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Cancel the Sequel: 7 Movies That Should've Stayed One and Done
Okay, time for some ✨hot takes✨. Look, we get it — Hollywood loves a sequel. It’s safe, it sells, and it keeps familiar characters on our screens. But sometimes? More is just… too much. Especially when the original movie wrapped things up so perfectly it didn’t need a follow-up.
And if there’s one thing Gen Z doesn’t vibe with, it’s milking a good thing until it’s unrecognizable (cough Riverdale energy, anyone?). So today, we’re digging into the movie sequels that made us go: “Why though?”
Here are 7 movies that should’ve stopped while they were ahead — according to us, the group chat, and your local Letterboxd reviewer with 16k followers.
🎬 1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before
The original: Pure serotonin. Lara Jean’s dreamy aesthetic, fake-dating Peter Kavinsky, handwritten letters — chef’s kiss.
The sequels: Felt like fanfiction of the original fanfiction. By movie 3, we were rooting for Lara Jean’s solo era more than any actual relationship.
Gen Z verdict:
“It went from quirky cute to Hallmark cringe real fast.”
— Zara, 20, Portland
🧙♂️ 2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The original: A charming dive into the wizarding world’s past, with magical creatures and Eddie Redmayne being awkward in a good way.
The sequels: Messy plotlines, confusing timelines, and Johnny Depp recasting drama. Oh, and like zero fantastic beasts?
Gen Z verdict:
“They should’ve just made a Netflix docuseries about magical animals and left it at that.”
— Drew, 23, NYC
🕷️ 3. The Amazing Spider-Man
The original: Andrew Garfield + Emma Stone = actual on-screen magic. Moody but solid storytelling, and Gwen was no damsel.
The sequel: Too many villains, rushed arcs, and THAT death scene that emotionally wrecked us all.
Gen Z verdict:
“The vibes were immaculate… until they weren’t. We didn’t need a Sinister Six sneak peek, thanks.”
— Lena, 21, Chicago
🦕 4. Jurassic World
The original reboot: Chris Pratt on a motorcycle with raptors? We were into it. Dinos got their groove back.
The sequels: Just became the same “humans are dumb, dinos escape” formula. Again. And again. And again.
Gen Z verdict:
“By the last one, I was rooting for the dinosaurs. Wipe us out already.”
— Kai, 19, Atlanta
💀 5. Death Note (Netflix Version)
The original: Not a sequel, but hear us out — it felt like one. This Westernized adaptation of the legendary anime should’ve never even happened.
The planned sequel: We don’t want it. Keep it in the drafts.
Gen Z verdict:
“Justice for L. And for everyone who watched this trainwreck expecting actual plot.”
— Raina, 22, LA
💖 6. Mean Girls 2
The original: ICONIC. Quoted to death. Still relevant. Gen Z’s blueprint for high school drama, fashion, and chaos.
The sequel: Forgettable, messy, and had none of the Regina George bite.
Gen Z verdict:
“Mean Girls 2 walked in like it was wearing last season’s pink on a Wednesday.”
— Micah, 18, Toronto
🔫 7. Kingsman: The Secret Service
The original: Stylish, chaotic, and unexpectedly smart. Eggsy's glow-up? Legendary.
The sequel(s): Just went too hard on action, too soft on plot. The prequel (The King’s Man) was okay-ish, but it didn’t need to exist.
Gen Z verdict:
“Loved the suits, hated the mess. We don’t need a Kingsman Cinematic Universe.”
— Noor, 24, Seattle
🎟️ Why Hollywood Keeps Doing This
Studios see a hit and instantly go into cash-grab mode. But the thing is, Gen Z craves originality. We’d rather watch a creative, low-budget indie film with a fresh take than sequel number six with recycled vibes and a predictable ending.
It’s not that sequels are always bad — (Shrek 2 and Spider-Verse: Across the Spider-Verse? ICONIC.) But we can spot a soulless sequel from a mile away, and we’re not afraid to call it out.
What Should've Happened Instead?
Imagine if To All the Boys just ended with a perfectly tied bow. Or if Fantastic Beasts was just a cozy one-off adventure about magical zoology. Or if Mean Girls 2 never existed so we could keep the original’s legacy untouched.
Sometimes, the most iconic stories are the ones that know when to exit stage left.
Keep it original, keep it cinematic, and keep streaming smart — only at Woke Waves Magazine.
#MovieHotTakes #UnnecessarySequels #GenZFilmOpinions #HollywoodLetItGo #WokeWavesMovies
