10 Sequels That Completely Changed The Original Movie’s Genre

Hollywood has demonstrated time and again that studios will stop at nothing to construct a franchise around a successful film. If an idea works, it’s frivolous to waste time and effort trying to make something novel. It’s much easier to explore new avenues within a pre-existing story than to create a new one altogether. Thus, the industry typically pours its resources into these projects. Unsurprisingly, many movie sequels coming in 2025 boast the highest budgets of any other titles.

Even the large majority of the highest-grossing movies of all time are sequels. The bottom line is that these films make money, but they still need to maintain a degree of innovation. Typically, there is already a set path for the story. A franchise like the Infinity Saga particularly benefited from this quality. Other times, all that’s necessary is a new character or conflict. On the rarest of occasions, a sequel will change the original movie’s genre entirely.

10

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Directed By Joe Dante

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Gremlins 2: The New Batch

PG-13
ComedyFantasyHorror

A few years after the original <em>Gremlins, Gremlins 2: The New Batch</em> again centers around Billy Peltzer and Gizmo, the protagonists of the first film. After Gizmo’s home, the Chinatown collectible shop has been destroyed; he escapes into a New York Skyscraper. Gizmo is kidnapped by a scientist who lives in the building and seeks to experiment on him, but Billy manages to rescue him. Unfortunately, after one of the rules is broken by accident and Gizmo has water spilled on him, a new batch of Gremlins are born and begin to wreak havoc on the building – leading to them taking over an entire TV station. Billy and Gizmo must again figure out how to corral the Gremlins and stop them.

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Release Date

June 15, 1990

Runtime

106 minutes

Cast

John Glover
, Howie Mandel
, Phoebe Cates
, Robert Picardo
, Zach Galligan
, Christopher Lee
, Robert J. Prosky

Director

Joe Dante

Writers

Chris Columbus
, Charles S. Haas

In 1984, Joe Dante introduced the story of the beloved cuddly creatures in Gremlins. They’re as cute as can be until they get near water or eat after midnight. If that happens, they turn into literal serial killers. The film was a smash hit when it was released and remains a fan favorite to this day. Six years later, the director delivered a follow-up with Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Most were expecting a thoughtful continuation of the first movie, and that’s not what they got.

The original was a horror comedy by all measures, but the sequel turned up the absurdity to the max. Dante dropped the somewhat scary aspect altogether and created a hysterical rollercoaster of pure insanity. While some tend to prefer the first movie, there’s no denying that the second is way more interesting. It isn’t clear what the thought process behind the change was, but it was assuredly the right move. Although the second installment hit theaters over 40 years ago, Gremlins 3 recently received a reassuring update.

9

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Directed By Dan Trachtenberg

10 Cloverfield Lane Poster

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10 Cloverfield Lane

PG-13
DramaHorrorMysterySci-FiThriller

From Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young woman who awakens after a car crash in a bunker alongside two strangers. Howard (John Goodman) tells her that it’s not safe to leave, and that he saved her life, but Michelle becomes increasingly suspicious of Howard’s motives and his past and begins to plan a daring escape to see what exactly has happened to the outside world.

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Release Date

March 10, 2016

Runtime

103 Minutes

Cast

John Goodman
, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
, John Gallagher Jr.
, Douglas M. Griffin
, Suzanne Cryer
, Bradley Cooper

Director

Dan Trachtenberg

Main Genre

Thriller

Writers

Josh Campbell
, Matthew Stuecken
, Damien Chazelle

Studio(s)

Bad Robot

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures

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Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane presents an interesting example of franchise continuation. The movies in the series are technically sequels to one another, but it isn’t initially clear how the Cloverfield ​​​​​​movies connect. The original 2008 film, Matt Reeve’s Cloverfield, was a found-footage style horror sci-fi that followed a massive creature destroying a city.

Collage of the house from 10 Cloverfield Lane with a closeup of Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the film

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10 Cloverfield Lane Ending Explained – How It Connects To Cloverfield’s Monster

10 Cloverfield Lane’s ending sees Michelle escape the bunker, only to find that the world isn’t at all safe – but what does the divisive ending mean?

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10 Cloverfield Lane didn’t continue that story in any way, and the tone took a massive shift. The sequel primarily takes place in an underground bunker during a supposed apocalypse, following Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who doubts the sincerity of her fellow survivors. It’s more of a psychological thriller compared to its action horror predecessor. The entertainment comes from hysteria, and the sci-fi aspect doesn’t make itself known until the end of the film. Although it wasn’t the follow-up that audiences were expecting, it’s arguably better than the original.

8

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

Directed By Tobe Hooper

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Poster

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

R
ComedyHorror

Release Date

August 22, 1986

Runtime

89 minutes

Cast

Dennis Hopper
, Caroline Williams
, Jim Siedow
, Bill Moseley
, Bill Johnson
, Ken Evert

Director

Tobe Hooper

Main Genre

Comedy

Writers

Kim Henkel
, Tobe Hooper
, L.M. Kit Carson

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It isn’t clear what exactly went wrong with the creation of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The original film is easily one of the best horror movies of all time, and there isn’t much of a debate. It managed to create a bone-chilling atmosphere that was almost tangible. Given how terrifying Leatherface was in the first film, there were high hopes for an equally scary sequel.

Audiences were met with a movie that felt like a parody of its source material. Even within the first few minutes of the runtime, it’s woefully apparent that the sequel is completely absurd. The gritty tone of the original was completely thrown out the window, and the director adopted a campy style that made everything seem like a joke. There’s no doubt that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 is a fun ride, but it’s confusing why the genre change was so sudden.

7

Cars 2 (2011)

Directed By John Lasseter

cars2

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5.3/10

Cars 2

G
AnimationAdventureComedyFamily

Following the first film, racecar Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater travel to Japan for Lightning to compete in the Grand Prix. However, Mater stumbles into the world of international espionage, and must work with two British spies to bring down a criminal who threatens the race.

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Release Date

June 18, 2011

Runtime

106 minutes

Cast

Owen Wilson
, Larry the Cable Guy
, Michael Caine
, Emily Mortimer
, John Turturro
, Eddie Izzard
, Thomas Kretschmann

Director

John Lasseter
, Brad Lewis

Writers

Ben Queen

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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Cars is one of the many jewels in the fabled Pixar animation studio’s crown. Disney doesn’t seem to miss a beat in creating intriguing story concepts, and this film was no exception. The idea of cars as sentient beings is interesting enough, but they built it into a truly heartwarming story. Out of the million avenues the creators could’ve gone with for the next installment, the choice was completely unexpected.

Cars 2 was the first Pixar movie that wasn’t nominated for any Oscars.

One of the original film’s main strengths was its simplicity. The core plot was about racing, but it tied in a funny contrast between Lightning McQueen’s (Owen Wilson) bougie lifestyle and the rural town of Radiator Springs. Cars 2 disregarded both of these things and suddenly added international espionage into the lives of the automobiles. The spy comedy direction felt completely unnatural in the context of the first movie, and unsurprisingly, the reception was less than stellar. Although there is still demand for a Cars 4, there haven’t been many updates.

6

Evil Dead II (1987)

Directed By Sam Raimi

01126678_poster_w780.jpg

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10/10

Evil Dead II

R
HorrorComedyFantasy

Evil Dead II is a horror-comedy film directed by Sam Raimi, continuing the story of Ash Williams. After arriving at a secluded cabin with his girlfriend, Ash faces malevolent forces unleashed by an archaeologist’s recording of chants from the Book of the Dead, leading to chaotic and supernatural events.

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Release Date

March 13, 1987

Runtime

84 minutes

Cast

Bruce Campbell
, Sarah Berry
, Dan Hicks
, Kassie DePaiva
, Ted Raimi
, Denise Bixler
, Richard Domeier
, John Peakes
, Lou Hancock
, Snowy Winters
, Sol Abrams
, Josh Becker
, Scott Spiegel
, Thomas Kidd
, Mitch Cantor
, William Preston Robertson
, Jenny Griffith
, Tony Elwood
, Gary Jones
, David Goodman
, Greg Nicotero
, Sam Raimi
, Tom Sullivan
, Robert Tapert
, John W. Walter

Director

Sam Raimi

Writers

Scott Spiegel

Studio(s)

Renaissance Pictures

Distributor(s)

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

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It’s a common practice for horror franchises to adopt a more comical aspect with later installments. Even the genre’s “big three,” Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street all begin to take a campy direction eventually. It’s usually due to a lack of other ideas, so it’s interesting when a sequel takes the humor route immediately. In the case of the Evil Dead movies, this is exactly what happened.

Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is a prime example of classic horror. Filled with all the quintessential tropes of the genre, it’s a genuinely scary film that’s impressive in light of the modest budget. Evil Dead II, however, was nothing like its predecessor. Raimi packed in more comedy than was ever present in the original, but the result was fantastic. The new style was more entertaining, and it gave a more complete feel to the movie as a whole.

5

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Directed By Taika Waititi

Thor Ragnarok Australia Poster

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15

7.9/10

Thor: Ragnarok

PG-13
SuperheroActionAdventureSci-FiFantasyComedy

Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first directed by Taika Waititi. In the sequel, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself stranded on Sakaar, ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Soon he teams with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to return to Asgard and defeat his sister Hela.

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Release Date

November 3, 2017

Runtime

130 Minutes

Cast

Chris Hemsworth
, Tessa Thompson
, Tom Hiddleston
, Mark Ruffalo
, Jeff Goldblum
, Cate Blanchett
, Idris Elba
, Karl Urban

Director

Taika Waititi

Main Genre

Superhero

Writers

Eric Pearson
, Craig Kyle
, Christopher Yost
, Stan Lee
, Larry Lieber
, Jack Kirby
, Greg Pak
, Walter Simonson
, Carlo Pagulayan

Distributor(s)

Disney

Expand

Taika Waititi brought a necessary breath of fresh air to Marvel’s god of thunder in 2017 with Thor: Ragnarok. The first few franchise installments kicked off the story in a thoughtful manner, but both films featured relatively unexciting experiences overall. Thor was missing the right aesthetic, and Waititi delivered. The sequel dropped the somewhat bleak tone of the previous movies and added a splash of color.

Thor with Mjolnir

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Suddenly, a short-haired Thor gets blasted out of the Bifröst and winds up on a whimsical planet where his first main task is to fight Hulk in a massive arena. It’s exactly what the audience wanted to see. The film still falls under the superhero genre but with an entirely different style. The once-stern plot was now filled with hysterical moments. Considering what the state of the franchise looks like today, it makes the tone shift of this sequel look like a mistake. Nevertheless, Thor: Ragnarok is easily the best of the Thor movies.

4

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Directed By James Cameron

T2 Judgement Day Movie Poster

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14

9.4/10

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

R
Action Sci-Fi

Directed by James Cameron, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a direct sequel to the original Terminator and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Patrick, and Linda Hamilton. In this installment, John Connor is being hunted by an advanced Skynet prototype from the future. Thankfully, he receives help from a reprogrammed T-800 sent back in time by the resistance to protect him.

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Release Date

July 3, 1991

Runtime

137 Minutes

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger
, Linda Hamilton
, Robert Patrick
, Edward Furlong

Director

James Cameron

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Writers

James Cameron
, William Wisher

Studio(s)

Carolco Pictures
, Pacific Western Productions
, Lightstorm Entertainment
, Le Studio Canal+

Distributor(s)

Tri-Star Pictures

Expand

In 1984, the renowned James Cameron kicked off a massive franchise with The Terminator. The director managed to turn a major profit despite the odds, pulling in $78.3 million at the worldwide box office against a modest budget of $6.4 million. It isn’t a shock that audiences were so enthralled by the sci-fi classic. When it finally came time for a sequel, Cameron was backed by much heavier resources.

The first film had a sinister ambiance that had strong elements of horror, but Terminator 2: Judgment Day went down a different road. Cameron took the original premise and overloaded it with high-octane action. This was carried out in conjunction with an array of innovative special effects, making for a sequel that was arguably superior to the first movie. It felt like a standalone installment for all the best reasons.

3

Fast Five (2011)

Directed By Justin Lin

Fast Five Poster

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9/10

Fast Five

PG-13
ActionAdventureCrime

The fifth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five continues the Fast Saga in a high-octane thrill ride. When Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner’s (Paul Walker) gang become international fugitives, they are hunted by Luke Hobbs, an agent of the DSS. They also fall foul of a Brazillian drug lord, deciding to perform a heigh-stakes heist in order to steal $100 million from him.

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Release Date

April 29, 2011

Runtime

130 Minutes

Cast

Vin Diesel
, Paul Walker
, Dwayne Johnson
, Jordana Brewster
, Tyrese Gibson
, Ludacris
, Matt Schulze
, Sung Kang
, Gal Gadot

Director

Justin Lin

Writers

Justin Lin

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

Expand

When it comes to the Fast and Furious ​​​​​​movies, it’s hard to know where to even begin. What once started as mischievous friends’ street racing has seemingly transformed into life-or-death space missions where the fate of the entire world is at stake. Most would think that the creators would run out of steam, but sure enough, another installment pops up every few years. The franchise is more absurd than ever, but it all started earlier on.

Although the abandonment of the original premise slowly crept up with each release, Fast Five represented the biggest genre shift. When Dwayne Johnson finally shows up in the cast, it’s bound to get interesting. This sequel witnessed the classic crew in Rio de Janeiro, where their street-level antics have suddenly risen to an international scale. Fast Five introduced the possibility of heists, and they immediately became the spectacle of the series moving forward. Love it or hate it, the creators chose a new direction and stuck with it.

2

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1982)

Directed By George P. Cosmatos

Rambo- First Blood Part II

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5/10

Rambo: First Blood Part II

R
ActionAdventureThrillerWar

Rambo: First Blood Part II follows John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, as he is released from prison for a government-sanctioned covert mission back to the hostile jungles of Vietnam. Tasked with gathering intelligence on American prisoners of war, he faces formidable challenges in this high-stakes operation.

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Release Date

May 21, 1985

Runtime

94 minutes

Cast

Sylvester Stallone
, Richard Crenna
, Charles Napier
, Steven Berkoff
, Julia Nickson
, Martin Kove

Director

George P. Cosmatos

Main Genre

Action

Writers

David Morrell
, Kevin Jarre
, Sylvester Stallone
, James Cameron

Expand

If someone is only familiar with the latter installments of the Rambo franchise, they would be completely blindsided by the tone of Rambo: First Blood. It’s the film that started it all, but by most measures, it’s a completely different genre from the other titles in the collection. The themes explored in the original bear no resemblance to any of the sequels that came after it. In typical Hollywood fashion, the action got turned up to the max.

Sylvester Stallone in Rambo and Rambo 4 on and background with an explosion

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Rewatching The Rambo Movies Reveals A Sad Reality About The Sylvester Stallone Franchise

Revisiting Rambo’s first movie appearance in First Blood makes it clear that Sylvester Stallone’s character betrayed his origins completely.

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7

It’s a shame that the Rambo movies evolved in the manner that they did. Although John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is awesome as an epic action hero, the first film was a story about the mental troubles that plagued a war veteran. The action was present, but it was built around an intriguing narrative about post-traumatic stress disorder. Rambo: First Blood Part II, on the other hand, only remembers the character’s capacity as an action hero. His mission is suddenly on a much larger scale, and the thoughtful drama of the original is tossed to the side.

1

Aliens (1986)

Directed By James Cameron

Aliens Movie Poster

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6.7/10

Aliens

R
AdventureHorrorSci-FiAction

Aliens is a 1986 Sci-Fi classic by writer and director James Cameron. Starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, it’s widely considered one of the best Sci-Fi Horror films ever made. Ripley must band together with a group of Colonial Marines to investigate a disaster at a terraforming colony.

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Release Date

July 18, 1986

Runtime

137 minutes

Cast

Sigourney Weaver
, Michael Biehn
, Carrie Henn
, Paul Reiser
, Lance Henriksen
, Bill Paxton
, William Hope
, Jenette Goldstein

Director

James Cameron

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Writers

James Cameron

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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It’s an incredibly rare occurrence for audiences to have conflicting opinions on the superiority between an original and its follow-up. Typically, sequels are never held in higher regard than their source material. In the case of Aliens, James Cameron defied the odds and delivered an absolute masterpiece. Like many other franchises do, this film brought in heavy action, but it worked out for the best. To put it simply, Aliens utilized the potential of the malicious Xenomorphs in an energetic setting.

The original was a bleak, atmospheric slow-burn about a creature hunting its prey. Nobody understood what the life form was, and it made the experience all the more unsettling. The sequel was just the opposite. In Aliens, the enemy has already been established, and it’s time for the humans to fight back. Cameron managed to blend action and sci-fi in a way that few have done since. Regardless of personal preference between the two films, there’s no question that the genre change ended up working out. 40 years later, the franchise is still going strong, with Alien: Romulus being the most recent installment.

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