In the age of endless sequels, prequels, and reboots, there are somedead franchiseswhose return I would actually warmly welcome. While some series likeBack to the Futureshould be left alone and not have their legacy tarnished or tampered with, there are other series that could actually benefit from making a triumphant return to today’s modern movie landscape. Whether it’s the themes or ideas from the franchise that have become more relevant, or the main character has been away long enough to be missed, these are all franchises I still would love to see more of.
While series often seem to go on forever, and there are somegreat franchises with more than ten movies, in other cases, promising franchises are cast aside and left for dead when they still have plenty of exciting potential. Although some of these series had planned follow-up films, many of them have lingered in development hell to the point that they may never be released. This is a real shame, asI am excited by the prospect of all of these movie franchises making a grand return.
8Terminator (1984 - 2019)
Terminator is more relevant than ever today
The Terminatorwas a trailblazing film that later proved its franchise potential with perhaps the greatest sequel of all time,Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While it’s been touch and go ever since, as later sequels, reboots, and reimaginings have failed to live up to the legacy of its predecessors, I believe this is a series that can come back in a very big way. Considering current developments in artificial intelligence,the anxieties explored inTerminatorhave never been more relevant, and a new movie not only has the potential to be good, but it could be truly great.
While the soft rebootTerminator Salvationhad its issues, it also made the brave choice to attempt to carve out a route for this franchise that didn’t rely on Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800. I’d love to see more of Schwarzenegger in theTerminatorfranchise, but what I’d love more is for it to come back with a movie that feels relevant and has something to say about modern society’s increasingly reliant relationship with technology. A movie exploring that Skynet may have already taken over and we just didn’t notice could be a fascinating new route forTerminator.
Terminator
The Terminator franchise, launched by James Cameron in 1984, explores a dystopian future where intelligent machines wage war against humanity. The relentless pursuit of key human figures by time-traveling cyborg assassins known as Terminators is central to the narrative. John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance, is the core target of the malicious machines.
7National Treasure (2004 - 2007)
National Treasure has yet to reach its full potential
If you ask me, Nicolas Cage has proved himself to be among the greatest actors in modern cinema, and one of his best endeavors was theNational Treasureseries. Centered around the treasure-hunting Gates family, theNational Treasurefranchise has included two films where they search for and preserve lost valuables from the history of the United States of America. Although there was a recent Disney+ television series, plans for a third movie have stalled since 2008, and in 2024,Cage gave a blunt response regardingNational Treasure 3, dismissing its potential.
This was a crying shame, as I’d absolutely love to see a third movie in this franchise. As previous movies addressed a hidden map on the Declaration of Independence and links between the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the Lost City of Gold, this was a series that was unafraid to have fun with the fascinating history of America.There are just so many directions a thirdNational Treasuremovie could gothat it feels like such a shame this series has yet to turn its sights to other big events like JFK’s shooting or the moon landing.
National Treasure
The National Treasure franchise follows the adventures of Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and amateur cryptologist, as he uncovers hidden treasures linked to American history. The series combines historical myths and legends with action-adventure elements, leading Gates on thrilling treasure hunts across various significant landmarks.
6Austin Powers (1997 - 2002)
Austin Powers in the era of me-too is an interesting proposition
Mike Myers’s satirical spy comedy seriesAustin Powerswas a true phenomenon during the late 1990s and early 2000s that, along withWayne’s WorldandShrek, became one of the Canadian comedian’s most iconic characters. WithhilariousAustin Powersquoteslike “shagadelic” and “oh, behave!” becoming part of the zeitgeist, thisJames Bondparodying franchise has lost some of its cultural relevance in the two decades since its release, as its satirical spin on hippy culture, the Swinging 1960s, and free love feels outdated.
However, this is part of the reason I thinkAustin Powersshould make a return, as it would be delightful to see this womanizing, hard-partying British spy from the 1960s reemerge in today’s cultural landscape.Austin Powersas a franchise could be an interesting commentary on today’s more progressive society, and a film dealing with Powers amid the me-too movement could be a hit if it was presented with enough nuance. Part of the appeal ofAustin Powerswas that although he was crude and sexual, he was also self-aware and consensual, which could make for an interesting fourth movie.
Austin Powers
Austin Powers is a franchise consisting of three films, as well as a fourth that has been stuck in development hell for years. Mike Myers wrote and starred in all three films, which were directed by Jay Roach. Myers plays the titular character, who is a parody of James Bond, as well as Dr. Evil, a parody of the 007 villain Blofeld.
521 Jump Street (2012 - 2014)
21 Jump Street should expand its horizons
When I first heard21 Jump Streetwas an adaptation of a 1980s FOX TV police procedural, it sounded like a lackluster attempt to cash in on an IP that nobody remembered or really cared about. However, I was forced to eat my words because the resulting film was truly hilarious, as Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum made a fantastic, unlikely comedic duo. The screenplay by Michael Bacall was hilarious, and confident directing from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller signaledthis buddy cop action comedy had the potential to stand toe-to-toe with other franchises likeLethal WeaponandBad Boys.
This potential was realized with the release of the equally hilarious sequel22 Jump Street,and plans were made for not only a third film but also aMen in Blackcrossover and a female-led spin-off. With so many projects in the works, I was gutted that they never came to fruition, and now, ten years after22 Jump Street, it appears this franchise is dead in the water. I’d love for this series to be revived, as it’s never too late to actually make some of the incrediblesequel ideas teased in the22 Jump Streetend credits.
21 Jump Street
Cast
An adaptation of the TV series of the same name, 21 Jump Street stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as two police officers (and best friends) who are sent into a high school undercover in order to bust a drug ring. Learning that high school has changed considerably since they were teenagers, the pair are forced to adapt in order to maintain their cover, threatening their friendship in the process.
4Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002 - 2007)
Spider-Man has already reappear in the MCU and a new Tobey Maguire movie would be a treat
Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manseries with Tobey Maguire was the epitome of what could be achieved in the superhero genre. As a more lighthearted and humorous exploration of super-powered crime-fighting heroes than Christopher Nolan’s dark and grittyThe Dark Knighttrilogy from the same era, as a kid, I found myself more interested in the webslinger Peter Parker.I would have watched endless RaimiSpider-Manreleasesand was truly disappointed whenSpider-Man 4never got off the ground.
Of course,Spider-Manhas continued to be popular as the series was rebooted with Andrew Garfield, and then the character was integrated into the MCU with Tom Holland. With these developments, I accepted the end of Raimi’s series, although my hopes for its return were ignited with Maguire and Garfield’s appearance inSpider-Man: No Way Home. With Raimi’sSpider-Mannow canonically part of the MCU, the doors are open for a fourth movie to be made, and I would relish the chance to see more from this iconic franchise.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the first film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Released in 2002, the film introduced superhero fans to a live-action Norman Osborn, played by Willem Dafoe, who is transformed into his villainous alter ego, Green Goblin, after being forced out of Oscorp Industries. At the same time, Peter Parker is grappling with his newfound abilities as the iconic wall-crawler.
3Star Trek (2009 - 2016)
Star Trek deserves a fourth movie in the Kelvin timeline
While theStar Trekfranchise has continued to flourish on television, it’s a shame that the rebooted alternative Kelvin timeline film series has stalled since 2016. This reimagining ofStar TrekcastChris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Commander Spockin a new series that managed to pay tribute to the original while carving out something new. With its sequels,Star Trek: Into the DarknessandStar Trek Beyond, this series proved the potential for endless space adventures of the USS Enterprise crew.
However, plans for a fourthStar Trekmovie have continually been delayed, and it’s starting to feel like this franchise is dead. While an upcoming movie spin-off of the TV seriesStar Trek: DiscoverytitledStar Trek: Section 31is slated for 2025, I can’t help but wish this franchise would prioritizeStar Trek 4. Having pulled off the impossible and recast the original characters in a way that audiences connected with, it feels like a complete waste to let this franchise drift aimlessly into the deep space of development hell.
Star Trek
Star Trek is one of pop culture’s biggest multimedia franchises, spanning multiple movies, TV shows, books, comics, video games, and various other media. The franchise was created by Gene Roddenberry and started with the 1960s TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Over the decades, several equally popular series have come out since as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Discovery.
2Conan The Barbarian (1982 - 1984)
Conan the Barbarian should return with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Before gaining worldwide recognition withThe Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger showcased his unique talents inConan the Barbarian, a role he was truly perfect for. This swords-and-sorcery film had a unique appeal that made it one of the most successful fantasy movies ever, only surpassed decades later by Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Rings. Although a sequel,Conan the Destroyer, was released in 1984, and Schwarzenegger returned to the genre for the lacklusterConancopycat filmRed Sonja, the franchise has been left to die, excluding a disappointing reboot with Jason Momoa in 2011.
I’d love to see Conan’s true return with Schwarzenegger backin the title role. As an older version of the character who has endured decades of unseen hardships in his unforgiving fantasy world, Schwarzenegger could truly excel in a legacy sequel to this underappreciated IP. Schwarzenegger himself announced that this was happening asDeadlinereported him reprising the part forThe Legend of Conanin 2011, but these plans fell through.
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a multimedia franchise that began in 1931. Conan first appeared in the 1931 short Story “People of the Dark,” but the character grew in popularity in the ’80s when Arnold Schwarzenegger took on the character for two live-action films. Since then, multiple movies, TV shows, video games, and comic books have been released, centering on the titular character.
1Escape From… (1981 - 1996)
Escape From should finally complete its trilogy
FromThe ThingtoBig Trouble in Little China, John Carpenter and Kurt Russell have made some incredible movies together. My favorite of their collaborations was alwaysEscape from New YorkandEscape from L.A.,two fantastic cult films that represented the perfect combination of sci-fi and action. With two movies made 15 years apart, it would not be unprecedented for this dead franchise to be revived once more to complete the trilogy.
There were initially plans to follow upEscape from L.A.witha sequel set in space calledEscape from Earth(viaMovie Web.) However, the underperformance of its predecessor meant these plans were halted, and the world never got to see the adventures of Snake Plissken after activating the superweapon known as the Sword of Damocles. With such a passionate and devoted cult following, I believe the return of theEscape Fromfranchise would make an excellent straight-to-streaming movie that would please patient viewers who have almost waited 20 years for its return.
Escape From New York
John Carpenter takes on the role of writer, composer, and director in Escape from New York, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film where a large portion of New York City is converted into the biggest prison in the world, with all criminals in the United States sentenced there. When the President is kidnapped and taken abruptly into the heart of the prison, the government will turn to former soldier turned convict Snake Plissken to rescue him within twenty-four hours in exchange for a full pardon of his crimes.
