5 Movie Franchises That Should Have Stayed In The '80s
Paramount Pictures
In today's cinematic landscape, it's hard to shake the feeling that the industry is sliding towards a bleak, AI-driven future. Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. and Hollywood's reckless spending on big franchises, many of which have been around for decades, only exacerbate this feeling. These franchises, driven by nostalgia, often fail to capture the magic of their original iterations. However, there are exceptions that prove such movies need not be cynical cash grabs.
One such exception is 'Blade Runner 2049', a haunting follow-up to Ridley Scott's 1982 classic that progressed the story while paying loving homage to the original. Another is 'Top Gun: Maverick', which rekindled the magic of its predecessor by taking the legacy sequel concept to the danger zone.
Unfortunately, these are the exceptions. Hollywood's tendency to exhum beloved 1980s franchises and prop them up in the 21st Century often does the opposite. As such, it's about time we take stock of these ill-fated '80s nostalgia plays, if only to strengthen our resolve the next time studios try to tempt us back to the multiplex by puppeteering the lifeless limbs of our childhood heroes.
Indiana Jones
Walt Disney Studios
The 1980s gave us three undeniable classics in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom', and 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. However, 2008's 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' failed to match the thrills of the first three films, despite being overseen by director Steven Spielberg. The 2023 release, 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny', showcased a safer, less exciting Indy in what was designed as a final outing for the once great adventurer. While it was a financial catastrophe, it also had that uncanny feeling of being an impression of how films used to be made.
Ghostbusters
Sony Pictures
The '80s Ghostbusters films were a phenomenon, but the franchise hasn't aged well. The 2016 'Ghostbusters' and its 2024 sequel, 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire', are forgettable, and the original films are what fans hold dear. The 2016 film paved the way for 'Afterlife', which, while not a disaster, didn't live up to the original's legacy.
Tron
Walt Disney Studios
'Tron' was a groundbreaking movie that pushed filmmaking forward with its unprecedented use of computer-generated effects. However, it flopped at the box office and didn't get the sequels it deserved. 'Tron: Legacy' made $400 million, but 'Tron: Ares' made just $142 million, proving that the franchise should remain in the '80s until it can be made exciting again.
Rambo (sort of)
Lionsgate
'Commando' was Arnold Schwarzenegger's chance to out-Stallone Sylvester Stallone, but he left his action hero behind after just one movie. Stallone's 'Rambo' series transformed John J. Rambo into an overpowered, unstoppable beast of a man. The '80s 'Rambo' sequels outdid the first movie in terms of box office receipts, but the character deserved better than to be reduced to a one-dimensional superhero.
Terminator (sort of)
Paramount Pictures
The 'Terminator' franchise would have been left in the 1980s if it weren't for James Cameron's 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'. The original 1984 film was a breakout hit that added a sci-fi twist to the slasher movement. However, the sequels that followed, especially 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' and 'Terminator: Dark Fate', failed to honor the original and the character's legacy.
