You forgot Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which may be the most aggressively confident sequel title ever written. It sounds like a supermarket announcing a new flavor of cereal ))))
The Empire Strikes Back is the one I debated that probably should be here. A great example of a sequel just doing a completely different thing. The Color of Money is another one.
Sharknado 2: The Second One is pretty solid (along the lines of Hot Shots: Part Deux).
But what’s special about Smokey and the Bandit II? Now if they would’ve gone with a “Too”, we might have had something.
I'm not a big fan of Beetlejuice but I really liked that title- Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. I thought that was very innovative. I've never seen that before. Cool list, Shad.
Thought about Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. It’s great. My only knock on it is they sleep on it too long—it should have been the name of part 2 not part 3.
Die Hard 2 was, I believe, named “Die Harder" while it was in production. Somehow someone threw that great title out (it was also the weakest of the series).
The movie “The Madness of King George” was based on the play “The Madness of King George III" (since it was about George III). When the studio tested the name, they found out that Americans wouldn't go to a movie like that: “you don't go to a sequel if you haven't seen the original”
Thought about something from the Die Hard franchise (probably Die Hard With a Vengeance was the closest). Like how these movies are titled. Die Hard 2 actually breaks with the others, should’ve just been Die Harder.
The Madness of King George story is pretty hilarious. Also not totally off base. I guarantee that would’ve been some people reactions (at least in the U.S.).
This was really brilliant, highly original focus on movie sequel titles. I love it!
It draws my attention to the era of the movies (the 80s was big on sequels, but they are, ironically, returning today - often framed as reboots or franchises). I seem to remember a phase in the 90s or early 2000s when sequels were somehow seen as distasteful or inherently "trashy."
Prequels is a really interesting idea. A much smaller pool to work with, but the titles are by nature a little more unique because you can’t just slap a 2 or 3 on there and call it a day. I’ll have to keep that one in mind.
For a Few Dollars More
Damn. This is actually a great one, really playing well off A Fistful of Dollars.
You forgot Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which may be the most aggressively confident sequel title ever written. It sounds like a supermarket announcing a new flavor of cereal ))))
That is another great title (and a great movie). “Aggressively confident” captures it perfectly.
You are missing so many.
The Wrath of Khan
The Empire Strikes Back
You are right about space 2, 3 or 4. Sharknado 2, Terminator 2, Exorcist 2, Amityville Horror 2, Smokey and the Bandit 2. The list goes on....
The Empire Strikes Back is the one I debated that probably should be here. A great example of a sequel just doing a completely different thing. The Color of Money is another one.
Sharknado 2: The Second One is pretty solid (along the lines of Hot Shots: Part Deux).
But what’s special about Smokey and the Bandit II? Now if they would’ve gone with a “Too”, we might have had something.
“Aliens” was my first thought, too.
So simple yet so perfect
I'm not a big fan of Beetlejuice but I really liked that title- Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. I thought that was very innovative. I've never seen that before. Cool list, Shad.
Yeah, put that one in the category where the title gets an A and the movie gets a C… Thanks for reading, Parker!
Some of these movie titles are really creative. My favorites are Aliens and Step Up 2: The Streets.
Honorable mention goes to Now You See Me: Now You Don't.
Thought about Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. It’s great. My only knock on it is they sleep on it too long—it should have been the name of part 2 not part 3.
This is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa erasure
Yes. Yes, it is.
Die Hard 2 was, I believe, named “Die Harder" while it was in production. Somehow someone threw that great title out (it was also the weakest of the series).
The movie “The Madness of King George” was based on the play “The Madness of King George III" (since it was about George III). When the studio tested the name, they found out that Americans wouldn't go to a movie like that: “you don't go to a sequel if you haven't seen the original”
Thought about something from the Die Hard franchise (probably Die Hard With a Vengeance was the closest). Like how these movies are titled. Die Hard 2 actually breaks with the others, should’ve just been Die Harder.
The Madness of King George story is pretty hilarious. Also not totally off base. I guarantee that would’ve been some people reactions (at least in the U.S.).
This was really brilliant, highly original focus on movie sequel titles. I love it!
It draws my attention to the era of the movies (the 80s was big on sequels, but they are, ironically, returning today - often framed as reboots or franchises). I seem to remember a phase in the 90s or early 2000s when sequels were somehow seen as distasteful or inherently "trashy."
I think your next piece should be on prequels! :)
Prequels is a really interesting idea. A much smaller pool to work with, but the titles are by nature a little more unique because you can’t just slap a 2 or 3 on there and call it a day. I’ll have to keep that one in mind.
For a long time sequels were thought of as just cash grabs. Think that’s changed some, but that idea definitely still persists.
Step up 2 is iconic 😎
It really elevates the movie
No Dude Seriously Where’s My Car???
Ooh, that’s a good one