 21, 2020

Preceding Film: “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey” (1991)

Years Between Films: 29

Party on dudes! Cult heroes Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted “Theodore” Logan battled Death and not only lived to tell the tale, but are thriving as middle-aged dads, 29 years later. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will face the music in the highly anticipated third entry to the “Bill & Ted” saga in 2020.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
Warner Bros.
Release Date: May 15, 2015

Preceding Film: “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985)

Years Between Films: 30

Fans have argued whether “Fury Road” is a reboot or a sequel, but either way, the 30 years since “Beyond Thunderdome” was well worth the wait, as it is critically regarded as one of the best films of the decade. Director George Miller doesn’t like to distinguish between “sequel” and “reboot”, instead simply preferring to call this one a “revisiting.”
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Disney
Release Date: December 18, 2015

Preceding Film: “Return Of The Jedi” (1985)

Years Between Films: 32

Sure, there were some prequels in between, but “The Force Awakens” was the next chapter in the Skywalker saga that saw original stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Carrie Fisher reprise their roles. The film kicked off a new era for “Star Wars” fans, becoming the highest-grossing movie of the 2010s with over $2 billion in worldwide ticket sales.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Release Date: December 23, 2020

Preceding Film: “Top Gun” (1986)

Years Between Films: 34

Tom Cruise is heading back into the danger zone, reprising his role as the cocky fighter pilot Maverick who, 34 years later, is now instructing a new set of recruits. A smash hit, the original film was the top-grossing movie of 1986. Val Kilmer will also return as Iceman in the sequel.

Originally scheduled to be released in June, the pandemic has pushed the release back to December meaning we'll have to wait just a little while longer for Maverick to take to the skies.
‘Blade Runner 2049’
Warner Bros.
Release Date: October 6, 2017

Preceding Film: “Blade Runner” (1982)

Years Between Films: 35

Critics adored Quebec director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel, which saw Ryan Gosling team up with original star Harrison Ford 30 years after the events of the first film.
‘Halloween’
Universal Pictures
Release Date: October 19, 2018

Preceding Film: “Halloween” (1978)

Years Between Films: 40

Pretending a whole slew of entries in the “Halloween” franchise don’t exist (wow, so rude to “Halloween H20”), director David Gordon Green and scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis returned for this next chapter. Sure, Curtis had been back for a few sequels already, but in this world the events of “Halloween II” (1981) through, well, the other “Halloween II” (2009) never happened. Premiering at TIFF, “Halloween” was such a success, two more sequels were quickly greenlit that we don’t need to wait another 40 years for; “Halloween Kills” will hit theatres in October 2020.

25 Sequels We Waited A Long Time For

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