Sequels are often the source of major excitement because of the prospect of getting more of an amazing set of characters or an immersive world. However, the same prospect can lead to skepticism, because sequels often have the potential to disappoint viewers by trying to recreate the magic of the original to no avail. The most disappointing movie sequels of the 2010s all have this issue of lacking the depth of the original film, blatantly trying to ride the success of the first movie without being creative or original.

Even trying to be different can have its drawbacks, as demonstrated by the failed to live up to the hype surrounding them. However, some sequels are often simply unnecessary as well, making them particularly disappointing if poorly made.

10 Jaws 2 (1978)

Directed By Jeannot Szwarc

Jaws 2 is the perfect demonstration of corporate greed hampering artistic creativity in the industry. Despite Spielberg's insistence that there shouldn't be a sequel to his film, Universal went ahead with it, and delivered one of the most disappointing sequels of all time. As a monster horror movie, Jaws 2 isn't terrible, but as a sequel to Jaws, often considered the best horror movie by many, it feels like a dissatisfying and unnecessary film.

With uncharacteristic lapses in judgment from the recurring characters, a more predictable demographic of victims, and almost no emotional weight, Jaws 2 is a run-of-the-mill nautical slasher that could never live up to the standards set by Jaws, which redefined summer blockbuster movies. Credit where it's due, the director brought back the same look and feel of the location, but the formulaic screenplay couldn't be saved even with visual style.

9 Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

Directed By Russell Mulcahy

The tagline of Highlander perfectly captures people's feelings about the movie turning into a franchise - "There can only be one". A classic fantasy with an infectious soundtrack featuring songs by Queen performed specifically for the film, Highlander is a goofy take on the hero's journey, perfectly blending farce with darkness. The cinematography especially sets it apart from its contemporaries, as does the inexplicably well-executed balance between silly shenanigans and gritty action adventure. Highlander II: The Quickening, on the other hand, is one of the worst movies ever made.

Even a die-hard sci-fi fan would feel their patience being tested if they attempted to try and understand the incoherent mess that is Highlander II: The Quickening.

The Quickening abandons the canon by introducing aliens, and features frustrating creative choices that make it boring and difficult to sit through. Even a die-hard sci-fi fan would feel their patience being tested if they attempted to try and understand the incoherent mess that is Highlander II: The Quickening. Riddled with plot holes, it doesn't seem to be trying to capture the adorable dorkiness of the original. There are gags that the creative team possibly thought would elicit laughter, but the funniest part of the film is the team's incompetence.

8 Zoolander 2 (2016)

Directed By Ben Stiller

One of the comedy classics of the century, Zoolander made Ben Stiller a household name. The chemistry between him and Owen Wilson as rivals makes for bellyaching, raucous entertainment. It also features one of the best surprise cameos in movie history by David Bowie. The comedic brilliance of Zoolander, however, is that it's a one-time attempt. The concept only works when disbelief is suspended and viewers commit to the chaotic hilarity that ensues as a result of the main characters' shenanigans. An attempt to recreate it would be misguided, and Zoolander 2 demonstrates exactly that.

Zoolander is so immersive with its scathing satire of the fashion industry that one naturally wants more, but the world would have been better off rewatching the classic and quoting it all the time. Zoolander 2 tries doing the same thing as the original again, and it falls flatter than its unfunny bits, which there isn't a dearth of. With more celebrity cameos than actual jokes, and so few actual critiques of the industry that they can be counted on the fingers, Zoolander 2 fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessor.

7 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Directed By John Boorman

The Exorcist is a classic horror movie that continues to scar viewers even today. With a slow burn that patiently dials up the horror quotient to introduce the lore and create a terrifying atmosphere, it's one of the best supernatural horror films of all time. However, the ingenious use of atmospheric horror is difficult to recreate. It operates best as a standalone horror film. This is possibly what prompted director John Boorman to switch up the storytelling style for Exorcist II: The Heretic. The results are as cursed as Regan from The Exorcist.

The Exorcist franchise bounced back in 1990 with The Exorcist III, which is widely regarded to be almost as good as the original, both in of scares and themes.

The surrealistic approach to the subject matter sets up viewers for disappointment because it's a sequel to The Exorcist. As a standalone film at the crossroads between sci-fi and horror, it might work as an experimental horror movie, but as a sequel, all it does is leave viewers wondering whether the creative team even watched the original film or understood what it aims to say about Catholicism. Apart from a couple of good set pieces with decent cinematography and Ennio Morricone's score, Exorcist II: The Heretic doesn't have any redeeming qualities.

6 Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Directed By Joe Berlinger

From a business perspective, The Blair Witch Project getting a sequel within a year of release makes sense. The rumors that the found-footage film isn't fictional, fueled by the ambiguous ending of The Blair Witch Project, added to people's curiosity, making it one of the most impactful horror movies of all time. So, producers naturally wanted to ride the high and cash in while the buzz around the film still kept moviegoers curious. Book of Shadows is particularly disappointing because it plays with a very interesting concept but fails to fulfill its potential in every way imaginable.

The idea of capturing people's reaction to the footage from the first film is imaginative and meta. It acknowledges the film's impact on viewers and adds a layer of immersion. Unfortunately, Book of Shadows was intended to be a satire on the potential effects of evocative horror filmmaking, but was eventually edited to make a conventional horror movie. What's left is a dissatisfying concoction of '90s tropes, with a weird message about how watching horror movies and listening to death metal can push people toward psychopathy.

5 Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

Directed By Malcolm D. Lee

Space Jam is one of the weirdest films in existence. The very idea of the Looney Toons having to face-off against aliens in a game of basketball to save themselves, and kidnapping Michael Jordan to help them win that game, is absurd. But, because of Michael Jordan's charming screen presence, buoyed by his brilliant persona as one of the all-time greats in the sport, and the wacky silliness of the Looney Toons, the film somehow works. The same cannot be said of Space Jam: A New Legacy, which, in one word, is unnecessary.

25 years after Jordan's biggest brand ment as a basketball player, LeBron James' team decided he should attempt to do the same. Space Jam: A New Legacy is literally that - a glorified ment, but a poorly conceived one. With unnecessarily many references to WB projects that are introduced and recontextualized for no apparent reason except to remind people of their existence, the film is a complete mess without anything real to say. James is charismatic and may be able to save the cartoons, but he can't save this mess of bizarre callbacks and poor characterization of the Looney Toons.

4 Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Directed By Jan de Bont

Be it Neo in The Matrix or the titular character of John Wick, Keanu Reeves is known for playing characters who help reshape genre expectations. So, it's no surprise that his SWAT agent character from Speed is a soft-spoken, polite character as opposed to the abrasive heroes of the time. It helped create the unforgettable chemistry with Sandra Bullock that makes the romantic vibes of the action thriller feel genuine and necessary. Speed 2's Jason Patric, however, doesn't share the same kind of chemistry with Bullock, making the romantic arc feel forced.

Willem Dafoe has played some memorable antagonistic characters over the years, so his villain in Speed 2: Cruise Control shouldn't be as uncharismatic and bland as he is. The practical stunts and the explosive climax also should have made the film more entertaining than it is. The lack of quality that Speed 2 brings to the franchise doesn't make sense on paper, but it's one of the most dissatisfying sequels in movie history. The only explanation is the bizarre choice to switch from the breakneck pace of Speed to make a slow burn.

3 American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)

Directed By Morgan J. Freeman

American Psycho, a witty and biting satire on the world of Wall Street, has a scene where the protagonist attempts to feed a stray cat to a cash machine. American Psycho II: All American Girl has a scene where the main character microwaves a cat. The disproportionate difference in quality between the original film and its sequel is perfectly conveyed by the difference in these two scenes. Despite featuring William Shatner and Mila Kunis, All American Girl has no redeeming qualities, especially as a sequel to one of the most influential films of the 2000s.

Not only does it fail to live up to the standards of the original film and contains no satirical commentary on the competitiveness of academia, All American Girl insults American Psycho by showing Patrick Bateman being inexplicably killed early-on in the film. There's no real connection between the two films, except the forced allusions in All American Girl to the original. American Psycho II: All American Girl is boring, doesn't provide much explanation for the protagonist's psychosis, and has nothing meaningful to say.

2 Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Directed By Melanie Mayron

The first Mean Girls movie, which remains the definitive teen comedy of the 21st Century, has left an indelible mark on pop culture, and continues to be referenced via memes, quotes, and GIFs, two decades after its initial release. Its satire of high school life, brought to life through Tina Fey's witty screenplay, makes it feel sincere instead of preachy. However, the sequel, Mean Girls 2, feels like a cheap knockoff Regina George would love to make fun of.

As a direct-to-TV sequel, Mean Girls 2 didn't have the same kind of resources that the original did, but that still doesn't excuse the bland characterization of the one-dimensional clichéd characters. One of the most entertaining aspects of Mean Girls is the use of parody to design characters who represent archetypes but have enough layers to them to feel like real people. In comparison, Mean Girls 2 couldn't be less original if it tried. It feels like a desperate attempt to capture the refreshing authenticity of the original, but without the freshness or creativity that makes Mean Girls a classic.

1 Son of the Mask (2005)

Directed By Lawrence Guterman

The Mask is one of the most iconic films of all time and earned Jim Carrey the fame he has today as one of the greatest comedic actors ever. His hilariously chaotic antics make The Mask one of Jim Carrey's most iconic characters. The Mask is obviously a product of the '90s and every aspect may not hold up as well today, but it's still entertaining. Lawrence Guterman to recreate its magic in 2005, is hilariously bad though. No one asked for Son of the Mask, and without Jim Carrey, there's practically nothing to like about the movie.

It makes viewers further appreciate just how good Jim Carrey is!

The questionable CGI choices in Son of the Mask make for truly horrifying visual effects that are supposed to be funny but can unintentionally scare viewers into turning the movie off before it's over. The poor acting, no doubt a product of bad writing and direction, makes it difficult to care about the characters, whose emotional arcs are so poorly traced that they don't feel like characters but poorly fleshed-out caricatures. The only good thing about Son of the Mask is that it makes viewers further appreciate just how good Jim Carrey is!