10 Disney Movie Sequels That Should Have Never Happened

Top 10 WORST Disney Movie Sequels

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most disappointing follow-ups to Disney films.

#10: “Cars 2” (2011)

Even if it didn’t rank among Pixar’s best, 2006’s “Cars” was still about, well, cars. So, what did they do for the sequel? Explore McQueen’s age again? Introduce another flashy race? Nope. It’s a spy movie. Don’t ask us why. The bizarre tonal shift saps all of Pixar’s trademark warmth from the film, leaving nothing but an engine of a story that just doesn’t want to start again. To make matters worse, the film hinges almost exclusively on Mater, whose potty humor runs out of gas long before the credits roll. All together, it’s hard not to feel like “Cars 2” was only made to sell toys, and nothing more.

#9: “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011)

In 2011, Captain Jack Sparrow took the helm of his franchise… and immediately steered it right into choppy waters. The original “Pirates” trilogy picked up wind in large part because of their great ensembles. But, without Elizabeth Swann or Will Turner to balance out Sparrow’s kooky shtick, this solo-venture completely capsized in the quality department. The series tried to chart a new course by introducing a pair of fresh faces in the follow-up, “Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Unfortunately, the film’s poor reception only succeeded in making the rest of the fan base jump ship for good. Clearly, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies should’ve just stopped at three.

#8: “Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” (1998)

There’s a lot to unpack here. Even if you set aside the mountain of highly questionable artistic liberties with its story, “Pocahontas II” simply isn’t a very good movie. Chronicling the princess brokering a peace treaty with England sounds like it’d be a tense, compelling tale. Instead, “Journey to a New World” squanders its potential with lackluster animation, forgettable songs, and way too much focus on its boring central romance. Which isn’t even with John Smith, by the way. Compounded together, it makes “Pocahontas II” feel like a sequel in name alone. Disney did not paint with all the colors of the wind for this one, that’s for sure.

#7: “Alice Through the Looking Glass” (2016)

On paper, this sequel should have been another slam-dunk trip to Wonderland. It’s the continuation of a billion dollar picture, adapted from beloved source material, and features a jaw-dropping all-star cast. In a way, that only makes the result that much more embarrassing. Disney spent a lot of money to make “Alice Through the Looking Glass” look pretty. We just wish they’d devoted half as much effort on the script, story, and pacing. It’s truly baffling that such a fantastic group of talent in front of and behind the camera could deliver such a doldrum snoozefest. But, that’s what happens when you take the “wonder” out of “wonderland.”

#6: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II” (2002)

Where do we even begin discussing this faceplant? We could talk about the animation, which is such a massive down-grade, it’s surprising Disney allowed it to see the light of the day. Or, maybe we could mention the narrative, which watered down Quasimodo’s empowering journey into a bland love story. But, no, it’s not the art, storyline, or even the out of place voice acting that ruins “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II.” It’s that this is a straight-to-DVD sequel for a film that never needed a part two. At best, it’s unnecessary, and at worst, it actively takes away from the original. These bells should’ve never rung again.

#5: “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea” (2000)

The only thing worse than a straight-to-video cash-grab is one that doesn’t even follow the characters you want to see. That’s right, the “little mermaid” in the title isn’t Ariel. It’s her daughter, Melody, who longs to explore the sea despite her mother’s warnings. If you can’t tell already, “Return to the Sea” is basically an inverse of the original’s story, just without the novelty, heart, or romance. While “The Little Mermaid II” does have some nice songs, the distinct lack of new ideas makes you wonder, what’s even the point? If you’re looking for a mermaid film, the first one is better in every single conceivable way.

#4: “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (2006)

After producing two Christmas favorites on the nice list, Tim Allen’s third trek to the North Pole is inarguably naughty. Rather than the good-natured holiday spirit that defined the previous films, “The Escape Clause” is really just an hour and a half of bad jokes and worse morals. Plus, Tim Allen barely even spends any time in the Santa suit! Instead, his job title is usurped by the mischievous Jack Frost, played by a surprisingly grating Martin Short. If even Martin freaking Short can’t sell a joke, then something is very, very wrong. There’s no doubt about it; “The Santa Clause 3” earns coal all around.

#3: “Belle's Magical World” (1998)

Straight-to-DVD movies get a bad rap. But, this one deserves everything it has coming. In fact, it barely qualifies as a movie at all. Taking place during the original film, “Belle’s Magical World” is a series of disconnected shorts about Beauty’s stay with the Beast. There’s no rising action. No grand conflict. It’s just a dull, plodding affair that turns Belle’s magical trip into a forgettable filler episode. The film’s structure has led many fans to theorize that “Belle’s Magical World” is the compilation of a scrapped “Beauty and the Beast” TV show. And, if that’s the case, we can see why they cancelled it.

#2: “Cinderella II: Dreams Come True” (2002)

Another day, another classic Disney Princess ruined by a money-grubbing, anthology follow-up. “Dreams Come True” suffers from the same issues of “Belle’s Magical World” - those being unfocused stories, boring conflicts, and zero rewatchability. Except, here, it’s even more offensive. You’d think that, having been released over fifty years after the original film, “Cinderella II” would bring some fresh ideas to the ballroom. You’d be wrong. Each segment is a walking, talking cliche, with an occasional song that goes in one ear and out the other. If this was truly the best they could add to Cinderella’s timeless tale, then they really should have just left good enough alone.

#1: “Mulan II” (2004)

In a stark departure from just about everything the first film stood for, “Mulan II” is all about marriage. Not only is the titular princess engaged, but she’s also tasked with escorting three noble daughters across the land to their own fiances. Alongside it, you have an Eddie Murphy-less Mushu, and a confused message of love that feels at odds with Mulan’s character. So, the issue isn’t just that “Mulan II” is a boring fetch-quest. It’s that, at a fundamental level, this sequel simply doesn’t understand its characters, its story, or its themes. Especially when you compare it to the original. Suffice it to say, “Mulan II” did not bring honor to us all.

Which of these Disney duds are you willing to go to bat for? Don’t be shy, let us know in the comments below!