As 2025 is coming to an end, a diverse mix of nostalgic and iconic sequels has been released. Whether it is “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” a sequel to one of the most iconic franchises of all time, or “The Bad Guys 2,” a sequel to a movie based on a kid’s book, there is an audience for every sequel in 2025. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the second movie is going to be as good as the first. Sequels have taken over 2025, as more sequels than originals have been released this year. Let’s be honest though, is that really a surprise? At the end of the day, sequels are just an easier way for franchises to cash in on the success of the first movie.
Alfredo Graciano ’28 commented on the matter, claiming, “Sequels are a cheap way for movie producers to make money instead of taking chances on original movies, which got them where they’re at in the first place.”
The real question film fans should be asking isn’t if the sequels are taking over, but are these sequels worth the wait? For example, “Jurassic World Rebirth” got mixed reviews on most platforms. Many people said that while the movie had great visuals and suspense, the plot seemed unoriginal and the characters had weak writing. The cash-grabbing movie, “Jurassic World Rebirth” is an example of the critiques that many people have about sequels.
While we may like to point at sequels and laugh, there have, however, been good sequels that have come out of 2025. “Final Destination: Blood Lines,” was a movie that got very good reviews. With a rotten tomatoes score of 92% and 87% on the popcornmeter, the majority of the audience thought that it was a good, well-written movie. Benito Arias ’28 found “Final Destination” to be an excellent movie saying, “‘The Final Destination’ series is a classic, and when I watched the movie, I was not disappointed. All of the deaths in the film were so creative, brutal and shocking. Even though the franchise has had a long lineage of movies, they’re doing a good job at it.”
Looking at the abundance of 2025 sequels holistically, some 2025 sequels flopped, some disappointed and some were a box office success. If film connoisseurs haven’t taken interest in any of the sequels that have been released in 2025, don’t worry: There are still a few sequels that are expected to be a hit in the box office that have yet to come out. Fans should expect “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” to come out in the final two months of 2025.
