Top 10 Sci-Fi Movies That Should Have Got A Sequel

With his feature directorial debut, Kerry Conran[a] paid homage to classic serials, pulp magazines, and Golden Age comics. It might’ve been a throwback, but “Sky Captain” created a world of its own that was simultaneously retro and futuristic. The film was also ahead of the curve, being one of the first films to fully embrace the idea of a digital backlot. Nowadays, too many productions over-rely on chroma keying. Where most of those films try to achieve realism, “Sky Captain” took a stylistic approach. After a while, we forget about the bluescreen, escaping into this enchanting world with these immensely likable characters. Although Conran hasn’t directed another movie in over twenty years, we’d love for Sky Captain to get back into the cockpit.

For a project that started as a failed attempt to make a “Halo” movie, “District 9” exceeded every expectation, even getting a Best Picture nomination. While the central themes might sound familiar, Neill Blomkamp[b]’s film took a unique approach with a mix of found footage, body horror, and sci-fi that continues to mirror reality. Some may argue the film’s bleak yet hopeful ending was perfectly open-ended. A sequel could leave certain elements ambiguous. We don’t need to see the prawns’ homeworld, for example. Given the current state of our world, though, we feel there’s even more to say about segregation and xenophobia now. Blomkamp has been teasing the possibility of “District 10” for years, but we’re still waiting like Wikus.

If that title didn’t clue you in, “Buckaroo Banzai” is a wild experience. Not everyone will understand what’s going on, but when you have Peter Weller singing, John Lithgow at his most extra, and Jeff Goldblum dressed as a cowboy, does that matter? Whether the plot is too smart for normies or completely nonsensical, nobody acts like they’re in the cheesy B-movie this could’ve been. They’re fully committed, especially Weller as the titular medical expert/rock star/action hero. Although too out there to ever be profitable at the box office, “Buckaroo Banzai” had “cult classic” written all over it. As far as sequels go, E.M. Rauch’s book is probably the closest we’ll ever get to “Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.”

Who says a parody/homage can’t outshine the genuine artifact? You may be surprised to learn how many fans not only consider “Galaxy Quest” to be a “Star Trek” movie, but one of their favorites. Seeing how there have been several “Star Trek” movies and shows since 1999, there’s plenty of new material for “Galaxy Quest 2” to satirize while expanding on its own lore. Over the years, people have tried to get a sequel or streaming series off the ground. Each attempt has faced hurdles, including Alan Rickman’s death. Most recently, Simon Pegg has been attached to a potential Paramount+ series. Still, we’d love to see the original cast back on the big screen. Rickman’s spirit can also live on in a sequel.

“Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money.” It might’ve been a throwaway joke in 1987, but between the prequels, sequels, and Disneyfication of “Star Wars,” there’s never been a higher demand for more “Spaceballs” among its dedicated following. At the same time, a sequel would be tricky to get right. John Candy is no longer with us and Rick Moranis rarely accepts new projects, although he did voice Dark Helmet in an episode of “The Goldbergs.” Josh Gad is currently developing a sequel with Mel Brooks attached, but it remains unclear if anything will come of this. If a sequel finally happens, there’s not only room for more money, but more merchandising as well. Whatever awaits, it’s gotta be better than the animated series.

“The Sixth Element?” Come on, the title is right there! We can’t think of another sci-fi adventure quite like this one. The tone is goofy while still taking itself seriously, the story is complex but the characters are simple, and its vision of the future is vibrant despite possessing a gritty edge. Although a sequel was rumored at one point, director Luc Besson[d] quickly shot the idea down. Even if Besson wanted to produce a follow-up, he’d probably have to finance it himself with his recent sexual assault scandal inclined to alienate studios and investors. There’s also the sad fact that Bruce Willis is retired. Maybe it’s for the best that “The Fifth Element” remains an anomaly, but we’ll always wonder what might’ve been.

As far as live-action adaptations of manga and Japanese animation go, “Alita” is arguably the gold standard by a wide margin. Robert Rodriguez’s film is a visual marvel, but the heroine at its core is what makes the story so involving. Since Alita is brought to life through motion capture, Rosa Salazar can still portray the character even if it takes ten or twenty years to get a sequel going. The same logic applied to the “Avatar” franchise. That said, can we please prioritize this for sooner? Rodriguez and James Cameron are keen on continuing Alita’s story in hopefully more than one follow-up. Until Disney commits to an official release date, it’ll be up to the Alita Army to keep the proposed sequel alive.

Maybe it was because of the advertising, which failed to do the “Independence Day” meets “Groundhog Day” premise justice. Maybe it was because of the inspired title, which was retroactively changed on home media - seemingly a trend with Tom Cruise movies. In any case, everyone who watches “Edge of Tomorrow” says the same thing: “This deserved to do better in theaters.” That’s not to say it bombed. Thanks to positive word of mouth, Doug Liman[f]’s film had legs, but not to the point Warner Bros. mandated a sequel. The cast and crew have repeatedly teased a follow-up, as well as a TV spinoff. Alas, for more than a decade now, it’s felt like we’ve been living in a time loop with little progress being made.

You might say that “Firefly” was like “Star Trek” for the early 2000s. Both shows had short runs, but passionate fanbases brought their crews to the big screen. Of course, “Star Trek” got three seasons with new movies still being made. “Firefly” barely received one season. “Serenity” is currently the franchise’s only feature release, despite Joss Whedon[g]’s hope it could lead to more. Although this universe has been expanded upon through books and comics, the stars simply never aligned for a “Serenity” sequel or TV continuation. Given the current state of Whedon’s career and reputation, we don’t see that changing anytime soon. With more Browncoats rising up every year, though, a theatrical “Firefly” movie seems more marketable now than it would’ve been in 2005.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Cinematic Locale That Warrants Further Exploration

“The Return of the Rocketeer” Must Take Flight!

Be It a Sequel or TV Series, Just Give Us More STEM

While the Movie Comes Full Circle, The Premise Could Work as an Anthology

Must the First One Also Be the Last?

Following the disappointing Sylvester Stallone picture, “Dredd” committed to a more faithful version of the comic book character. Not only was it given a hard R rating, but Karl Urban wore the helmet for the film’s entirety. Think about how rare that is for a mainstream movie with a bankable star. “Dredd” remains a rarity, as we’ve yet to get a sequel or the TV series that’s been suggested. This isn’t surprising given the box office returns, but a final judgment hasn’t been set in stone. As the movie’s ending reminds us, the past 95 minutes might’ve been brutal, but they were primarily contained to just one building. There are countless other locations, characters, and crimes in Mega-City One that can still be explored.