10. Independence Day Resurgence (June 24)
Films are placed on this list because they are unnecessary. The whole point of a sequel is to tell a story that hasn't been fully told. A story that still has depth and focus. To kick start the list, there's "Independence Day Resurgence." A film that really has no reason to be made other than the fact that the movie studio is searching for the next big blockbuster. You can bet your butt that this film will leave off on a cliffhanger. Nowadays, if you're making a big budget tent-pole film, there won't be a definite ending. Only a few characters from the original are returning and the trailer acts as more of a demonstration of the same type of special effects we're used to seeing in young adult science-fiction films.
9. Barbershop: The Next Cut (April 15)
There are films that surpass their production budget in box office revenue and decide to go on to make another sequel to cash in the success. There was once a time when Hollywood didn't like risks in sequels, so they waited for a film to make over three times a film's production budget. Nowadays, if a film goes over by any amount of money a sequel is almost always guaranteed. The "Barbershop" series happens to act on the latter school of thought. It's not the worst series and only deserves a place on the list because it is not a guaranteed success and there is no reason to have another installment.
8. The Divergent Series: Allegiant (March 18)
Arriving this weekend off the mediocre release of its previous film, "Allegiant" doesn't look better. Hollywood is in a state of flux with young adult adaptations. Fortunately, many of these films fail. "Divergent" should have been one of these franchises that stopped after the first film. Looking back at the franchise, there were no good signs the franchise would last. Miraculously it did, even after the past films were commercial and critical disasters. With that in mind, it's looking like the series can't find an audience.
7. Ice Age: Collision Course (July 22)
Believe it or not, but this is the fifth film in the Ice Age Franchise, making it one of the longest running animation film franchises (No one can beat "Land Before Time"). Here is a film franchise that had a premise built around three extinct creatures saving a human. Now, the franchise is based around the shenanigans of a squirrel (At least this film is). In his pursuit of an acorn, Scrat somehow flies into space and creates a chain reaction that threatens Earth. Are there literally no more problems on Earth?
6. Underworld 5 (October 14)
Another fifth installment in a franchise. That's really all I can say. The first two "Underworld" films were great, but also carried along the Hollywood trend of grim horror subject matter with cinematography that spewed out bright orange and dark blues. That era is dead and gone. This film will present itself in a similar fashion, but the franchise hasn't been picked up in such a long time (four years) that now this is just a cry to support a failing studio.
5. The Huntsman: Winter's War (April 22)
In recent decades, Hollywood has become a fan of making films out of stories that don't really need films. Did Snow White's story really need a new film? That can be debatable, but the Huntsman? Seriously. The guy who showed up for a minute in the Disney animated feature, and even less time in the fairy tale. He has a movie now and it's Chris Hemsworth obviously. Funny enough, the film's title doesn't really have that much to do with the Hunstman. Instead, it's about a sibling rivalry between to sisters.
4. Ghostbusters (July 15)
I tried holding back my issues with this film, but after watching the trailer, I can't anymore. This is a useless remake-sequel. It's not about the females. There is no sexism in play right now. If it was four guys, it would still be ranked as one of the worst sequels to come out this year. The trailer solidified the fact that Paul Feig has no idea what he is doing with this franchise. The film seems to provide cheap laughs from current or previous Saturday Night Live characters, a bunch of unnecessary special effects, and a premise that rips-off the original.
3. Alice Through the Looking Glass (May 27)
Based on one of the most useless, money hungry remakes in recent memory, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" will be a continuation of Alice's crazy not-LSD inspired adventures. The trailer features the same uninspiring visuals that was presented in the previous film. Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter is back because he drove the previous film. He was one of the main reasons the previous film made as much money as it did.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (June 3)
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was one of the worst blockbuster films ever created. The film took footage from "Transformers". The film butchered a near unbutcherable story. And the film was created for absolutely no reason. There have already been great films based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The newer version includes more special effects, because special effects enhance things and are usually the death of any franchise from two decades or more.
1. Ouija 2 (October 21)
As far as unnecessary sequels go, "Ouija 2" takes the cake. "Ouija" was hated by so many people, but it still grossed over its production budget. Hollywood loves when this happens, because it can make another crappy movie and people will go see it. Someone has to start sending out self reports to the people who go out and watch this film. Why do you watch it? Is it really worth the money? Then again, the film is marketed towards the teenage demographic. Last time I saw a film directly targeted towards teenagers it was one of the worst movie-going experiences of my life ("Poltergeist"). But, in all seriousness, if you want to go out on a date with you crush and make-out in a movie theater, at least pay money to films that actually deserve the money.
Nevada Film Critics Society
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