Hollywood is in love with the notion of the film franchise.
A franchise offers name recognition, a built-in brand and the chance to crank out sequels without having to worry about polishing up a pesky script.
They practically film themselves.
But some franchises have clearly overstayed their welcome, and that’s why WWTW is gathering the five biggest offenders. Note: I’ve left out the “Saw” films here because A. it’s too obvious a selection, and B. The filmmakers swore up and down “Saw 3D” ended the Jigsaw saga.
Then again, I trust a movie studio’s promise as much as a used car salesman sporting an eye patch.
- “The Da Vinci Code” – The best that can be said about the franchise so far is that the second code, “Angels & Demons,” wasn’t as dull as the first. So why tie up a mega-star (Tom Hanks) and an Oscar-winning director (Ron Howard) with a third installment?
- The “Bourne” features – These Matt Damon-led adventures marked a new age in action movies – for better and worse. The films cranked up the adrenaline, shook the camera until we were woozy and injected new life into the tired conspiracy genre. But by the third “Bourne” adventure, “The Bourne Ultimatum,” the formula was clearly exhausted. Talk of a rebooted “Bourne” series, or new sequels not starring Damon, make no sense.
- “Final Destination” – Confession time: I’ve only seen the last installment, the one in 3-D. But it was so awful, and the series premise so unremarkable, that I’ll go out on a limb and doom the franchise to an early grave. Seems fitting, right?
- “Austin Powers” – Let’s state the obvious. Mike Myers‘ ’60s era superagent is one of the most charming pop creations in recent memory. He gave us silly dance moves, cheeky catch phrases and launched a million Halloween costumes. But there’s little funny left in the franchise, and murmurs that Myers wants to bring it back speak only to his current career crisis.
- The “Narnia” series – Yes, it’s rare to see a film franchise embrace Christianity, and C.S. Lewis’ source material remains a beloved body of texts. But the series hasn’t made a case that it deserves to stick around for seven full features. The first “Narnia” was breathtaking at times, but “Prince Caspian”underwhelmed, and “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” didn’t make the case for more sequels. I’ll drop “Narnia” from the list if a gifted director is tabbed to shoot a fourth chapter in the saga.
(Photo art: Matt Damon’s three “Bourne” films should have wrapped the action franchise in a tidy bow. But Hollywood is itching to make more “Bournes.”)
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with you on all the aspect except for the last Narnia as I havent seen it to judge yet. But please kill the Bourne series, I already can’t stand Matt Damon and the BS of those movies was so deep you needed waders. If someone wants you dead, especially a government hit squad they arent going to keep sending drone after drone at you. Your death would be over dinner or from a freak accident on the street with no hope of escaping.
I’d also add American Pie, which has thus far spawned two theatrical sequels and a number of god-awful direct-to-DVD spinoffs (does Eugene Levy really need the money that bad?). Enough already.
And what about all the freaking remakes?! Are there no ORIGINAL ideas in Hollyweird anymore? I know there are, but you have a bunch of fat, balding old men (and women) too afraid to greenlight the next classic American film. They need a “Hit”, I know, but look at all the manure sequels and attempted remakes that have failed or at least have failed to cover their spread.
Enough! Lets go with all the starving unknown actors out there who would work scale to helm a picture of their own. What about starving writers as well? Hollywood could really give us a “new day”. Good, solid films that the public would see.
Does anyone actually go to a film because a favorite actor is in it? Maybe if they are 14. I don’t give a (India Currency) Dam who is in the film if it is exciting and solid. Can anyone remember a little known film starring a bunch of unknown starving actors called “Star Wars”?
I would agree on your take except for the Narnia films, though the reasons you cite are true. Prince Caspian was written as a young boy, not a teen idol. What is killing that series is not the content but the hollywood machine trying to make a quick buck and messing with stories that have been popular for years. Well, that and thinking that every fantasy film is automatic cash in the bank.
I would say unrealistic expectations are the primary factor. These studios are projecting inflated numbers and when (predictably) these numbers fail to materialize, they sit around and wonder why. Not every film will have Spiderman, Harry Potter, and Dark Knight numbers and it’s unfair to other films to compare them. Get over yourselves and make the movies people want to see.
Ditto on American Pie, which has long since passed it’s prime. I fear Hangover is close behind.
To Mike B. I would say that I saw Harry Brown simply because of Michael Caine, but otherwise I agree with you. We need the next great actor or writer, and I would add that I would like to see some range on some established talent. That is seeing Reese Witherspoon, Ben Stiller, Paul Rudd, and other similar actors who seem stuck in a rut do different types of roles. Witherspoon especally has proven she can do roles other than rom-com’s (Walk The Line) so let’s see this.
The Indy franchise breathed its last/best with the closing ride into the sunset in ‘89, so almost pointless to mention that. Just as desperate as Mikey Meyers, Eddie Murphy’s rumored resuscitation of the Beverly Hills Cop movies. Also, can the SNL sketches-to-screen count as franchise? If so, that’s my loudest vote.
Re. Mike B’s point about seeing movies for the actors, an interesting spin on that subject on the latest Radio Free Threednia, featuring none other than this site’s fearless leader, CT: http://www.screencast.com/t/GwO7vj47
I don’t get it, what’s a Rupee Dam?
Let’s kill any movies based on SNL skits. And also all the “focker” movies. And someone please, please stop George Lucas from making any more Star Wars movies.