Can I vote for an end to franchises?

I'd like to see one calendar year where every film released was at least nominally an original idea rather than (for example):

Lord of the Rings 3
Matrix Reloaded
Matrix Revolution
X Men 2
Bad Boys 2
Harry Potter 3
2 Fast 2 Furious
Jungle Book 2
Dumb and Dumberer
Charlies Angels: Full Throttle
Legally Blonde 2 (I kid you not)
Terminator 3
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 2
Jeepers Creepers 2
Scary Movie 3
The Whole Ten Yards (Sequel to the incredibly good Whole Nine Yards)

Well, not to state the obvious, all these franchises began with originals so there are occasions when a film is released that isn't a sequel

I wouldn't say that a film with one sequel is a franchise either...I'd say they'd have to have at least 2 films which were sequels/prequels and plans for a 4th film.

I wouldn't say Bad Boys was a franchise but I would say the Lethal Weapon series is.

I wanan see a sequel to 'The Goonies' where they're all older and stuff.

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by Whistler
Well, not to state the obvious, all these franchises began with originals so there are occasions when a film is released that isn't a sequel

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Well of course... and I'm sure you will know that I didn't intend to suggest that there are no original movies being made, only that there is a steadily increasing proportion of sequels which smack of creative bankruptcy in Hollywood.

When The Matrix was released, all the hype was about the new Star Wars movie. The Matrix did something new, offered a different mythology and blew audiences away.

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by Milky
I wouldn't say that a film with one sequel is a franchise either

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The key element of a franchise is the repetition of a product or service that is already successful. McDonalds is the classic example... customers know exactly what they are going to get regardless of where they are in the world.

The Godfather 2 is a sequel, not a franchise movie... most of the films mentioned above will simply offer more of the same elements that worked in previous movies (unless in Bad Boys 2 Will Smith and Martin Lawrence become pacifists and move to Zimbabwe to start a peaceful protest against Mugabe). On that basis, they are franchise movies.

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by Incandenza
The key element of a franchise is the repetition of a product or service that is already successful. McDonalds is the classic example... customers know exactly what they are going to get regardless of where they are in the world.

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I would say McDonalds is a franchise based on the fact that they've sold however many billions of hamburgers/drinks that taste more or less exactly the same no matter where you buy them. If McDonalds had only ever sold 2 burgers would it be a franchise? Nope.

I wouldn't say that Bad Boys is a franchise...we haven't seen the movie so it may be totally different to the first but even if it incorporates some of the plot elements of the first film I'd still say it was a sequel and that it didn't make the film a franchise. I would say that Bond is a franchise, Tomb Raider is a franchise although not because of the film but because of the vast amount of computer games. Star Trek is another franchise. To put Bad Boy's in the same league as these films is wrong.

I suppose it depends on how you define a 'film franchise'

Matrix Revolutions after seeing Reloaded, I'm hungry for *More*

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by SPIKE
I wanan see a sequel to 'The Goonies' where they're all older and stuff.

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there were talks/rumours that would come and go saying there was in fact a second film being made but it wasnt gonna involve the original cast again the stories have died down so i dunno if it's still gonna happen.

I've not seen The Matrix sequel yet, but whilst I'm very excited about it, I still can'thelp but feel that "the Matrix" should never have been followed up in a million years. I thought the "beginning" speech at the end of the film was perfect andshould have been left where it was, but obviously the Wachowskis had different plans.

I'd also like to see a sequel to "Big trouble in Little China" maybe "More Trouble in Little China" or something.

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by MonSTeR
I'd also like to see a sequel to "Big trouble in Little China" maybe "More Trouble in Little China" or something.

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That'd be so cool..quality title as well

I'm looking forward to Grease 3 - hee hee

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by Teresa
I'm looking forward to Grease 3 - hee hee

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Wasn't that supposed to have Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in?

Milky, I think Inc's point (and I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong) is that a franchise is motivated by profit rather than storytelling. If a film is a success there is a temptation to repeat the formula and cash in. As such, these films have no desire to develop the story or characters of the previous film, just to cash in on success. Now, maybe the makers of Bad Boys felt there was more story to be told, and that a sequel was needed. Or maybe the makers saw a cash cow. I suspect the latter, and it would appear so does Inc. If so, this would make it a franchise, and a Bad Boys 3 would be totally dependent on the success of 2, rather than it's artistic merits. Other examples of this behaviour can clearly be seen in Friday 13th, Rocky, Halloween, Jaws, Chucky, Rambo, Nightmare on Elm Street, Batman, Jungle Book, Fast and the Furious, James Bond, Superman, Die Hard... The list goes on. For me, obvious exceptions would seem to be Star Wars, The Godfather, 2001 and Lord of the Rings. Although three of these obviously had huge financial incentive the works show a significant development of the story told. In the case of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, I would suggest it is impossible to actually consider the films in isolation, as the story actually only works when it is seen across all three (and possibly six, in SWs case) films.

Anyway, I do have to agree that I am sick of the flood of Franchises, remakes and nostalgic reinterpretations of TV shows. 1999, which was a fantastic year for original Hollywood movies, seems so long ago now. The last three and a half years has seen the originality count plummet. I thought I was the only person in the world not ecstatic at the idea of a Matrix sequel, until I read Monster's post. I really think that film should have been left as it was - open-ended. Yes, I will no doubt see the film. And if it allays my fears I'll no doubt see the third. But I just wish that Producers would once in a while say 'Look, I know the film sold billions but, for the sake of artistic integrity, lets not make a sequel.'

Anyway, to answer the initial question. Obviously being the Tolkein freak I am, I'm looking forward to the final instalment of Lord of the Rings, and for similar reasons to Part Three of the Star Wars series. Also wouldn't mind someone doing a decent job with Batman, with something that held closer to the original and Dark Knight Returns version of the character. The original two looked great but were weak on story (as per for Mr Burton) and the rest were just weak. Something aimed at a purely adult audience that really got into the nitty gritty would be great.