It seems like most movies released these days are part of a franchise, whether it's a direct sequel or part of some kind of cinematic universe. But no matter if it's a horror series or a superhero franchise, not everybody is sold on certain series despite them having grossed billions of dollars at the box office.
But even though some armchair critics might not be sold on popular franchises, there's still the odd movie in a series that they'll take a liking to. Redditors have some strong opinions on the matter, whether it's a movie that's completely unlike any other in the series or an original movie that a studio milked for all it was worth.
Furious 7 (2015)
Truckturner5164 thinks Furious 7 is a great film, despite hating the series as a whole, and the reason being is its ensemble cast, stating, "Tony Jaa, Kurt Russell, and The Rock. Yes please." However, there's another reason why the film could connect to audiences on a larger level than other Fast & Furious movies, as the final scene is rather emotional.
As Paul Walker died during the movie's production, there's a beautiful montage of his best moments in the series. But if the Redditor was never a fan of the series, the scene might not have connected with them in the way it would with longtime fans.
Rogue One (2016)
It's hardly a surprise that Star Wars showed up in the Reddit thread in some form or another, as the Disney era of the franchise has been so polarizing, to say the least. _baby_groot_ explains that they're "not a fan of most of the recent Star Wars movies but I do love Rogue One," and they're not alone either.
Rogue One might not have been the highest-grossing Disney Star Wars movie, but it was successful in a different way. The A New Hope prequel is largely considered the best film of the Disney era: it has a literal star war that is a visual spectacle, and it's one of the best team-on-a-mission movies ever.
Bumblebee (2018)
There's a bad stigma unfairly attached to Bumblebee, as it's a part of the Transformers franchise, which has a reputation for being loud, full of explosions, and lacking a cohesive narrative. However, the same can't be said for the 2018 movie, as it features a compelling and heartwarming story, and it's more of a riveting coming-of-age movie than an action blockbuster.
Unfortunately, it's had to convince potential audiences of that, and MX-6 has witnessed that first-hand. The Redditor explains that "I’m still trying to convince my brother to watch it because he hates all of the Bay Transformers movies."
Saw II (2005)
TopCat0601 loves Saw II but hates the Saw series as a whole, positing that "it's so much better than all the other Saw movies for some reason." But Saw II is an interesting pick for being a favorite of somebody who hates the franchise. The series quickly devolved from the compelling crime thriller that was the original into torture porn, and the second movie in the series sits somewhere in the middle.
The movie seemingly takes place in the funhouse from hell, as it follows a group of Jigsaw's victims making their way through an abandoned house full of traps. But at the same time, there is an interesting plot twist in the final act, even if it isn't as hard-hitting as the first movie's finale.
The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
Claire63001 argues that The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a great film in a terrible movie franchise. Liking the 2006 movie and disliking the rest of the series makes a lot more sense than only liking Furious 7. While Furious 7 might have introduced Russell into the series, it's still a typical Fast & Furious movie full of gravity-defying action sequences.
However, Tokyo Drift is very much a standalone movie in the series, and if it wasn't for Vin Diesel's cameo at the end, it would have simply been an anthology movie in the F&F universe. The movie isn't full of over-the-top action scenes, but it's instead a cool-looking street racing movie set in the fascinating Japanese city, and there are so many great scenes in Tokyo Drift.
Scream 4 (2011)
Along with Tokyo Drift, Claire63001 also mentions Scream 4 as a great film that's part of a franchise they hate. Again, just as is the case with Saw II, Scream 4 is a strange choice for somebody who doesn't actually like the series. The film is largely considered one of the worst Scream movies according to IMDb.
And as one of the Scream movie's trademarks is its creative murders, whether it's the opening scene of Scream or in the sound-proof booth in Scream 2, Scream 4 lacks those inventive murder sequences. The film also lacks the meta-ness that the series has always indulged in, making it more of a mediocre slasher movie than an actual Scream film.
Wonder Woman (2017)
The DC Extended Universe movies make up a very scattershot series, as the quality of the films is just as inconsistent as the tone. Fans could get the grim Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice one year and then the '80s-comedy-inspired Shazam! the next.
But it's Wonder Woman that LearnHumility claims is the only good entry in the franchise. The Redditor argues that "I don't like the DCEU but I think they got this one right. The ending almost ruins it but it only lasts five minutes." In fairness, Wonder Woman is the most critically acclaimed movie in the DCEU and has the highest IMDb rating too. But unfortunately, the same can't be said for its sequel.
The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy is one of the most underrated adventure movies, and while it might be goofy at the times, along with National Treasure, it's one of the Indiana Jones knock-offs that's still endlessly entertaining. 14thCluelessbird is a big fan, but they make themselves clear by saying that "every Mummy movie after the first one" is bad.
With this franchise more than any other, there aren't many people arguing anything different. The sequel is full of terrible CGI even for its time, especially when it comes to the Scorpion King's design, and the attempt to reboot the movie with a dark and gritty tone starring Tom Cruise was an amalgam of bad choices.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
DocWhoFan16 explains that they "don't really like the MCU," but they list a select few individual movies in the series that they don't mind, including Iron Man 3. It makes sense that non-MCU fans would enjoy the Shane Black-directed movie more than any other, and the reason why is probably the same reason why MCU fans dislike it.
The movie takes liberties with the source material, and while some MCU fans like the Mandarin twist, it was polarizing. But for viewers who don't know who the Mandarin is, the twist is clever and ingenious. The film is more of a Shane Black movie than a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
More than almost any other franchise, in terms of quality, The Pirates of the Caribbean is a case of diminishing returns, despite its phenomenal box office success. Countjohn12 believes this more than anybody else, as they reckon the first movie is the only good one.
The movie didn't have any right to be as good as it is, as it's simply based on a theme park ride, but the follow-ups are more in line with what would be expected from the source material. However, the movie is getting rebooted, and if Disney plays it right, it could be the best entry in the series since the original.