Franchises are the backbone of Hollywood these days, with every studio looking for ways to
plan out a series of tentpoles years in advance.
Often times, they’re working with a rich mythology or decades of publication history
to draw from, so the stories write themselves.
Then there are the self-contained films that don’t really leave anything open at the
end, calling into question why a follow-up was ever produced.
Here are Screen Rant’s 10 great movies that never needed a sequel.
Jaws
Steven Spielberg’s thriller is one of the most influential works of all-time, since
it introduced the concept of the studio blockbuster.
It became the first movie to gross $100 million at the box office and set records, so the
studio wanted a sequel.
However, it wasn’t warranted.
Jaws ends with Brody killing the shark and there isn’t anywhere else to go with the
concept or the characters.
Seeing that the sequels stretched the premise to absurd lengths, the executives would be
been better suited following Spielberg’s lead and leaving it after part one.
There are only so many times a shark can terrorize the same beach… or family.
Rocky
We know what you’re thinking.
Without Rocky sequels, Creed would never be possible, but it took a while for the champ
to regain his former glory.
The original is a hard-hitting sports drama that’s the ultimate underdog tale and concludes
with Rocky rediscovering his self-value.
Over time, the series morphed into 1980s camp with over-the-top villains, and essentially
disregarded Rocky’s heartfelt message.
In the first one, Balboa knew he couldn’t beat Creed, but that didn’t really matter
in the end.
But every other time out, winning the final fight was the ultimate goal.
And besides, Apollo said there wouldn’t be a rematch and Rocky didn’t want one.
Jurassic Park
Imaginations were captured when dinosaurs came back to life and moviegoers got to experience
the wonder of Jurassic Park.
But the severe consequences of the amusement park were also placed front and center, illustrating
the dangers of bringing the prehistoric creatures into the modern age.
After the experiment proved to be a disaster the first time around, there’s really no
reason – other than box office dollars – to keep going back to the well.
It’s a cautionary tale that plays out pretty much the same way each time.
No matter how advanced your security measures are, the dinosaurs will always rule the world.
The Hangover
Audiences were pleasantly surprised when the first Hangover gave R-rated comedies a shot
in the arm and provided a zany collection of laughs.
The cast was in top form, several of the jokes landed, and a scary mystery fueled the plot
and gave it serious stakes.
Once Doug was found and the gang saw pictures from the bachelor party, we were ready to
move on – but the Wolfpack wasn’t.
They came back for two more misadventures that couldn’t live up to the original, mainly
because there was nothing new to bring to the table.
Even Zach Galifianakis says the sequels were disappointing, so let’s just consider the
first one canon.
Die Hard
Arguably the perfect action movie, Die Hard is a tour de force with thrilling set pieces,
a great hero, and an even better villain.
It also tied everything up nicely at the end, as John McClane reconnected with his wife
and rode off to celebrate the holidays with his family.
There didn’t seem to be room for another story, but sequels were made.
Sure, the follow-ups have their moments of fun and entertainment, but none of them can
hold a candle to what made the original so special.
When moviegoers think of John McClane, they think of the first film, and there’s a good
reason for that.
Speed
One of the best action films of the 1990s, Speed was a white-knuckled ride from start
to finish, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with excitement and well-rendered
characters.
Like so many movies of its kind, Speed probably would have been better served as a one-and-done
exercise.
One only has to look at Speed 2 for proof, since it’s one of the more underwhelming
action flicks ever released.
Featuring thin characterization and set pieces that bored rather than thrilled, it was clear
it didn’t have anything to add and almost ruined what came before.
If they couldn’t get Keanu Reeves back, they probably should have left it alone.
Monsters, Inc.
Pixar’s 2001 hit is one of their most inventive and beloved, featuring creative world building
and wonderful characters that touched the heart.
The story it told was so perfect, the studio couldn’t move forward with a second installment
– they had to go back in time.
A prequel, Monsters University, showed how Mike and Sully met in college and became the
lifelong friends we see in the original.
While it was fun to see the monsters back in action and another side of the universe,
it’s seen as second-rate Pixar that isn’t as effective as the first film.
Moviegoers would have preferred Pixar make an original concept than go back to a well
they’ve hit before.
Men in Black
It’s a premise that’s seemingly set up for sequels, but Men in Black should have
been left alone.
The filmmakers weren’t entirely sure how to handle a follow-up, and brought back Tommy
Lee Jones to work with Will Smith.
Unfortunately, this undermines the emotional conclusion of the first film, where Agent
Kay steps down to have his memory wiped so he can reunite with his true love.
His story should have ended there, especially since Men in Black II could only recycle elements
from the first movie and didn’t feel as fresh.
When there’s nowhere to go with the characters, it’s best to leave it untouched.
Grease
One of the most memorable musicals ever, the original Grease is full of catchy tunes, fun
characters, and an entertaining story about young love.
Since it was so popular, the studio tried to force a sequel, and the results were not
nearly as impressive.
While Grease 2 did have solid song and dance numbers of its own, it was dismissed largely
as a retread of the first one – with a new cast - that didn’t really bring anything
new to the table.
Fans could just watch the original and get all the summer loving they needed.
Caddyshack
An endlessly quotable comedy with hilarious characters and situations, 1980’s Caddyshack
is seen as one of the high points of the genre and a favorite for moviegoers everywhere.
Released 8 years later, the sequel became Exhibit A for why comedy follow-ups are a
bad idea.
It surprisingly went for a family-friendly PG rating, and was handicapped by a lackluster
script that didn’t provide many laughs.
It was probably a bad sign that Chevy Chase was the only original cast member that signed
on to return; the rest uninterested or concerned it wouldn’t be good.
The filmmakers should have listened to Bill Murray.
Those are our picks for great films that never needed a sequel.
Are there any we missed?
Which movies do you wish stayed standalone?
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