Top 10 Biggest Movie Franchise MISTAKES
#10: Rushing to a Team-up Movie
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) In the wake of the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC had a lot of catching up to do. They foolishly decided to do all that catching up in one go. As the second film in the fledgling DCEU, Zack Snyder’s heavily-anticipated “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” didn’t pack the punch everyone expected. Marvel’s first big swing at a crossover movie — “The Avengers” — managed to balance its story and effects with its large ensemble of heroes. “Dawn of Justice” just feels like a messy series of vignettes meant to set up future movies. Many fans were rightfully disappointed. And despite being a top grosser of the year, it didn’t have the massive box office run DC probably wanted.
#9: The John Connor Terminator
10 Ways Terminator: Dark Fate Changed EVERYTHING
“Terminator Genisys” (2015) When Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his return to the iconic franchise, even people who hated the last sequel, “Terminator Salvation,” were intrigued. But “Terminator Genisys” ended up disappointing many. For much of this franchise, the entire story had hinged on John Connor’s future leadership in an apocalyptic war between humans and artificial intelligence. The mid-movie reveal that Connor has been turned into a cyborg and is now the villain was a bold choice. The convoluted twist added needless complications to an already muddled story, and changed the entire focus of the franchise.
#8: Michael Myers & Laurie Strode Are Related
Michael Myers Vs Leatherface
“Halloween II” (1981) “Halloween” writer and director John Carpenter admitted he didn’t really want to write this sequel at all. In an attempt to create some material for the story, a revelation was revealed that would change everything. “Halloween II” continues Michael Myers’ pursuit of Laurie Strode. However, it’s revealed that Strode is Myers’ younger sister. The twist allegedly came out of desperation, and Carpenter would disown it later. It formed the basis of the sequels, where the story would only grow more outlandish. Once they introduced the idea of an ancient Druid curse on the Myers Family, fans had all but had their fill. Ultimately, the motivation made one of the scariest horror villains’ random killing way less scary.
#7: Blofeld All Along
“Spectre” (2015) Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond heralded a new age for the legendary spy. While the series became more adherent to modern franchise rules of continuing stories and character development between movies, each movie tended to exist on its own terms. Once the filmmakers reintroduced Bond’s archnemesis in 2015’s “Spectre,” though, originality and good sense went out the window. Apparently, Ernst Stavro Blofeld had been behind almost every single villainous plot Craig’s Bond faced. Let’s just say it was more of a “huh?” than an “aha!” revelation. Blofeld’s masterminding is a comic book twist that just didn’t fit this franchise. It even cheapened Craig’s other triumphs as Bond in movies like “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall.”
#6: Sewing Up Deadpool’s Mouth
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009) This 2009 entry in the “X-Men” series has probably been lambasted enough. Between its uneven story and lackluster effects, there was plenty for fans to be unhappy with. A superhero known for wisecracks and one-liners might have been just the ticket to liven things up. But no, we were denied even this small mercy. Instead, the writers of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” decided to sew Deadpool’s mouth shut. This is a choice so completely off-base it feels like sabotage. Fans were outraged by the stark deviation from the character’s established personality. Everyone got their act together for the “Deadpool” movies, allowing actor Ryan Reynolds full use of his sarcasm.
#5: Contradicting the Previous Movie
“Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” (2019) “The Last Jedi” was either a necessary reinvention or a franchise killer. It depends on who you ask. When it was revealed that Rey was not related to any “Star Wars” legacy characters, it was a bold deviation from the “chosen one” narratives of previous installments. The movie suggests that heroes can be made, not just born. But vicious fan backlash and the mishandled Han Solo prequel might have made the creators reconsider. “The Rise of Skywalker” went back to doing exactly what previous installments had done. Rey wasn’t actually born a nobody, she was actually the evil emperor’s granddaughter. This didn’t save the movie from criticism — the consensus being that it lacked imagination.
#4: Putting the Extended Universe before the Horse
“The Mummy” (2017) That’s a nice extended universe you got there. It’d be a shame if someone canceled it. In an attempt to have a horse in the cinematic universe race, Universal announced it was resurrecting its roster of classic monsters to mine them for profit. The ambitious “Dark Universe” started — and ended — with 2017’s “The Mummy.” Tom Cruise stars as an Army man caught up in ancient evil. He meets the Mummy. He meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Then, he loses the plot completely — and so do we. Full of suggestions of future installments, the movie never even threatens to come together. It goes to show that you might want to worry about creating one solid film before you pursue your franchise dreams.
#3: This Time, It’s Personal
Top 20 Biggest Movie Sequel Bombs of All Time
“Jaws: The Revenge” (1987) Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster is a lesson in getting bang for your buck. On the other hand, its three sequels can teach you about diminishing returns. That it breaks the original’s cardinal rule of showing as little of the animatronic shark as possible is perhaps the least of its sins. It introduces a new, and relentlessly stupid twist on the formula that’s proudly telegraphed by its title. The Brody Family from the first film realize they’re the target of a vendetta carried out by a great white shark. This shark inexplicably follows them from Amity Island to the sunny shores of the Bahamas. “Jaws: The Revenge” effectively killed the franchise.
#2: Immediately Dispatching Newt & Hicks
Top 10 Movies Everyone Immediately Fact Checked
“Alien 3” (1992) Much has been made of the turbulent production of David Fincher’s “Alien 3,” with studio interference being blamed for many of its miscalculations. However, its most notorious component was probably going to bother fans no matter what. When we last saw Ellen Ripley, she was floating through space in an escape vessel with her surrogate daughter, Newt, and Corporal Hicks. But “Alien 3” crushes our hopes by killing Newt and Hicks in the main credits sequence after an alien causes their ship to malfunction. It’s both merciless and monumentally depressing. It also announces a notable departure from the thrilling-yet-fun tone of “Aliens.” This movie is just horrifying. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Misuse of Grindelwald, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” (2022)
Top 10 Harry Potter Movie Mistakes Spotted By the Fans
Inconsistent Casting & Generic Plotting Ruined Any Intrigue Around the Villain
Not Earning the Runtime, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (2023)
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A Thin & Derivative Story Made Two Hours Feel like Forever
$100 Million Marketing Campaign, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (2023)
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Its Costly Marketing Campaign Probably Focused on the Wrong Elements
De-Aging Dr. Jones, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023)
The Old-Fashioned Franchise Loses Some Charm with Distracting Digital Effects
#1: Stretching “The Hobbit” into Three Movies
“The Hobbit” franchise (2012-14) Looking to recapture the sweeping majesty — not to mention the critical and commercial success — of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the filmmakers sought to make an adaptation of “The Hobbit.” Unfortunately, the resulting Peter Jackson trilogy stretched the material far too thin. The Tolkein story could feasibly fit into a single epic. Even an efficient 90-minute movie could do it justice. To break it up into three overstuffed entries was too much for the relatively simple tale of a hobbit, a wizard, and several dwarves stealing back a treasure from a villainous dragon. It might not have harmed its astronomical box office, but the series is severely overshadowed by Jackson’s original trilogy.
