6 1980s Movies That Deserved Sequels (But Never Got Them)

Even though many fantastic films were made in the last decade, some weren’t successful in theaters or were never continued by their creators, frustrating fans and leaving storylines unresolved for years. Luckily, many of these overlooked gems have gained a dedicated following, and fans are still hoping to see more stories from these deserving films.

They Live Was Ripe For Further Exploration

The movie They Live centers around a nameless drifter, known only as Nada, who comes to Los Angeles looking for work. His life changes dramatically when he finds a pair of sunglasses that reveal a hidden reality: many people are actually aliens disguised as humans. The glasses also expose a constant stream of hidden messages subtly controlling the population to breed and buy things. Realizing his planet is under threat, Nada desperately tries to find allies and reveal the truth to the world.

John Carpenter’s They Live brilliantly combined action with a dystopian sci-fi story, and its ending hinted at a possible sequel. Forty years later, fans are still wondering what happened to the alien invaders – a question many would love to see answered. With current concerns about corporate and government overreach, revisiting this classic and updating it for today’s world would be a fantastic way to continue its sharp social commentary.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is Still a Perfect Idea

The movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is set in 1940s Los Angeles, a city where people and cartoon characters—like Daffy Duck and Bettie Boop—coexist. The film follows Eddie Valiant, a detective still struggling with his brother’s death caused by a cartoon character. When the famous cartoon star Roger Rabbit is accused of murder, he seeks Eddie’s help, desperate to be protected from the dangerous Judge Doom, who is known for eliminating toons.

Since it first came out, animation has become even more creative and captivating, giving us four decades of beloved characters. It’s surprising that this hugely successful film never got a follow-up, particularly because characters like Roger and Jessica Rabbit became instantly recognizable icons. Blending the styles of film noir and classic children’s cartoons, it had a fantastic and unique concept that deserved to be explored further.

Big Trouble in Little China Needs More Jack Burton

In 1986, John Carpenter and Kurt Russell teamed up one last time to create the action-packed film Big Trouble in Little China. The movie centers around Jack Burton, a truck driver, who arrives in Chinatown with his truck and gets caught up in a wild adventure. He sets out to help his friend rescue his fiancée from a dangerous cult, leading them on a journey into the hidden underworld of the city where they confront a powerful, evil sorcerer.

Despite some comic book continuations, including one written by director John Carpenter himself, fans are still hoping for a sequel to Big Trouble in Little China featuring an older Jack Burton. The movie’s blend of fantasy and action is a style Hollywood hasn’t really captured since, and Kurt Russell would be ideal to reprise the role.

The Goonies’ Sequel Remains in Question

The Goonies is about a group of kids who go on an adventure to find pirate One-Eyed Willy’s hidden treasure. Their search leads them into a dangerous chase with the Fratelli family, a group of criminals. The kids have to use their smarts and work together to escape the Fratellis and navigate Willy’s tricky traps as they get closer to the treasure.

Talk of a follow-up to the original film has gone on for years, but it’s still unclear if one will ever happen, even though shows like Stranger Things have made audiences eager for a continuation. Considering the film’s lasting popularity, it’s surprising we haven’t seen a sequel, especially one set in the 80s or 90s. With so many people wanting classic adventure films again, a new Goonies movie could really revitalize the genre.

The Thing Was Left on the Ultimate Cliffhanger

In the film The Thing, a team at an American research station in Antarctica encounters a terrifying alien that can perfectly copy any living creature. As the alien begins to impersonate the crew members, the team descends into fear and distrust, unsure of who is still human. When helicopter pilot MacReady realizes the creature intends to spread beyond Antarctica, he attempts to take charge, which only increases the tension and conflict among the isolated men.

For decades, fans of John Carpenter have been eager for closure regarding a particular film, with a sequel often hinted at but never delivered. Though open endings can be effective, it would be satisfying for viewers to finally get a definitive answer – especially if it comes directly from Carpenter. However, given the film’s poor performance at the box office and the director’s apparent lack of interest in continuing the story, fans have been waiting for a resolution for forty years.

Clue Has Endless Potential

I absolutely love the movie Clue! It starts with these six totally different people being invited to a spooky mansion in the middle of nowhere. They meet the butler, Wadsworth, who reveals they’ve all been blackmailed by the same person, Mr. Boddy. But then, Mr. Boddy turns up dead, and suddenly everyone is a suspect! It’s a hilarious whodunnit where you’re constantly trying to figure out who did it, especially as more and more people start dying. It’s so clever and keeps you guessing until the very end!

The success of movies like Knives Out proves that the premise of Clue – a group of quirky characters solving a mystery – is always appealing. Just like the board game, the Clue movies could have continued with new characters and a new mystery in each installment. Hollywood often struggles to create good cozy mysteries and whodunits, but Clue provided a great example of how to do it, and deserved a sequel.

2026-01-25 00:39