Top 10 Movie Sequels That Look More Dated Than the Original

Where Tim Burton’s two “Batman” movies existed in a Gotham City untouched by time, Joel Schumacher’s foray into the franchise is an evident product of the 90s, trading neo-noir for a flashy neon nightclub aesthetic. The casting also feels incredibly 90s with Val Kilmer as a more kid-friendly Batman, Jim Carrey at the peak of his popularity as the Riddler, and a twenty-something Chris O’Donnell trying to pass himself off as a teenager with attitude. In addition to channeling “Power Rangers,” it doesn’t help that the look and tone draw inspiration from the 60s “Batman” show, which was already dated. The studio doubled down on much of this in “Batman & Robin,” the film that temporarily killed the franchise and the word, “Cowabunga.”

“An American Werewolf in London” holds up with some of the horror genre’s best practical effects, winning Rick Baker an Oscar for his makeup. A sequel was in development for over a decade until finally reaching the screen without any of the original’s key players. Baker’s makeup expertise wasn’t necessary because CGI was the shiny new toy. Now instead of painstakingly transforming a human into a practical werewolf, Hollywood could rely on computers and nobody would know the difference. Audiences quickly caught on, though, and by modern standards, the werewolves wouldn’t even cut it on a Syfy original movie. Some scenes don’t even show the werewolves, relying on POV shots, which could be effective if we didn’t already see how ridiculous the monsters look.

“The NeverEnding Story” has endured as a definitive 80s kids movie with creatures that still feel real. Its effects team had a “Star Wars” alumni in Brian Johnson, who noted that since the film was produced in Germany, they had numerous experienced puppeteers. For the third and ironically final film, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop brought Fantasia’s residents to life. Although the Henson name is usually synonymous with quality practical effects, everyone got a massive downgrade. This is especially apparent in Falkor, who looks like an unfinished animatronic from an abandoned amusement park. The only thing more dated than the effects is Jason James Richter’s hairdo. Just to remind us that this came out in the 90s, Richter is promoted as “The Star of ‘Free Willy.’”

Disney’s straight-to-video sequels are known for lowering expectations. Since “Return of Jafar” was the first in a long time of cash grabs, though, going from the 1992 blockbuster to this was jarring. Even compared to the sequels that followed, “Return of Jafar” feels particularly dated with the color and sharp expressive comedy sucked out. We suppose this makes sense for a film that was originally supposed to be a TV pilot stretched out over multiple episodes. It also had a budget of roughly $5 million - less than five times what “Aladdin” cost. Then again, Warner Home Video’s “Tiny Toons: How I Spent My Vacation” was produced for $350,000 and looked infinitely better. Where that film had animation powerhouse TMS, “Jafar” settled for second rate.

It’s hard to separate the original “Ninja Turtles” movie from the year it came out. Even with all the 1990 vibes, the first film has aged surprisingly well. This is largely thanks to the state-of-the-art turtle suits courtesy of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. While the Henson team returned for the second film, they weren’t involved in the third and it’s painfully obvious. Where the turtle suits in the first two films all had subtle differences, they’re practically interchangeable here other than the colored bandanas. The designs are cringeworthy with googly eyes, dopey mouths, and more teeth than any turtle should have. We guess they’re slightly better than the turtles from the “Coming Out of Their Shells Tour” tour, but not by much.

Considering what the 1968 classic achieved on a budget of $5.8 million, you’d think the studio would invest more in subsequent installments. As the “Apes” series went on, though, the budget decreased. By the time we got to this continuity’s fifth and final chapter, the filmmakers had less than $2 million to work with. Other than a few set pieces, the film lacks the original’s sweeping, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Although makeup artist John Chambers worked on all five films, the apes here look like they’re doing a publicity stunt for Spirit Halloween. Even director J. Lee Thompson felt the reduced budget did the film a disservice, most notably during the climax, which feels more like a battle for a micronation than a planet.

From one damn dirty ape to another. By today’s standards, the 1976 remake of “King Kong” might come off as a little hokey. Yet, we can see why the film received an Oscar for its effects, which included a 40-foot mechanical Kong that only appeared on screen for a few seconds. Its follow-up was produced a decade later. Despite the technological advances during that time, the sequel is an all-around embarrassment. How embarrassing? When Siskel and Ebert wanted to discuss “King Kong Lives” on their national TV show, the studio wouldn’t let them feature any clips. Of course, nothing is stopping us from showing clips! Just watching a few minutes of footage, you can see why the studio tried keeping the ape under wraps.

Say what you will about the excessive CGI in the “Star Wars” prequels, but those effects were game-changing for the time and some shots still look impressive years later. That’s more than can be said about “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Even in 2008, the CG gophers, monkeys, and aliens looked like something from the previous gaming console generation. The effects have only grown more facepalm-inducing with time, which is disappointing considering how well the CG has aged in Steven Spielberg’s other blockbusters like “Jurassic Park.” Spielberg and George Lucas wanted “Crystal Skull” to honor B-movies just as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was a tribute to serials. Rather than pay homage to B-movies, they made a C-movie, and we think that grade is generous.

Speaking of B-movies, that’s essentially what the original “Jaws” could’ve been. Between Steven Spielberg’s masterful direction and several happy accidents, “Jaws” defied every expectation. Those anticipating a cheap monster movie had to wait for its sequels. While it’s debatable if “Jaws 3-D” is the franchise’s lowest point, this is the most dated sequel. That’s primarily due to its 3D gimmick, which was a trend in the early 80s. 3D made another comeback decades later, but “Jaws 3-D” served as a reminder of how not to utilize this technology. Whether viewed in 2D or 3D, the shark never appears threatening. Where the original cleverly concealed the shark for much of the run time, it’s prominently displayed here, as if the filmmakers were seriously proud of this.

The first two “Superman” movies were events that treated the Man of Steal with the gravitas he deserved. With Christopher Reeve’s fourth and sadly last outing, Superman deteriorated into a joke. The campier tone is reflected in the $17 million budget, which is less than half what the previous three films were produced on. Initially, the film was going to be made for $36 million, but as The Cannon Group fell on hard financial times, they cut virtually every corner. This extended to the special effects team with the studio relying on cheaper crews from Israel. If the original film made people believe that a man can fly, “The Quest for Peace” shows that one can just as easily fall from grace.

Which sequels do you think look more dated than their predecessors? Let us know in the comments!