Top 10 Movie Franchises With Only ONE Good Movie
#10: “Rambo” franchise (1982-)
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“First Blood” (1982) “Rambo: First Blood” offers the bleakest story in the Rambo franchise, which is why this film stands so far above the rest. “First Blood” is a character study of one of Sylvester Stallone’s most iconic roles. But, with each sequel, the deep, troubled Rambo of the first installment fades slowly away. He becomes a mindless killing machine, a shift which basically reduces the films to over-the-top action flicks with no real substance. The writing gets progressively sloppier with each sequel, but, even so, there was a TV-show spinoff in the works as recently as 2021, and Stallone has even discussed ideas for a Rambo 6. This franchise would probably be better off stopping while it’s behind.
#9: “The Hangover” franchise (2009-13)
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“The Hangover” (2009) “The Hangover” was a great standalone film, but, let’s be honest: how many movies can you make about a group of adult men piecing together a single drunken night out? The first flick was just realistic enough to be funny, but the second and third are too ridiculous to believe. While even the first movie relies on offensive slapstick at times, it’s still a great movie to watch on a lazy Saturday morning. The sequels, on the other hand, squash the energy and hilarity of its actors with unoriginal writing and cheap, absurd plots. While the whole franchise offers the same great cast with surprising and hilarious chemistry, only the first deserves the label of a truly good comedy.
#8: “Taken” franchise (2008-14)
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“Taken” (2008) Even Liam Neeson didn’t believe in the first “Taken” film, which he believed would be sent straight to home video. Flash forward to its release — the film grossed $145 million at the box office and skyrocketed Neeson to the action-hero hall of fame. “Taken” might not win any prizes for being the most original film out there, but it finds ways to refresh the tired cliches of its genre. When it comes to the sequels, though, it’s hard to figure out where to start. The flicks can be so hard to believe at times that they’re almost better watched as parodies than actual action films. Despite all 3 installments being rated PG-13, “Taken 3” seems to have “taken” it the most to heart - with very little bite to any of its action sequences.
#7: “Scary Movie” franchise (2000-13)
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“Scary Movie” (2000) “Scary Movie” doesn't try to be anything other than what it is: a crude, carefree parody that revels in getting as low-brow as possible while still offering some insightful mockery of the horror genre. It will live on forever in the comedy genre as one of the most famous parody films ever made. The four sequels range from just okay to totally unwatchable, with the second film offering at least a few good laughs, and the last one being nothing short of annoying. Though their star-studded casts — and inclusion of the self-proclaimed shunned-from-Hollywood Charlie Sheen — make these movies feel like a nostalgic time capsule of the early 21st century, none of the later Scary Movie films are really worth watching as anything other than guilty pleasures.
#6: “Meet the Parents” franchise (2000-10)
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“Meet the Parents” (2000) “Meet The Parents” is a hilarious film that thrives on the unexpected chemistry between Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller. While the comedy occasionally leans into bad slapstick humor, it is at times a truly funny film. In fact, it was so good that it was done all over again in “Meet The Fockers,” and then all over again in “Little Fockers,” the two unfortunate sequels. Both movies boast essentially the same plot, the same jokes, and the same relationships as the first film with almost no growth or forward movement. By the third movie, it's just not funny anymore. You’d be better off rewatching “Meet The Parents” three times in a row than sitting through its pair of sequels.
#5: “Jaws” franchise (1975-)
“Jaws” (1975) “Jaws” is one of the most classic films of all time. Almost everyone can recall the iconic music and famous line from the original film, but not many people even know about Jaws' shameful sequels. “Jaws II” isn't very good, and the title of “Jaws 3-D” alone shows the filmmaker’s preference for spectacle over substance. The fourth film utterly ignores the third installment and acts as a sequel to the second movie, but also flops terribly with critics and audiences alike. Though no amount of bad installments can ever ruin the perfection that is the original Jaws, these sequels are not particularly worth remembering, let alone watching.
#4: “RoboCop” franchise (1987-)
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“RoboCop” (1987) Few movies pack a punch like the original “RoboCop.” The sci-fi action flick, much like the body of the titular character, is a merging of extremes — hilarious dark humor, deep vulnerability, and enough gory violence to satisfy any action fan. But, while “RoboCop II” is hardly a memorable addition to the franchise, it’s the following two sequels that truly obliterate the promise of the first film. After all, what’s the point of a PG-13 “RoboCop” sequel when half the fun is the mindless, almost satirical gore? And “RoboCop III” doesn’t even star Peter Weller, whose performance contributes quite a bit to the quality of the first film. It makes you wonder: are the writers of the sequels even fans of the first “RoboCop”? Or have they…seen the movie at all?
#3: “Paranormal Activity” franchise (2007-)
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“Paranormal Activity” (2007) “Paranormal Activity” is a great example of how horror franchises with a unique original movie are almost always destined to be followed by pale, lifeless remakes. At this point, this entire film series is known as a bad set of horror movies, but the first one shouldn’t be lumped in with the rest. While it’s by no means the world’s best film, the first “Paranormal Activity” captured audiences with its interesting concept and original twist on the “found footage” subgenre. With a whopping six installments (and counting), you’d think at least one of them could be as good as the first. Instead, they seemingly just keep getting worse, with “Paranormal Activity 4” to “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” mostly being bashed by critics and audiences alike as being silly and full of cheap jump scares - despite relatively decent box office numbers. Yet another installment is set to be released on Paramount+ in 2023.
#2: “Jurassic Park” franchise”
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“Jurassic Park” (1993) The dinosaurs of “Jurassic Park” are a revelation in monster horror. But, even putting our toothy friends aside, this film’s nuanced characters and strong dose of Steven Spielberg suspense make it an undeniable classic. Unfortunately, the second film actually ruins aspects of the first, like making the velociraptors seem so easily defeated that a girl can fight one using…gymnastics? Once the first “Jurassic World” installment emerged in 2015, it was game over for this franchise. The only thing linking these films to the first three are the dinosaurs, which may actually look worse than they did compared to the dinosaurs in the original Jurassic Park trilogy. Lazy writing, a lack of chemistry, and poor scares make these later sequels a painful disappointment for all fans of the OG “Jurassic Park.”
#1: “Ghostbusters” franchise (1984-)
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“Ghostbusters” (1984) The original “Ghostbusters” is one of the most iconic and quotable films ever made. It’s a movie that offers everything — rather than just being carried by talented actors, a clever plot, or genius writing, the supernatural flick combines all three into a captivating mix of comedy and horror. But, the rest of the installments in the franchise don’t seem to understand just what was so magical about the original. While each subsequent film offers its best attempt, they’re either too concerned with being funny, nostalgic, or different to actually deliver anything as special as the first movie. At this point, die-hard fans of “Ghostbusters” would probably rather see the franchise die altogether than to continue spawning sequels or half-hearted reboots. But, even so, there’s a “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” sequel set to premiere in 2023.
