‘The worst piece of crap I’ve ever seen’: 10 sequels that no one saw coming
The premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ comes when the resounding failure of the second installment of ‘Joker’ is still in the air and once again puts under the microscope the great power of a second part to reaffirm or destroy a classic of cinema.
'Gladiator II,' the long-awaited sequel to the Roman epic that captivated audiences 24 years ago, is finally set for release. Ridley Scott's penchant for transforming films into franchises is well-known, so the only surprise is that it took him this long to revisit the final days of the Antonine dynasty. That said, based on early discussions, 'Gladiator II' appears destined to join the distinguished gallery of unconventional sequels — those that, whether by creative ambition, lack of commercial success, or sheer oversight, diverge from their originals to lead viewers down unexpected, and not always pleasant or navigable, paths. Here are a few notable examples, ranging from the brilliant and opportunistic to the downright dismal.
LILO/SIPA (LILO/SIPA / Cordon Press)EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (1977) – One thing this film cannot be faulted for is its remarkable ambition and distinctive stylistic vision. In many ways, it is a reluctant sequel, marked by its resistance to mimic the original and its relentless pursuit of an independent identity. This determination ultimately alienated both audiences who wanted to revisit the unsettling world of 'The Exorcist' (1973) and those who maintained (even then) that sequels were rarely successful. John Boorman approached 'The Heretic' as if crafting an entirely new gothic horror universe, rather than pillaging an existing creation for profit. His film boasts its own rhythm, atmosphere, and subtle elements that set it far apart from Friedkin's work. Ironically, it was this commitment to being different that doomed 'Exorcist II' at box office and with critics. Friedkin himself dismissed it as “the worst piece of crap I've ever seen.” A failure it did not deserve.IFTN (United Archives/IFTN / Cordon Press)AMERICAN PSYCHO 2 (2002) – The curious case of the unforeseen sequel. Two novice screenwriters, Alex Anger and Karen Craig, crafted a story centered on a determined criminology student who methodically eliminates her classmates and professors to prove an audacious academic thesis: that perfect crimes are indeed possible. Lionsgate acquired the script, enlisted rising director Morgan J. Freeman, and cast a young TV star, Mila Kunis, fresh from New York. The studio invested nearly $10 million in the production, but soon lost confidence in the project as filming progressed. In a bid to salvage it, they made a series of clumsy, exploitative changes to the script, retrofitting it as a sequel to 'American Psycho' — something it was never intended to be. Kunis' character was rewritten as the protégé (and eventual executioner) of Patrick Bateman, the murderous financier created by Bret Easton Ellis and brought to life by Christian Bale just a couple of years prior. The result was a predictably poor artistic and commercial outcome. Ellis even threatened to sue Lionsgate, while Kunis later admitted that this bizarre misstep remains the most embarrassing film of her career. Not all offenses against good taste go unpunished.Foto Blitz/Cordon Press
SHOCK TREATMENT (1981) – Sometimes the most intriguing sequels are those that barely acknowledge that they are sequels. These films avoid the number "2" in their title, obscure their predecessor's name, and sidestep conventional marketing as if uncertain of their ability to meet expectations. 'Shock Treatment' is undoubtedly the spiritual successor, the sibling, or even the offbeat offshoot of the extraordinary phenomenon that was (and still is) 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' Yet, its creators felt no need to broadcast that connection. They trusted that viewers already inducted into that eclectic, underground cult would recognize the return of Brad and Janet and an expected mix of operatic villains, blood, glitter, androgyny, sarcasm, audacity, and creative madness. While it never achieved the legendary status of its predecessor, 'Shock Treatment' demonstrates that certain whimsical, cardboard-cutout universes are so enticing and well-crafted that they can continue growing without risk of collapse.IFTN (United Archives/IFTN / Cordon Press)DEEP THROAT, PART II (1974) – The sequel to the most iconic pornographic film in history featured no actual sex scenes. In a bold move, the producers aimed to release the film in mainstream theaters and surpass the nearly $50 million grossed by its predecessor. Joe Sarno, the mastermind behind this audacious plan, transformed what had been a groundbreaking and comically risqué erotic tale into a B-movie erotic comedy. To liven up the plot, he concocted an absurd story in which Linda Lovelace's character, a nurse unable to enjoy traditional coitus due to having a clitoris at the entrance to her trachea, became the target of intrigue and desire for both CIA and KGB agents. Unsurprisingly, this second attempt earned only a fraction of the original's revenue.
LMPC (LMPC via Getty Images)RAMBO (1985) – Ted Kotcheff's 'First Blood' (1982) may not have been a masterpiece, but it was an impressive film. It told the story of John Rambo, a troubled soul, a broken veteran with a shattered psyche who, when provoked by a group of gum-chewing, small-town cops, ends up taking down helicopters with nothing but stones. Three years later, the character was stripped of his last vestiges of defiance, complexity, and moral ambiguity to become a brutal instrument of Ronald Reagan's grandiose, jingoistic neo-imperialism. This shift in meaning birthed one of the most profitable — and, it must be said, notorious — franchises of the late 20th century.
Jt Vintage (ZUMAPRESS.com / Cordon Press)