Do you know what time it is? It's time to talk about some sci-fi classics that really need a sequel. For whatever reason, this year's Sci-Fi offering was pretty lackluster so far. But it doesn't have to be like this – not when there are so many great films of years passed still stuck in limbo, awaiting a much-deserved follow-up.
Table of Contents
Here are just 5 off the top of our heads.
5. Chronicle(2012)
Imagine yourself and your friends stumbling upon a mysterious crystalline object that grants you all telekinetic powers. What would you do? The psychological impact of immense power on a young vulnerable mind - this is what director Josh Trank intended to explore in the 2012 found footage Sci-Fi horror Chronicle.
Initially, the three friends – Andrew, Matt, and Steve – use this power for fun and pranks. However, as their telekinetic abilities grow, so do their arrogance and recklessness, which ultimately leads to a tragic series of events. By the end, viewers find themselves mired in contradictory thoughts and plot-related theories, all of which set the perfect foundation for a sequel.
Along with turning a critical eye on the corrupting influence of power, this film also highlights themes like bullying and abuse, which contemporary cinema has been exploring lately.
Also, with a production budget of only $15 million and box office earnings around $127 million, Chronicle remains one of director Josh Trank's highest grossing titles – a no-brainer choice for a sequel.
4. District 9 (2009)
District 9 is actually Neill Blomkamp's directorial debut. Although he had directed a number of short films and commercials before, this is his first major feature film.
The action is set in Johannesburg, where some extraterrestrial beings are living in a shanty town called District 9 after becoming stranded on Earth. In a twist on the typical alien invasion trope, these beings, known as Prawns, are actually refugees from a dying far-away planet.
Wikus van der Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley), an unscrupulous government agent, is placed in charge of their relocation to a different camp. But things take a horrific turn when he is accidentally exposed to the Prawns' technology, which makes him slowly mutate into one of them.
Unless you've already seen District 9, it's best to leave the rest unspoiled.
With a production budget of just $30 million, the film earned an impressive $210 million, making it one of the top-grossing films of 2009.
As for what we think of a potential sequel: it could actually happen, but probably not soon. While promoting his 2023 film, Gran Turismo, Blomkamp hinted that there could well be a sequel to the Sci-Fi classic, but he himself is not sure when exactly.
3. Event Horizon (1997)
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Laurence Fishburne, Event Horizon is one of the purest examples of a horror Sci-Fi, a genre mix that was pretty new in the late 1990s. The plot revolves around a haunted spaceship on a doomed rescue mission that meets with unspeakable interdimensional horrors while travelling through a black hole.
The film pulled off effects and an atmosphere that fans of the two genres hadn't experienced before, cementing its position as a cult classic. Still, the critical reception at the time was lukewarm, with some calling it "pointlessly loud" and saying it didn't quite live up to expectations.
Unfortunately, Event Horizon only made about $42.7 million worldwide, well below its production budget of around $60 million, which added a financial burden to the studio.
In 2011, Anderson hinted at a potential sequel to Event Horizon. However, a decade later, he confirmed he had dropped any plans for a follow-up, so chances are looking particularly slim on this one.
2. Oblivion (2013)
It's safe to say that the Sci-Fi genre would be incomplete without a mention of Tom Cruise and his numerous contributions – from Minority Report and War of the Worlds to Edge of Tomorrow. A particularly notable entry is Oblivion, released in 2013.
Based on a graphic novel of the same name, created by Joseph Kosinski, the film tells the story of a drone repairman working on a post-apocalypse Earth who stumbles upon dangerous secrets about humanity's past.
Upon its release, Oblivion was praised by critics and fans alike for its setting and breathtaking cinematography. As much as the film attempts to tie everything up, a few tantalizing questions remain unanswered and hold the potential for a sequel – or even better, a prequel. Disappointingly, though, after some early rumours, Universal Pictures hasn't said anything else on the topic.
And with the recent success of Top Gun: Maverick, fans have slim hopes of seeing Tom Cruise reunite with director Joseph Kosinski. But you never know, do you?
1. John Carter(2012)
John Carter came out in 2012 and is based on the 1912 novel A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Director Andrew Stanton, best known for directing box-office hits like Finding Nemo (2003) and Wall-E (2008), was tasked with applying the winning formula to this early 20th century fairytale.
The plot revolves around John Carter, a veteran of the American Civil War, who finds himself transported to Mars, where he acquires superhuman powers and becomes locked in a conflict that ravages the local population. Despite being among the most eagerly awaited films of the year, John Carter quickly turned out to be a catastrophic failure at the box office, bringing in only $281 million worldwide compared with production expenses of $300 million.
Some fans suspect the reason for its poor show was a last-minute change of title and a confused (and confusing) promotional campaign.
Though there have been whispers of a possible sequel, at present the project seems to have been shelved indefinitely, with resources and attention shifted by to surefire hits like the Marvel and Star Wars franchises.
Notable Mentions
Listing out only five out of many felt like an injustice to all the many other films that could easily have made this list. So, here are some notable mentions:
- Inception (2010): We obviously need a sequel to find out whether Cobb ended up in reality or if he's still stuck in a dream.
- Interstellar (2014): Another of Nolan's masterpieces. A sequel could explore the story from the perspective of Cooper and Brand, something fans have been demanding for nearly a decade.
- I am Legend (2007): The original novel from 1954 and its themes provide a strong foundation for expanding the story.
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