How long-awaited sequels stack up
Remember the scene in “Independence Day” when the White House is blown up? How about when Will Smith punches that alien?
If your memory is cloudy, you’re probably not alone. Much has transpired in pop culture in the 20 years between that film’s release and its sequel, which hit theaters last weekend.
The new “Independence Day: Resurgence” is one of a handful of sequels in 2016 continuing the story of films that debuted more than a decade ago. Are audiences (and critics) welcoming these new installments as they did the originals? Or have they moved on?
Here is a look at films that have taken their sweet time getting a sequel on the big screen in 2016, including box office numbers through Sunday (provided by Box Office Mojo) and reviews of both new and original releases.
“INDEPENDENCE DAY”
Sequel title: “Independence Day: Resurgence”
Years since original: 20 Box office: The adjusted domestic box office was $594.3 million, putting it in the Top 40 for all-time North American box office. The sequel, released last weekend, opened with $41 million, putting it at No. 2 in the weekend box office rankings behind “Finding Dory.”
Reviews: Janet Maslin celebrated the original, writing that it “lives up to expectations in a rush of gleeful, audience-friendly exhilaration, with inspiring notions of bravery that depart nicely from the macho cynicism of this movie season.” Manohla Dargis was not as kind to the sequel, writing that it “is likely to spur more eye-drooping than popping.”
“MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING”
Sequel title: “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”
Years since original: 14 Box office: The original, adjusted for inflation, took in $355.3 million in the domestic market, a stratospheric amount for a romantic comedy. Through last weekend, the domestic gross for the sequel, released March 25, is $59.6 million.
Reviews: In his New York Times review of the original, Dave Kehr called it “an amiable, offhanded comedy about ethnic identity and last-chance romance.” Writing about the sequel, Jeannette Catsoulis called it “a washed-out recycling of ethnic clichés and exhausted jokes.”
“ZOOLANDER” Sequel title:
Years since original: 15 Box office: The adjusted total for “Zoolander” was $68.4 million. These weren’t world-changing figures, but the film developed a cult following and its popularity grew long after it left the big screen. The sequel, released Feb. 12, has earned a domestic total of $28.8 million.
Reviews: In his assessment of the original, Elvis Mitchell wrote: “The fun comes from how seamlessly [Ben] Stiller blends everything together. He aligns ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ and an attempt to address politics with a blistering sendup of pop culture.” Summing up the sequel,
“Zoolander Stephen Holden called it an “overproduced, chaotic, not very funny comic circus.”
“FINDING NEMO”
Sequel title:“Finding Dory”
Years since original: 13
Box office: “Finding Nemo” took in an adjusted domestic gross of $483.3 million, and the sequel is managing superior numbers as well. By Tuesday, domestic spending had hit $286 million. Its opening weekend set a box office record for Pixar.
Reviews: Stephen Holden said the original created “an undersea wonderland whose opalescent colors and shifting light reflect the enchanted aura of dreamy aquatic photography.” A.O. Scott gave the sequel a positive note, writing, “It argues, with lovely ingenuity and understatement, that what appear to be impairments might better be understood as strengths.”
“BARBERSHOP”
Sequel title: “Barbershop: The Next Cut”
Years since the previous sequel: 12
Box office: The adjusted domestic total for the original, released in 2002, was $111.8 million. A 2004 sequel took in an adjusted $89.9 million. The domestic gross for “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” released April 15, is $53.8 million.
Reviews: A.O. Scott praised the original, writing that its “quiet affirmation of neighborhood values gives it an honest, lived-in glow.” Scott also recommended “The Next Cut,” calling it “a celebration of small business, hard work, family ties and communal solidarity.”