The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland List: Legacy Sequels

How often do you sit there thinking about what to watch? You might have an endless watchlist that keeps piling up (I certainly have one myself). Sometimes you are just in the mood for a type of film or a certain filmmaker or actor and want to take yourself into a deep dive. As someone who watches so many movies, I have people asking me for recommendations all the time. One of the best feelings as a cinephile is recommending a film and that person loves it. Take this wealth of cinematic knowledge and experience and enjoy some recommendations on me. Genre. Subgenre. Filmmaker. Actor. Composer. Writer. Genre. Story. Trope. Cliché. Any other cinematic elements or them. Here is The Wasteland List:   

Legacy Sequels

Psycho II (1983)

Are you surprised to find out that Psycho has a whole series of sequels? This second entry in the franchise is a quality horror film that finds Norman Bates (struggling with his sanity and murderous intent) returning to the hotel which housed his horrific actions. This effective sequel now finds Norman caught in a web of issues with the new proprietor of the Bates Motel.

The Color of Money (1986)

What finally won Paul Newman his lone competitive Oscar? The Color of Money is an unexpected sequel to the classic pool drama, The Hustler, and has legendary director Martin Scorsese behind the reins as he brings all his flair and technical prowess to the table. Newman is excellent as “Fast” Eddie as he builds a connection with a young couple including an upstart new pool shark (Tom Cruise) while offering up a satisfying “You still have it” journey for Eddie.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

How do you follow the epic six-part saga of Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke? The Force Awakens brings in a whole new crew of characters to get invested in including the resourceful, driven, and talented Rey while still giving a spotlight to some of the series’ original stars (Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford). The story borrows quite a bit from the original Star Wars from 1977, but it finds its own entertaining footing with the likes of Kylo Ren, Finn, and Poe Dameron (but most importantly BB-8…of course).

Creed (2015)

How do you successfully take the spotlight off everyone’s favorite Italian American boxer and find new life in the Rocky franchise? Director Ryan Coogler crafted a compelling tale of a lost son (Adonis) who must step out of the shadow of his dead father (Apollo) and find his own success in the world of boxing. Creed boasts a trio of incredible relationships that give this sequel life including the romance with Tessa Thompson’s Bianca, a maternal connection Phylicia Rashad’s Mary Anne Creed, and the rich mentor and coaching relationship with Rocky Balboa (in the form of an award’s worthy turn from Sylvester Stallone).

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

What is the greatest action film of all time? Dr. George Miller out did himself when he finally gained the opportunity to bring his Mad Max world to life with modern technology as he delivered a fiery, boisterous, propulsive, and perfect cinematic experience in the form of Fury Road. Tom Hardy is now the titular anti-hero, but he gives most of the spotlight of the film to Charlize Theron’s Furiosa as these two unexpected bedfellows try to save beautiful young women from the clutches of Immortan Joe (an abomination of humanity and leader of a massive post-apocalyptic cult).

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

How do you outdo one of the most beloved science fiction films of all time? Denis Villeneuve accomplished this feat as he took the reins of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and crafted a gorgeous, epic, and engrossing sequel that expands this futuristic world and puts the audience in the head of a replicant officer. There are so many incredible moments in Blade Runner 2049 including the iconic confrontation with Deckard in Las Vegas which builds the connection back to the original film and blows open the complex lore of Blade Runner.

Halloween (2018)

How many sequels have there been to John Carpenter’s iconic slasher film that set the stage for the subgenre to blow up in the 1980s? So many…but luckily the legacy sequel that released in 2018 shunned them all and brought this franchise back into focus. Funnier and more brutal than the original, Halloween is an expertly made film that builds on the characters and generations of the town of Haddonfield to explore the trauma left and the embodiment of evil in our quiet neighborhoods…Michael Myers.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Making a sequel to Mary Poppins without Julie Andrews seems sacrilegious, doesn’t it? It sure does…but Emily Blunt fills the shoes and hat of Poppins perfectly as modern audiences were treated to a charming and joyous musical experience in the form of Mary Poppins Returns. Following the Banks children as adults and a new generation of Banks children, Mary Poppins tries to teach this family a new lesson with all new catchy songs, beautiful, animated worlds, and wild shenanigans from start to finish.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

What was the hardest feat to accomplish in this list? Mike Flanagan accomplished the unthinkable when he made an adaptation of Stephen King’s sequel to The Shining which acted as both a sequel to King’s initial novel as well as a sequel to Kubrick’s own cinematic version of The Shining. Flanagan is a master cinematic craftsman and Doctor Sleep is compelling, horrifying, and moving (in all the best ways) as it tells the story of a middle-aged Danny Torrence who must save a young girl with “The Shine” from Rebecca Ferguson’s terrifying Rose the Hat and her gang of Shine eating vampires.

Candyman (2021)

What is the most controversial film on this list? The 1990’s Candyman film is a beloved horror film of the decade with Tony Todd bringing something terrifying, but Nia DiCosta took the reins of this franchise and offered up a compelling and twisted new legacy for the titular slasher. Candyman from 2021 is a gorgeous, unnerving, and twisted cinematic experience that brings this darkness into a new generation and a new space full of gentrification.

Scream (2022)

If Halloween can do it, why can’t Scream? Another iconic slasher franchise swings in with a retitled legacy sequel that finds the core leads of the original franchise teaming up with a crew of new teens and a brand-new Ghost Face killer. Scream is satisfying (and sad in ways) as it delivers all the slasher elements we love but also dives deep into the meta commentary on legacy sequels to begin with (probably in the most effective way yet).

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

What is THE legacy sequel that took pop culture by storm in the world post COVID? Top Gun: Maverick receives endless praise (way more than the fun yet flawed original film) and puts everyone involved in that big awards conversation (namely star Tom Cruise, who gave one of his best acting performances in years). Maverick is now a teacher and must lead a new class of pilots into battle and save the world while delivering plenty of nostalgic beats and thrilling flight action from director Joseph Kosinski.