10 Terrible Movie Sequels That Absolutely Nobody Asked For

We can't wait to hear Vin Diesel growl “I am Groot.” in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and we'll happily watch his Dom Toretto crash cars and crack skulls for as long as Hollywood wants to churn out Fast and Furious sequels. As much as we dig Diesel, though, we're not sure anyone was begging to see him don Xander Cage's furry-collared coat again in a XXX sequel.

Of course, seeing Vin effortlessly nail extreme sports stunts that would cripple a man half his age in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage isn't the first time film fans have been subjected to a sequel they never asked for. Hollywood has a long history of trying to recapture the magic -- and money-making potential -- of movies long forgotten or better left alone.

For every great cinematic follow-up or rare entry that's actually superior to its predecessor, there's a long, embarrassing list of failed attempts to turn great original films -- as well as lots of not-so-great ones -- into sequel-spawning franchises. Whether you asked for them or not (you probably didn't), here's 10 of Hollywood's worst attempts to milk a film that had little more to give.

The Fly II (1989)

Remaking a beloved film or cult-classic is tricky business (just ask the Total Recall reboot), but 1986's The Fly didn't just do right by the original, it improved upon it. Sadly, the powers that be pushed their luck a few years later and released The Fly II, a limp follow-up that not only swapped Jeff Goldblum for Eric Stoltz, but turned a cute pup into a pathetic mutant -- don't mess with our pets, Hollywood!

Caddyshack 2 (1988)

Nearly a decade after the original Caddyshack established itself as a comedy classic, someone decided to stomp on its sacred golf green by delivering an abysmal sequel. On top of starring an almost entirely different cast, the follow-up traded the original's R-rated edge for lame, laugh-less PG humor. Not even a new Kenny Loggins' theme song or fresh gopher antics could save this mess.

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)

Following the original Dumb and Dumber with a prequel telling how Jim Carrey's and Jeff Daniels' goofballs first met sounds like a brilliant concept...until you learn their characters are played by two completely different actors. Toss in the fact writer-director creators Bobby and Peter Farrelly weren't involved and, well, this ill-fated entry was one of Hollywood's dumbest ideas.

U.S. Marshals (1998)

This sequel to one of Harrison Ford's best action-thrillers—without Harrison Ford's involvement—turned out pretty much how you'd expect. The follow-up brought back Tommy Lee Jones' grizzled, fugitive-tracking U.S. Marshal, but the new foil, played by Wesley Snipes, just couldn't fill Ford's shoes. Without the original two characters' dynamic chemistry, the follow-up crashed and burned like a runaway prison transport.

Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Perhaps an even bigger offense than Caddyshack 2, this ill-conceived sequel isn't just a blatant insult to the original 80's comedy gem, but also to its deceased, beloved star John Belushi. Much like the Caddyshack sequel, Blues Brothers 2000 unsuccessfully attempted to attract a more mainstream audience with a PG-13 rating. Of course, it would've taken more than a few four-letter words to save this unfunny attempt to channel a classic.

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Often dubbed “Die Hard on a cruise ship”, this painfully generic attempt to cash in on its predecessor's success swaps Keanu Reeves' appealing protagonist for a shoehorned-in Jason Patric. Worse than too-conveniently slotting in a new hero to pair with Sandra Bullock, though, the cash-grabbing switch carelessly crushed the dynamic relationship built in the first film.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

Despite looking smoking hot in Lara Croft's signature short shorts, Angelina Jolie's portrayal of the iconic videogame heroine didn't translate well to the silver screen. This, of course, didn't stop Croft's caretakers from cranking out an even worse sequel. While it seems we're picking on Tomb Raider, though, this example is representative of all game-movie sequels. Hollywood, how about you get the first film right before green-lighting a follow-up?

Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Sure, we were all left slack-jawed when Sharon Stone flashed her crotch in Basic Instinct (it didn't hurt that many of us were horny teenagers at the time.) But her character's attempts to sexually toy with interrogators in this unnecessary sequel felt less like fun nods to the original, and more like cheap, desperate attempts to recapture the shock of the first film.

Zoolander 2 (2016)

Despite what our nostalgia-clouded memories tell us, Zoolander wasn't a great movie. Sure, its charming quirkiness, fun cast, and quotable lines helped catapult it to cult-favorite status, but it's far from a comedy classic. Hollywood didn't quite get that, though, so audiences were subjected to a sequel that totally missed the point.

Jaws 2 (1978)

Jaws 2 is far from the worst sequel on this list, but it might be the most unnecessary. The 1975 original -- which not only established Steven Spielberg as the go-to blockbuster director, but also spawned the concept of the summer popcorn flick-- was a perfect film with a definitive conclusion, (spoiler: the shark explodes at the end.) Jaws didn't need a sequel, let alone three of them.