10 superhero movies that never got a sequel
Superheroes have appeared on the big screen almost from the moment they first hit the four-color page. Fawcett Comics was the first to date The Adventures of Captain Marvel, a 12-part live-action series released in 1941, but it was a few months later that Fleischer Studios premiered the animation Superman shorts that people saw how great comic book heroes could be on the big screen.
With the 21st century, superheroes have taken over movie theaters in ways no one could have imagined. Marvel and DC have released a number of box office blockbusters, creating franchises based on lower-level heroes like the guardians of the galaxy and Shazam, with more to come in the near future. But not all superhero movies have led to a decades-long movie streak. Some unfortunately fell out of the way, ending after just one movie.
ten Green Hornet
Directed by independent darling Michel Gondry and starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz and Cameron Diaz, Green Hornet is an action comedy that takes the basics of the pulp hero of the 1930s and brings them into the 21st century. In the film, Rogen plays the titular hero who depends on his money, gadgets, and sidekick Kato – played by Chou – to protect him while he plays vigilante. While Green Hornet was a financial success, bad reviews from critics and audiences alike put the kibosh on all counts for a sequel.
9 Super girl
After Superman iii left audiences hungry, producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind decided to give the Man of Steel a rest, make a movie about his cousin, and Super girl The Salkinds had hoped they could launch a second successful franchise.
Instead of an action-packed film filled with great special effects, audiences were given a curvy film with bad dialogue, a confusing plot, and woefully poor effects. Super girl bombed at the box office and became a scapegoat by studios for explaining the idea of making female-led superhero movies for decades.
8 The Incredible Hulk
The second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Incredible Hulk is the only entry into Marvel’s stable that doesn’t have a direct sequel. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth, The Incredible Hulk was not as popular with the public as Iron Man, but he was still financially successful.
The problem that Marvel encountered when making a sequel has to do with rights; Universal Pictures has the film’s rights to a sequel, and Marvel is not interested in teaming up with the studio again. This hasn’t stopped the Hulk from appearing in other Marvel movies, although they have replaced Edward Norton with Mark Ruffalo.
7 The Rocketeer
Released by Disney in 1991 and based on the comics by Dave Stevens, The Rocketeer was directed by Joe Johnston, who was to direct Captain America: The First Avenger. Sadly, Johnston’s first foray into superhero movie making wasn’t as successful as the movie he would make for Marvel, but there’s no denying that The Rocketeer is filled with fun, action and charm.
In the film, the Rocketeer, played by Bill Campbell, uses the jetpack he discovers to fight the Nazis and save his girlfriend Jenny Blake, played by Jennifer Connelly. The Rocketeer flew into theaters with mixed reviews and failed to find an audience at the time, but has become something of a comic book classic.
6 Underdog
Based on the 1960s cartoon, Underdog is a superhero comedy about a bomb sniffer dog named Shoeshine who gains superpowers after being illegally tested. Voiced by Jason Lee, Shoeshine decides to use his powers to protect the people of Capital City from the vile plans of Dr. Simon Barsinister, the evil scientist who gave Shoeshine his powers.
Also with Peter Dinklage, Patrick Warburton and Amy Adams, Underdog was criticized by critics but became a box office success. Despite nearly three times his budget, the superhero dog never got a sequel.
5 Superman Returns
After the success of the first two X-Men films, Warner Brothers jumped at the chance to have Bryan Singer bring Superman back to the big screen for the first time in over twenty years. The film was not so much a reboot as a sequel to the first two Superman films from the 1970s, and told the story of a Superman who returned to Earth after a five-year mission to investigate the remains of Krypton.
While Superman Returns broken even at the box office, audiences didn’t connect with a more solemn Superman yearning for a lost love. Plans for a sequel were put to rest and the decision was made to go for a new take more like Christopher Nolan’s successful Batman reboot.
4 The specials
While James Gunn is best known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy and the next one Suicide Squad, the director first attempted to make a superhero movie when he wrote the 2000s The specials. The film, which stars Thomas Haden Church, Rob Lowe, Jamie Kennedy and Paget Brewster, tells the story of the sixth or seventh best superhero team in the world as they prepare for the launch of their own line of toys. Gunn’s comedic skills help make the low-budget film stand out, as does the work of actors and director Craig Mazin, who now showcases the hit video game series. The last of us at HBO.
3 Sky high
Released in 2005, Disney’s Sky high centered on the lives of overpowered teens attending a special superhero school. Starring Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the film is a comedic look at superheroes and growing up with famous parents.
Unfortunately, Sky high Underperformed at the box office and a planned sequel was canceled. After deciding to forgo a theatrical sequel, there was talk of a TV series, but it never was. While the film has come to find a dedicated fan base over the years, now that Disney has the Marvel Universe to play with, the odds of a Sky high the sequel or restart are quite weak.
2 the Chronicle
A film found in 2012 directed by Josh Trank, the Chronicle unlike any other superhero movie ever made. The story follows three teenagers who gain telekinetic powers after discovering a crystalline object in an underground tunnel. The three protagonists, played by Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan, begin filming everything they do with their powers, starting with fun tests before becoming heroes and finally one of them. becomes evil.
the Chronicle helped launch Trank’s and three-star careers, and directly led Trank to lead the 2015s The Fantastic Four, who co-stars Jordan. the Chronicle was a critical and box office success, and while there was talk of a sequel, it never made it past the screenplay stage.
1 Punisher War Zone
There have been three separate Punisher films, and each failed to find an audience. The last movie made about Marvel’s most violent hero was Punisher: War Zone, directed by Lexi Alexander and starring Ray Stevenson as the former cop turned vigilante.
The film received a tough rating thanks to gratuitous violence, but in 2008 audiences weren’t quite ready for a superhero movie with so much blood and curses. While Punisher: War Zone has found a cult following, Marvel is unlikely to make a sequel to the film now that they have the rights to the character again.
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