Worst to First: Ranking the Sequels of 1988


12. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Rotten Tomato Score: 29%
Domestic Gross: $17,768,757

Place in Franchise: 4 of 8 (not counting the 2007 remake, the 2009 sequel to the remake or the upcoming reboot/sequel)
Years Since Last Movie: 6
Actors Replaced: Not just the actors but the concept of Halloween III.
Summary: John Carpenter’s original concept for Halloween was that the title would serve as an umbrella under which different types of scary movies could be made.  It was never his intent to continue cranking out one slasher movie after another.  When he was approached about making a third movie, Carpenter reluctantly agreed on the condition that it wouldn’t feature Michael Myers.  In theory, that could have kept the franchise fresh.  But in practice, it resulted in a weird little movie called Halloween III: Season of the Witch which had something to do with cursed Halloween masks.  Audiences left the movie wondering where Michael Myers had gone.
Six years later, Carpenter and his production partner, Debra Hill, had sold their rights to Halloween to Moustapha Akkad who had financed the first movie and remained involved in all of the sequels.  Akkad figured there was more money to be made off of Michael Myers and he wanted audiences to know the original slasher was back in business.  So he made sure to put the character’s name right there in the title.  There would be no more social satire in this sequel!
Carpenter was gone, but Donald Pleasence was more than happy to reprise his role as Dr. Loomis.  Jamie Lee Curtis’ character was killed off-camera, but Michael springs back into action when it is revealed that she had a daughter played by Danielle Harris (who would go on to have quite a nice career as a scream queen).
Critics weren’t especially excited to see Michael Myers back in action, but enough fans turned out to make the movie a hit.  Akkad started planning the fifth movie while the fourth one was still in theaters.  The slasher genre was dying out and he wanted to strike while the iron was still lukewarm.  The original plan was for Harris’ character to replace Michael as the killer in the sequel, but Akkad wasn’t about to make another Halloween movie without his leading man.  He continued cranking out movies starring Michael Myers up through Halloween: H20 in 1998.
Following the disappointing performance of Halloween: Resurrection in 2002, the series was rebooted by Rob Zombie in 2007.  The reboot got a sequel in 2009.  And now we find ourselves in the odd situation of having a reboot/sequel with Carpenter on board as an executive producer/creative consultant and Jamie Lee Curtis back again as Laurie Strode!  Even Nick Castle who played “The Shape” in the original movie is back to play Michael Meyers after other actors had assumed the role in every single sequel to date.  One actress not invited to the remake is Danielle Harris.  The new movie will feature Judy Greer as a different Strode daughter.
It’s all very confusing.  Can someone explain to me where the witches factor in to all of this?

Next: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

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jeffthewildman
6 years ago

None of the sequels were anywhere near great. A few were passable. I did like Rambo III better than First Blood Part 2, because it wasn’t overrun with all the jingoism that was so prevalent in that one.

jeffthewildman
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Right. Although I did like it better, It’s not a movie I feel the urge to go back to. Of the four Ramboes, First Blood is the only one I re-visit every once in a while.

jeffthewildman
6 years ago
Reply to  jeffthewildman

You are correct about it being off the charts in terms of violence. It wasn’t the comic book violence of the 2nd and third either. It was stretch that R rating violence. I’d rank it lower than First Blood and very slightly ahead of III. But on the whole, Rambo could’ve stayed retired. Yeah, the speech at the end of First Blood is one aspect that should’ve been left out. It did indicate that jingoistic cartoon direction the series would take from that point on. ,

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago

The only sequel in this whole thing that I like is THE DEAD POOL. What a year of stinky sequels!

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I count 15 sequels from 1998, with slightly better choices overall. There are quite a few stinkers though.

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I can’t wait until we do 2017 and cover its 40 sequels!

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Ha ha! Lebeau, Jr.?

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago

2017 had 21 sequels in the top 50 of highest box office grossers.

jestak2
Editor
6 years ago

Now this is a really thin crop of sequels. The Dead Pool is watchable, and some people find it at least better than the previous Dirty Harry film. I will probably get to Return to Snowy River some day, as I have always liked the first film in the series. Since I’m not really into horror films none of the horror franchise installments are familiar to me. And the remainder are mostly films that would induce me to turn the TV off if I stumbled into watching them—there aren’t even any of them that qualify as cheesy-fun movies.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
6 years ago

This might be the worst batch of sequels that I have ever seen – and the fact that they all come from the same year is mindboggling. I would agree with what a couple other readers stated before, The Dead Pool is the only film on this list that is at least watchable. Far from great, but at least watchable. Oh, that reminds me, the bandmembers of Guns N’ Roses make a quick cameo, in the funeral scene if I remember correctly. You cannot miss Slash’s black tophat in the crowd.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

A better year, sure, but no Guns N’ Roses cameos in funeral scenes either.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
6 years ago

I have a deep, unbiding love for the original Arthur film; it’s such a sweetly charming comedy, and Dudley, Liza and John Gielgud are delightful in it, the Oscar wins and nominations (Gielgud, Dudley, Best Song and Screenplay) were all well earned in my eyes. Its one of those personal favorites that I always return to every few years. To be honest, I’ve always heard what a lousy movie Arthur 2: On The Rocks was and have just always avoided it like the plague. I figure why tarnish my appreciation for the original? Would it be hyperbole to suggest Caddyshack… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I didn’t learn about the original plan for Ramis to write and Rodney Dangerfield to star until more recently, and I have to admit at least on paper I kinda do wish that had happened. Who knows, maybe it would have worked, maybe it wouldn’t have. But I do know that Dangerfield was on fire in the original Caddyshack. Also, nothing could ever be worse than the actual Caddyshack II that we got, so there’s that too. What do you think Lebeau, could a sequel starring Rodney, written by Ramis, have possibly worked? What’s your opinion on that?

robbushblog
robbushblog
6 years ago

The only good thing about CADDYSHACK II was Dyan Cannon. She was sexy in it. That’s it though. It has no other quality.

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