The Top 5 Sequels We Just Can't Wait For

Nowadays it seems Hollywood’s primary goals is to fashion film franchises from the most ill-conceived and lowest common denominator works of cacophonous CGI and un-ceasing ultra-destructive action sequences. The most unlikely and unassuming of films have been dragged into copious sequels and pretentious prequels, turning them into cash-cows to be milked until their teats are as dry as the most dead-pan of Steven Wright jokes.

The fairly mediocre Jason Statham vehicle The Transporter somehow morphed into a trilogy whilst the bone-headed car-orgy of Fast & Furious franchise looks set to reach double figures based on an increasingly ludicrous emphasis on ridiculous stunts. Of course, the existence of a sequel far from guarantees that a picture will deteriorate in content. Die Hard With A Vengeance was arguably more of an endearingly high-octane thrill ride than its predecessors, thanks in part to the no-bullshit presence of Samuel L,  although the franchise has now dissolved into the kind of boorish spectacle that even Bruce Willis seems to have lost all enthusiasm for.

Bruce Willis' primary franchise Die Hard has hit hard times.

Similarly, Rocky III came darn close to filmic brilliance before reverting back to pure cinematic tosh in its ensuing sequels whilst in the realm of classic Hollywood, The Good The Bad And The Ugly is arguably the finest picture in Sergio Leone’s ‘Spaghetti Western’ trilogy. Despite the odds being stacked against them, Hollywood has some potentially beguiling sequels in the works that are guaranteed to have crowds flocking toward them in record numbers.

  Finding Dory

Watch The Trailer For 'Finding Nemo 3-D' Below  

Disney has developed a nasty habit as of late- producing brilliant and original concepts before releasing weak, downright awful or simply unneeded sequels. Ice Age 3 (or is it 4? Or even 5?), Rio 2 and Cars 3 instantly come to mind. Granted, Toy Story 3 was amongst the strongest Pixar release both critically and commercially but such all-round success for Pixar’s sequels are now a rarity. Even so, hopes are high for Finding Dory, the long-awaited sequels to Finding Nemo, perhaps one of Pixar’s most well-loved and fondly remembered films. Rumours of a sequel has persevered for over a decade but a whopping eleven years after the original won the hearts and minds of children and adults alike, the sequel is primed for release. The newest instalment which focusses on Dory, who acted as much needed comic relief in the original film’s emotionally charged father/son tribulations, will be met with much trepidation given Pixar’s current trend of below-average sequels. Let’s hope Pixar have learned their lesson from the hugely disappointing and poorly conceived Monster’s University and steer clear of tarnishing another of their sacred franchises.

Dumb & Dumber To

Carrey had admitted he'd by donning his trademark bowl cut for the much-anticipated sequel

Read Our Guide To The Next Installment of Dumb & Dumber

Harry & Lloyd occupy a space in filmic history as amongst the most belly-aching duos in comedy history. The famous ‘most annoying sound’ scene from their first outing ranks as the most well-known and easily recognisable in the history of the American comedy film. With unflinching and endearing naivety, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels introduced a whole generation of kids to the endless possibilities of toilet humour and shameless idiocy. It sure as hell ain’t clever, but in a plot that centres around two friends who are not only several sandwiches short of a picnic, they’ve more than likely forgotten the whole basket, Dumb & Dumber is a masterpiece in universal humour. The next instalment sees the pair on a wild ride to meet their long lost children, whilst also attempting to obtain a kidney. It will be crude, rude and infinitely farcical. After a miss-step in the decidedly average prequel Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, the hugely successful Farrely brothers (There’s Something About Mary, Me Myself And Irene) return to the directorial helm in what promises to be another rollicking adventure of everyone’s favourite and immensely loveable dim-wits.

Terminator 5

Arnie will return after his absence from the last film Terminator Salvation

Arnold Schwarzenegger Announces 'He'll Be Back' For Terminator Sequel

With a release date pencilled in for June 2015, the fifth Terminator film will see Arnie resume his most recognisable and iconic role as the indestructible cyborg in one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises after his absence from the previous release, Terminator Salvation. Set in the backdrop of a nuclear holocaust that occurs in 2018, wiping out most of humanity and clearing the path for Skynet to conquer the Earth, Terminator Salvation failed to ignite critics and audiences to the degree that such an enduring blockbuster series should ultimately enact. But with Arnie back in his rightful place after only appearing in Terminator Salvation as a purely CGI creation and James Cameron drafted in as a writer, the fifth instalment looks set to put the franchise back on track in a sure-fire epic of colossal action. Featuring Doctor Who star Matt Smith and fast-ascending Game Of Thrones actress Emelia Clarke, who will take on the hallowed role of Sarah Connor, hopes are high that interest in the franchise can be sufficiently re-ignited through the reintroduction of the Terminator himself as well as an array of hot-property young blood.

22 Jump Street

Watch The Trailer To 22 Jump Street Below

4186704-0;noautopThe 2012 remake of the 1980’s TV series impacted with a level of success that took many by surprise, especially when you consider the film lampooned a TV show that many young people had never heard of, yet alone watched. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum possessed that often elusive comedic chemistry which led to some seriously hilarious set pieces, including some acid-induced tongue waggling and confrontations with a brilliantly scowling and straight-laced Ice Cube. Having graduated high-school (for the second time), Schmidt and Jenko are assigned an undercover assignment at a local college. With that in mind, it seems we’re in for a pretty similar comedic ride than the first installation, although the sequel will be filled with all the familiar tropes and signifiers of the American university experience. So we’ll be expecting plenty of run-ins with fraternities, constant partying and a fair dose of drunken sexual experimentation then. Let’s hope the plot and the ensuing gags are more imaginative than the title of this hotly anticipated sequel. 

The Inbetweeners Movie 2

Simon Bird Has Said The Film Will Get An August Release

Having graduated to the silver screen with veritable aplomb in their lad-centric booze-fuelled holiday to Malia, Jay, Will, Simon and Neil will be shuffling their way to Australia for what is certain to be a side-splitting and infinitely relatable tale of adolescent misgivings and fumbling sexual encounters. Their latest sojourn will see the nations favourite incompetent teens reunite after they went their separate ways and made their first tentative steps into adult life at the conclusion of their original opus. We can expect plenty of social ineptitude between the lads as they once again step into the unknown for the second in this most lucrative of spin-offs. So far, a short teaser trailer is all the public have been granted in terms of insight into the nature of the next chapter in the lives of this equally loveable and idiotic group of boys. With the crux of the trailer amounting to Jay calling an Aborigine a “fire wanker!” we can expect the latest instalment to be every bit as shamelessly crude as anything the show’s creators have penned so far.