Top 10 Movie Franchises That Need Another Sequel

#10: “Scream” (1996-)

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The “Scream” franchise slashed its way onto the scene in the mid-90s as a clever, satirical commentary on other films in the genre that also managed to deliver legitimate scares of its own. Although the quality dropped off to some degree after the first couple films, the premise is a solid one and worth exploring further, particularly if a sequel drew on the newer horror tropes that have cropped up in recent years. While the “Scream” TV series has continued the franchise, we’d like to see it return to the big screen. Sadly, the death of the series’ legendary director Wes Craven makes another sequel unlikely.

#9: “Ace Ventura” (1994-)

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Jim Carrey became a household name in 1994, thanks to lead roles in “Ace Ventura”, “Dumb and Dumber”, and “The Mask”. His over-the-top performance as the titular animal-loving pet detective won “Ace Ventura” a sequel the following year. While an animated TV series and threequel followed, neither involved Carrey, and lacked his one-of-a-kind magic. Could it be time for Carrey to return to his roots with a new “Ace Ventura” movie? As environmental issues become ever more urgent, it’s certainly a timely moment for a movie that’s ultimately all about caring for our animal friends.

Although not as brainy as “The Da Vinci Code” or as brawny as “Indiana Jones,” the “National Treasure” movies are fun, puzzle-filled romps through American history. The two films in the series both established an interesting, if historically inaccurate, mythos that could easily be explored in another sequel. The titular, mystery-filled Book of Secrets in the second film offered a veritable gold mine of ideas for new adventures. Although it seemed poised to set up the plot for a third entry on a silver platter, the next movie has been in development limbo for years now.

#7: “The Mask” (1994-2005)

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While Jim Carrey shoots our hypothetical follow-up to “Ace Ventura” . . . why not also “The Mask”? There’s still a LOT of material in the Dark Horse comic book series to mine for new films. And the sequel without Jim Carrey, “Son of the Mask” was . . . far from a worthy finale. In 1994, the original Mask’s zany antics captivated audiences, delivering to the big screen a new kind of superhero. With the influx of superhero movies of late, it might be the perfect moment to bring back this twist on the genre!

This comedy franchise follows the absurd, mustachioed Ron Burgundy and his fellow anchormen in several wacky adventures and romantic struggles, set against an affectionate parody of the news industry. The series is full of hilarious moments and is among the most quotable on our list, with plenty of iconic lines. The outrageous characters and the situations they get into are endlessly entertaining and we’d love to see more of them, almost as much as we love lamp. Here’s hoping that “Anchorman”’s legend continues on into the future.

#5: “Jump Street” (2012-)

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Based on the TV series of the same name, these films took what was a fairly serious undercover police procedural set in high school, and turned it into profane, rambunctious, buddy action comedies. The “Jump Street” movies manage to blend a satirical take on teen movies with a fun, hysterical twist on the police action genre, for a truly unique comedy film series. There’s been talk of “23 Jump Street,” a female-driven spin-off, and even a “Men in Black” crossover, but at this rate we’re not sure we’ll ever get “2121 Jump Street.”

#4: “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984-2010)

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As a franchise, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” has been through almost as much as its unfortunate protagonists. Nothing has ever matched Wes Craven’s 1984 original, although his “New Nightmare” a decade later came close. The 2010 remake was critically panned, and received generally negative reactions from audiences. Yet Freddy Krueger remains a horror movie icon, haunting our nightmares like few others. Could a sequel just make things worse? Yes, sure. But it could also restore Freddy to glory! Hey, try, try, and try again! It couldn’t be much worse than the remake or “The Final Nightmare”!

#3: “Hellboy” (2004-08)

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Ah, the glory days of Guillermo del Toro’s “Hellboy”. His 2004 adaptation knocked it out of the park with fantastic visuals, a compelling story, and a definitive performance from Ron Perlman. The sequel, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”, set the bar even higher. Their success owed more than a little to the excellent practical effects and makeup that Del Toro is known for. Fans couldn’t wait for a follow-up, but instead . . . we got 2019’s reboot. A solid performance from David Harbour in the lead role couldn’t save it, and the call for Guillermo del Toro to take back the reins has never been stronger!

#2: “Austin Powers” (1997-)

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Yeah, baby! An uproarious spoof of James Bond and other spy films, “Austin Powers” follows the spy of the same name in his numerous battles against his nemesis Dr. Evil. Filled to the brim with pop culture references, cameos, and plenty of humor and memorable characters, “Austin Powers” is a film series that warrants investment, even if it is only… one million dollars! Efforts to make a sequel have stalled for a long time now, but many fans hold out hope that the randy spy and his goofy enemy will once again grace us with another over-the-top caper. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “The Mighty Ducks” (1992-) “Shanghai” (2000-)

#1: “Mad Max” (1979-)

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This post-apocalyptic action movie franchise has our blood pumping for another drive. Following the journeys of the wandering anti-hero Max Rockatansky in a desolate future where water and fuel are scarce, the “Mad Max” franchise features high-octane action along with gorgeous cinematography. With the release of “Fury Road,” which saw Tom Hardy takeover the Road Warrior mantle from Mel Gibson, the franchise has proven it still has some gas left in the tank to fuel further adventures in Max’s fascinatingly bleak future world. The day we “witness” another “Mad Max” sequel will be a “lovely day” indeed.