Movie sequels can be a tricky thing to pull off properly. When a movie is a hit, the knee-jerk reaction is that the story should continue. But sometimes Hollywood fails to consider if there really is anything left to say with the property. Then there is the challenge of competing with the first film and possibly falling short.
Sometimes sequels are unfairly overlooked because they are in the shadow of their predecessor. But even if they don't live up to the original, they could still have something to offer. Or perhaps the franchise wanted to try something new and audiences weren't ready for it. The 1990s are full of worthy sequels that never got their due.
Addams Family Values (1993)
The Addams Family was a popular comic strip that became a popular television series in the 1960s, so it was only a matter of time before they made their way to the big screen. The first film featured a talented cast who brought the eccentric family to life, but it felt like it wasn't really embracing the fun of the source material.
The Addams Family Values really leaned into the franchise's zany characters and dark humor. It became a much funnier and livelier second adventure where the actors really had a chance to shine in their roles.
Batman Forever (1995)
After Tim Burton's dark, gothic take on Batman ended, Joel Schumacher came on board to bring some color into the franchise and return it to a more kid-friendly feel. Schumacher's films are routinely mocked by fans for being too campy, but Batman Forever is a pretty fun experience overall.
Val Kilmer makes for a strong Caped Crusader and he is joined by some memorable villains, including Jim Carrey, who is having a ball playing The Riddler. The colorful, glow-stick look of the movie is also really captivating and cements Schumacher's own unique take on this world.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
Batman wasn't the only franchise Jim Carrey was involved with in 1995. At the height of his success, he returned to the series that first made him a star. Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls catches up with the pet detective on his biggest case yet.
The wild and raunchy adventure takes Ace to Africa to locate a rare bat. Carrey continues to hold nothing back with his comedic performance while never wearing out his welcome. The bigger scope of the film is used to great effect and there are some absolutely hilarious gags.
Escape From L.A. (1996)
Kurt Russell and John Carpenter have made some great films together over the years, with Escape from New York being their first theatrical collaboration. Carpenter brought his signature gritty approach to the futuristic action-adventure and Russell created an action movie icon with Snake Plissken.
Escape from L.A. pretty much used the same premise over again with a swapped-out city, but Carpenter also embraced the humor this time around. Though some special effects have really aged poorly, the movie is a goofy action ride with a truly great ending.
Alien 3 (1992)
Though the first two Alien films have become classics of the sci-fi genre, the rest of the franchise is not remembered so warmly. Alien 3 seems to be where most fans turned on the series, despite the film being the directorial debut of David Fincher.
The movie, which finds Ripley trapped on a prison outpost and once again hunted by the Xenomorph, has its issues, without a doubt. However, Fincher's distinct style can already be felt and the first half is a moody and effective thriller. The world and its characters are compelling and the much-maligned decision to kill key characters off-screen makes for an emotional gut-punch to start the movie.
Scream 2 (1997)
Given how much it has been imitated, it's sometimes forgotten how groundbreaking and unique Scream was. The movie deconstructed the slasher film genre and changed it forever. However, the rest of the series is generally dismissed.
Scream 2 certainly doesn't feel as fresh as the original, but it is a solid follow-up that continues to have fun picking apart the genre tropes. There are some genuinely shocking moments and the examination of "sequel rules" makes it a worthy continuation of the story.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Pierce Brosnan is often praised as being one of the best James Bond actors, but with the exception of his first 007 adventure Goldeneye, his films were never very hardly regarded. However, his second film, Tomorrow Never Dies, is worth reconsidering.
The premise finds Bond taking on a newspaper magnate who creates the news through nefarious means. The story is sillier than Goldeneye, but the action is really thrilling, especially with the addition of Michelle Yeoh.
Clear And Present Danger (1994)
Following The Hunt for Red October, Harrison Ford took over the role of Jack Ryan from Alec Baldwin. Though his first film in the role, Patriot Games, was a hit, Clear and Present Danger is one cinema's most underrated political thrillers.
Ford is perfect as Ryan, a CIA analyst who is not an action hero but rather the smartest man in the room, who uses his intellect to save the day. The movie is filled with some excellent action, a sharp story, and riveting tension throughout.
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
The first Lethal Weapon was a hugely influential action movie and is considered one of the best buddy cop movies ever made. The rest of the series has some solid moments, but Lethal Weapon 4 is overlooked as probably the most fun entry into the franchise.
The film is often considered the worst of the series, and while the comic relief characters are a bit much at times, it is a blast to watch. The action is excellent, the look at the aging heroes is a lot of fun, and Jet Li steals the show as the series' best villain.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1998)
Steven Spielberg rarely does sequels to even his most beloved films. but after Jurassic Park became the biggest movie of all time, it wasn't too surprising that he wanted to return to the island of dinosaurs.
There was no way the movie was going to recapture the awe-inspiring nature of the first film, but the follow-up is still unfairly dismissed. It is an endlessly enjoyable summer movie with a bigger and deadlier scope as well as some great new characters. Yes, the gymnastics scene is dumb, but that does nothing to diminish the thrill of the first film.