The movie Jaws was popular for a reason. It was fast-paced, thrilling, and suspenseful. When the news of Jaws 2 hit the press, fans of the original movie were obviously excited. Who wouldn’t want a sequel to their favorite film? But when fans saw the movie for the first time, they were disappointed.
The film was just a repeat of Jaws.
A shark attacks the citizens of Amity Island and Sheriff Martin Brody has to deal with it. The plot is so strikingly similar that it’s boring.
So what makes it boring? Why are some sequels good and others let-downs?
Unplanned Sequels
The biggest issue of Jaws 2 is that it was creating a new story. Jaws had an ending. The story was over. But due to the movie’s popularity, the production company decided to make another film even though the story could not have been continued. The sequel tried to carry on a story that had already reached its conclusion. Thus, it created a new storyline instead.
Jaws was not originally made to be part of a series. Due to the fact that Jaws had a conclusive ending, it’s evident that the production company did not design it to be part of a series or have a sequel. But sequels to popular movies can bring more money into the box office, so, they are made.
However, some stories should only be one installment in length. When the movie/book ends with a satisfying conclusion, then the story should be over, and not continued. Unfortunately, when a book or film becomes very popular, then the possibility of a sequel arises. Although these sequels may seem artificial and strained, authors/producers often decide to create them. But we can’t blame authors for this. The guaranteed popularity of a sequel—and all the revenue it would bring—is hard to resist.
(For clarity’s sake, I only refer to books in the rest of the article, but this analysis applies to movies as well.)
Another example of an unplanned sequel is the follow-up to the very popular YA mystery book One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. One of Us is Lying has spent more than 270 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list since its release in 2017. The standalone novel gained its fame from its hooking plot and shocking reveal, ultimately resulting in a satisfying ending. This novel absolutely did not need a sequel, but in light of its immense popularity, McManus released one in 2020. The sequel, titled One of Us is Next, is set one year after the first book, follows different characters, and has a new killer.
When I read One of Us is Lying, I rated it five stars. I adored that book. But I never bought the sequel. It wasn’t part of the same story as the original, so it didn’t appeal to me.
This series also has a time-skip between the first and second installment. One year passes between the novels. Some people may enjoy time-skips, but their presence invites a second exposition. Whereas sequels without time-skips can get back into the story, sequels with year-long leaps require explanation of all that has progressed in that forgotten time. Writers know that exposition is the trickiest part of literature to write, since it’s difficult to prevent it from being “clunky.” The inclusion of a time-skip, which necessitates more exposition, loses the attention of readers. It makes the sequel less interesting.
One of Us is Next also follows new characters, rather than the original group of main roles. Books like this don’t seem like they should be part of the same series. Rather, they seem like spin-offs. Many spin-offs have new main characters and take place years after the main series. This could be two years, or it could be twenty. If a sequel does not have the same main characters or continue the original plot, then it cannot rightfully be considered part of the same series, as it has nothing in common except for the world that it takes place in. Readers also form bonds with the characters of the original novel. When fans hear that their favorite book is getting a sequel, they expect that their favorite characters will star in it again. It’s disappointing to hear that the book actually follows different people.
Planned Sequels
Some books were originally created to be part of a series. The sequels to these novels, which immediately pick up where the first book left off, are incredibly compelling. Not only are they more interesting, but they are suspenseful. When a reader finishes a book with a cliffhanger ending, they instantly realize that there will be a second book. This leaves the reader in suspense, waiting for the next book. Then, when these books are released, they usually do not disappoint.
There is a difference between the continuation of a plot and the extension of one. Continuation feels natural, as every new novel is building up to an ultimate ending. Extension feels very forced. It is the advancement of a story that already had a resolution. Planned sequels continue the story. Unplanned sequels extend it.
When a book promptly starts where its prequel ended without any interruptions, it hooks the reader from the first page. A bestselling fantasy novel, This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi, ends with the appearance of a mysterious new villain, and a fight that this villain instigates. This twist leaves the readers wondering what happens next. Luckily, Mafi’s follow-up novel, These Infinite Threads, answers this question. The book opens where This Woven Kingdom concluded, in the middle of the tense scene, where Mafi wasted no words with unneeded exposition.
Not only does These Infinite Threads continue the original storyline without pause, it also follows the original characters. Readers who like those characters would be pleased to read the rest of the series, as it expands on their journey.
To conclude, there is a vast difference between a good book/movie and a good sequel. There are plenty of existing sequels that are great on their own, but they are not good continuations of an initial plot. Standalones do not necessarily need sequels. Sometimes, stories are better when they only exist in one installment. Jaws, despite its huge fanbase and immense popularity—making it the highest grossing film of all time before Star Wars: Episode IV—would have been better as a standalone film. In light of this, before authors/filmmakers decide to write a sequel, perhaps they should think about whether or not their book or movie actually needs one.
The Roar 