From Ridley Scott's "Gladiator II" and Disney's "Moana 2" to the upcoming "Scream 7" with Neve Campbell and "Freakier Friday" with Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood is banking on movie sequels.
It's a trend that's filling theatre coffers, and which shows no sign of slowing in 2025.
Sequels to cult movies continue to captivate audiences and score success at the box office.
The exceptional US box-office grosses over Thanksgiving weekend for "Moana 2" and "Gladiator II" bear witness to the moviegoers' enthusiasm for these sequels to successful films.
These impressive figures only confirm a growing trend: moviegoers are eager to return to their favorite universes and continue a cinematic experience that initially enthralled them.
Hollywood studios are well aware of this, and are increasingly relying on these tried-and-tested franchises to draw crowds to theatres.
And there are plenty of examples of this working successfully. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," directed by Tim Burton, like its predecessor, has been a big hit.
The film, which follows on from the original, released in 1988, has been acclaimed by a wide audience.
"Beetlejuice 2" grossed $447 million at the global box office, reflecting viewers' interest in sequels.
Reviving the hit movie franchises of the 2000s
Several sequels to cult movies have already been announced and are planned for the coming years.
Among them, sequels to the films of the 2000s are particularly noteworthy, including "Scream 7," which sees the return of Neve Campbell.
The saga's cult actress has decided to return to the project, despite salary-related issues, following Jenna Ortega's exit.
Meanwhile, "Freakier Friday," starring Lindsay Lohan, is a sequel to the popular 2003 comedy "Freaky Friday," and is eagerly awaited by fans.
The cult actress of the 2000s will once again share the screen with Jamie Lee Curtis and Chad Michael Murray when the movie hits US theatres on August 9, 2025.
Renée Zellweger will reprise her role as Bridget Jones, alongside "One Day" star Leo Woodall and Hugh Grant.
The comedy is the fourth installment in the "Bridget Jones" franchise, and is scheduled for release in February 2025.
According to forecasts by research institute National Research Group, the holiday season is set to be a busy one in theatres. "Sonic 3" is expected to gross more than "Mufasa," the prequel to "The Lion King."
The little blue hedgehog's third big-screen adventure could open with grosses of $55 million during its first weekend from December 20 to 22, compared to $50 million for Disney's animated film.
This demonstrates the public's appetite for these well-established franchises, whether they are chronological sequels or not. "Sonic The Hedgehog 3" and "Mufasa: The Lion King" are both slated for December 20 release in the US.
Movies that won't be getting sequels
For fans and creators of hit movies, sequels are always a double-edged sword, laced with the fear of failing to live up to expectations.
As a result, not all sequels see the light of day. A case in point is the planned sequel to "Notting Hill," starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, which has now been scrapped.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Richard Curtis said the idea had been shelved due to creative differences after proposing a divorce between the characters played by Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Despite his sequel to "Beetlejuice," Tim Burton said at the Marrakech International Film Festival that he would not be doing the same for "Edward Scissorhands."
"I didn't want to make a sequel to that because it felt like a one-off thing. I didn't want to have a sequel for 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' because it also felt like a one-off thing. Certain things are best left on their own, and that, for me, is one of them."
All eyes are already on the eagerly-awaited sequels to "Dune," "The Hunger Games" and "Wicked," which are generating excitement among a young and coveted audience.
These films could indeed help fill movie theatres once again.