Franchise Fails: 10 Movies and TV Shows That Were Disowned
Franchises with interconnected movies and TV shows have been popular for years, with some entries becoming iconic while others are best forgotten. Some sequels or reboots fail so badly that the franchise disowns them, hoping to erase them from memory. Here are ten examples of movies or TV shows that franchises wish they could forget.
One such example is the 2016 reboot of "Ghostbusters," which missed the mark and failed to connect with audiences. Despite high expectations and a talented cast, the film's poor performance led to the franchise reverting to a legacy sequel, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," in 2021.
The "Halloween" franchise also faced challenges with its sequels and reboots. "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" attempted to revive the series but fell short of expectations. Subsequent reboots and sequels aimed to return to the original's roots, leading to a successful new trilogy.
"The Star Wars Holiday Special" is another infamous example of a project that the franchise wishes to erase. The 1978 television special was poorly received and has never been officially released for home viewing. Despite efforts to bury it, the special has gained a cult following online.
The "Beverly Hills, 90210" franchise attempted a meta drama reboot with "BH90210" in 2019, but the series failed to resonate with fans and was canceled after just six episodes. The studio left the show on a cliffhanger, indicating that it will likely never be resolved.
Tim Burton's 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes" was a critical and commercial disappointment, leading to the franchise rebooting with a more successful series of films in 2011. The original remake's lack of charm and focus on action spectacle over thoughtful storytelling made it the worst entry in the franchise.
The 2015 reboot of "Fantastic Four," known as "Fant4stic," was a dark and gritty take on the superhero team that failed to impress audiences. The film's troubled production and lackluster reception led to the franchise being rebooted by Marvel Studios after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox.
"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," starring Chris Pine, failed to capture the excitement of previous Jack Ryan films and was largely forgotten by audiences. The lackluster story and action sequences made it a disappointing entry in the franchise.
The first "Get Smart" movie, titled "The Nude Bomb," was so poorly received that the franchise disowned it, with subsequent sequels ignoring its existence. The film's nonsensical plot and lack of involvement from the original creators led to its dismissal by the franchise.
In conclusion, franchises often face challenges with sequels and reboots that fail to live up to expectations. Some entries are so poorly received that the franchise chooses to distance itself from them, hoping to move on to more successful projects.