Hollywood's clear lack of original ideas is a pestilence much bemoaned by movie buffs. We see sequel after remake after TV show-turned-movie after prequel after comic book adaptation after "reboot" after ... Hasbro toys and game boards?!But unless you regularly scour the New Releases section of your local video store Blockbuster, you may not actually realize how severe The Sequel Pandemic -- as we'll call it -- has gotten.
For every sequel released theatrically, there are thrice that number released straight to DVD. Oftentimes they happen to really decent movies, movies that did nothing to deserve the embarrassing stigma of a horrendous, star-less straight-to-DVD sequel.
Warning: There were no special effects (or Photoshopping) involved in the making of this article. What you are about to see are ACTUAL DVD titles released into the world.
Come on. "DJ Qualls being available" is not reason enough to go here...
Yep, this means there was also, in fact, a 'Cruel Intentions 2.'
Wouldn't you rather not know what Randy Quaid is up to now?
Half the size. Twice as annoying.
Replacing Paul Walker and Jessica Alba are ... Chris Carmack ('The Butterfly Effect 3,' 'Bring It On Again') and Laura Vandervoot!
As if one bad sequel, a Broadway show and a reality TV show about the casting of that Broadway show weren't enough, there's this.
OK, this one we kind of want to see.
This is 'Dr. Dolittle 5,' for those keeping score at home. Yes, Part 5.
Based on a true story. Again!
French Stewart: He looks just like Matthew Broderick, if you're high enough to rent this.
But it was supposed to be the last dance!
Blasphemy.
From the director of 'The Prince and Me 2,' and the upcoming 'Prince and Me 4.' And also, 'In the Heat of Passion 2: Unfaithful.'
This time ... One of the robbers is a woman!
If we make the DVD covers similar enough, maybe you'll pick this one off the shelf by accident!
UPDATE: We attempted to cap ourselves at 15, but this just-discovered, absurdly-real DVD sequel (starring Mila Kunis and William Shatner?!) is too hard to pass up.
Reader Comments (58)
Matty Poo at 1:48PM on Aug 12th 2009
THESE ARE SO RAD! I must own them all.
joe at 2:21AM on Aug 13th 2009
The face of the kid on Home Alone makes me wish that they kill him!
Alex at 12:28PM on Aug 13th 2009
hahhahahahahahahahahahahhaha
Jonathan at 12:12PM on Aug 15th 2009
snark
Dave at 9:39PM on Aug 21st 2009
Spoiler: They DO!
you big stud at 9:41PM on Aug 21st 2009
Spoiler: They DO!
Jeff at 8:38AM on Aug 13th 2009
I feel like Christmas Vacation 2 and perhaps even home alone 4 (or whatever it was) actually got theatrical releases.
Jeff C at 11:18AM on Aug 13th 2009
I recently found WarGames 2 in the video store and had to buy a copy. Wargames 2!
Rich at 10:05AM on Aug 13th 2009
They were both actually made for TV.
Tanner at 11:59AM on Aug 13th 2009
Anyone notice that French Stewart is in both the Inspector Gadget AND the Home Alone sequels? That's him on the DVD cover for Home Alone, right?
Andreas at 6:39PM on Aug 17th 2009
Yup I did notice that and I actually Googled it to make sure. LOL
Sean at 10:30PM on Aug 13th 2009
Y'know while I agree with most of these, "Home Alone:Taking Back the House" was actually pretty good and "Open Water 2:Adrift" was pretty awesome as well
Chris at 4:35AM on Aug 14th 2009
How many of these feature French Stewart?
marchaux at 6:34PM on Aug 24th 2009
Actually, I think French Stewart should have been the ORIGINAL Inspector Gadget! An inspired choice! As for Broderick... no.
But, of course, having seen neither...
Sarah at 9:00AM on Aug 14th 2009
Yes, the majority of these are terrible, in idea and execution. But surprisingly the Lady and the Tramp sequel is very well done. It's an enjoyable script, they took their time with the animation and the voice cast is great. And Scamp is not a new character for Disney, there was a series of books and comics after the original movie starring him.
If you wanted terrible straight to DVD choices for Disney, I would have gone with:
Hercules 2 - Zero to Hero
Pocahontas 2 - Journey to a New World
Cinderella 2 - Dreams Come True
Beauty & the Beast 3 - Chapters of Enchantment
Aladdin 2 - The Return of Jafar (which trivia wise, it the world's very first straight to video movie, so you can blame Michael Eisner for this trend)
Trav at 8:59PM on Aug 17th 2009
All of those are blasphemy to Disney originals. They should have never been a tiny speck of a thought in their heads...Thanks Eisner you ruined Disney movies for my son!
John at 10:42PM on Aug 17th 2009
There was also a 3rd Aladdin, I know because my sister used to watch it nonstop.
Oh, who am I kidding? I watched it non-stop. I did.
Jay G. at 7:32AM on Aug 23rd 2009
Aladdin 2 was NOT the world's first DTV movie. There were plenty of other DTV movies before it. It was, however, the first DTV Disney sequel.
Mike at 1:06PM on Aug 14th 2009
Wow. how can a list of hundreds of horrible straight to dvd sequels be limited to only 16? I'd say about 30% of Blockbuster's inventory is filled with this garbage.
Katie at 5:35PM on Aug 18th 2009
The sad thing is, people rent them. Often. And for some strange reason enjoy them. (I work at Blockbuster)