When you love an 80s movie very, very much... the only thing better than rewatching it for the thousandth time is... watching a brand-new sequel. OR IS IT?!
Sequels have a way of polarizing die-hard fans. Some long to see their favorite characters again and dive into even more plot twists and turns of a continuing story arc. Others maintain that you should never mess with perfection: as the old saying goes, "if it's not broke, don't make a sequel."
Join us as we explore ten classic 1980s movies whose sequels were created decades later. Were these sequels worth the wait? Epically under-rated? Or epic fails? Only you can be the judge, dear reader, as we explore these long-awaited sequels, listed here in order of ascending wait time (plus one that is currently in the works)!
Original: The Blues Brothers
June 20, 1980 | Directed by John Landis
Sequel: Blues Brothers 2000
Feburary 6, 1988 | Directed by John Landis
Wait time: 17 years, 233 days
At the dawn of the 1980s, the Blues Brothers, Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) blasted onto the scene in on a mission from God to re-unite their old R&B band, all while outrunning the Chicago police. With rollicking dance scenes and cameos galore (James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and many more), the brothers secured themselves a place in film history.
Elwood returns in Blues Brothers 2000, with John Goodman joining in the role of Mighty Mack (Belushi passed in 1982 (RIP)). We are treated to another star-studded cast (Erykah Badu, B.B. King, Eric Clapton), proving the blues didn't fade a bit after 17 years.
Original: Wall Street
December 11, 1987 | Directed by William Oliver Stone
Sequel: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
September 24, 2010 | Directed by William Oliver Stone
Wait time: 22 years, 293 days
In Wall Street, Michael Douglas plays corporate raider Gordon Gekko, who takes young up-and-coming trader Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) under his evil wing, entangling him in a world of unethical insider trading. Exemplifying the excesses of 1980s corporate greed, the film served as a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition.
A couple decades later, a disgraced Gekko is fresh out of prison and greedier than ever! Set against the backdrop of 2008's financial crisis, Gekko has a new mentee, his future son-in-law Jake (Shia LaBeouf). Gekko simultaneously tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter Winnie (Carrie Mulligan), while enlisting Jake to help re-build his evil empire. Come for the economic critique, and stay for the family drama, as this film explores the far-reaching consequences of pursuing wealth at all costs.
Original: Tron
July 9, 1982 | Directed by Steven Lisberger
Sequel: Tron: Legacy
December 17, 2010 | Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Wait time: 28 years, 167 days
Groundbreaking in its early use of CGI, and cementing the laser-grid-in-black-space as part of 80s visual iconography, Tron follows video game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), as he's abducted inside the software world.
Years later in Tron: Legacy, Flynn's son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) goes in search of his missing father, and his quest leads him into the digital world of his father's making (being kidnapped by video games seems to run in the family!) Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, these two films provide a fascinating side-by-side example of the advances in CGI.
Congratulations are in order... the Tron franchise is about to become a trilogy: Tron: Ares premieres in October 2025.
Original: Coming to America
June 29, 1988 | Directed by John Landis
Sequel: Coming 2 America
March 5, 2021 | Directed by Craig Brewer
Wait time: 32 years, 256 days
A classic fish-out-of-water, riches-to-rags-to-riches tale, Coming to America introduces us to Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) of the fictional African nation of Zamunda. In search of a bride who will love him for him (and not for his wealth and power), Prince Akeem travels to New York City and humorously attempts to blend in while finding his true love.
In Coming 2 America, we're re-introduced to Akeem, who is soon to be king of Zamunda. On his 30th wedding anniversary to his American wife Lisa (Shari Headley, in both films), Akeem discovers he has a long-lost son, Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler) back in Queens. Since only a male heir can ascend to the throne, Akeem must return to NYC and find him. Hijinks ensue--and, ultimately, patrilineal primogeniture is turned on its head (fun!)
Original: Blade Runner
June 25, 1982 | Directed by Ridley Scott
Sequel: Blade Runner 2049
October 6, 2017 | Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Wait time: 35 years, 111 days
Based on a 1968 sci fi novel by Philip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), Blade Runner tells the tale of former police officer Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who is tasked as a "blade runner"--in charge of tracking down errant bioengineered humanoids ("replicants") and eliminating them. Deckard ends up falling in love with a replicant and fleeing with her, leaving questions about his own identity. Things Blade Runner accurately predicted about the year 2019: video calls, and voice controlled smart devices. What it got wrong: flying cars, space colonies, and ubiquitous humanoid robots.
Set thirty years later in the Blade Runner universe (though premiering 35 years later in the theater), 2049 follows a new blade runner, Officer K (Ryan Gosling), who unearths a secret that threatens to plunge an already crumbling society into further chaos. He embarks on a quest to find Deckard, who has been missing for 30 years. What does Blade Runner 2049 get right about the year 2049? We'll check back with you in 24 years!!
Original: Top Gun
May 16, 1986 | Directed by Tony Scott
Sequel: Top Gun: Maverick
May 27, 2022 | Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Wait time: 36 years, 19 days
Set at the elite Top Gun Naval Fighter School, Top Gun follows elite fighter pilots as they hone their skills in the skies. Reckless yet talented pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) makes waves with his attitude and risk taking, palling around with Goose (Anthony Edwards), and sparring with ever-cool Iceman (Val Kilmer). The film quickly reached blockbuster status, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1986.
In Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise's character trains a group of young Top Gun grads, including Goose's son (Miles Teller), while confronting dark parts of his own past. Notably, this was also Val Kilmer's final film role. A screenplay was originally written in 2012, but production was delayed due to the passing of original director Tony Scott, and again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the long wait paid off--it was nominated for six Oscars and became the highest-grossing film of Cruise's career ($1.5 billion-with-a-B!). Rumor has it, a third Top Gun installment is currently in development.
Original: Beetlejuice
March 30, 1988 | Directed by Tim Burton
Sequel: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
September 6, 2024 | Directed by Tim Burton
Wait time: 36 years, 168 days
In Beetlejuice, a deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) are peacefully haunting their own house when an annoying new family, the Deetzes, (Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones) moves in... so they summon maliciously chaotic spirit-for-hire Betelgeuse (Michael Keeton) to drive them out. One of Tim Burton's earliest feature films, Beetlejuice helped define and popularize the "Burton-esque" aesthetic--dark, surreal, and comedic.
Another sequel on our list that faced major delays, a nascent version went through numerous unsuccessful revisions, was shelved in 2019, to finally be revived by Burton in 2022 as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Bringing back Keaton, O'Hara and Ryder in their original roles, plus newcomer Jenna Ortega as Lydia's daughter Astrid, we return to the old (haunted) family home and follow three generations of the Deetz family. Turmoil ensues when Astrid accidentally opens the portal to the afterlife, and themes of grief and generational trauma play out in a darkly comedic film full of campy gore.
Original: The Shining
November 7, 1980 | Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Sequel: Doctor Sleep
November 8, 2019 | Directed by Mike Flanagan
Wait time: 39 years, 98 days
Based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, The Shining is considered a masterpiece in the horror genre. Kubrick terrified the world with this tale of a family headed to the isolated Overlook Hotel for the winter. Father Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes violent, influenced by a mysterious presence, terrorizing his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who happens to be psychic.
This long-awaited film sequel was based on King's equally long-awaited novel Doctor Sleep (published in 2013). Aforementioned psychic son Danny (Ewan McGregor) is all grown up, traumatized, and still seeing all kinds of scary stuff. He connects with a young girl, Abra (Kyliegh Curran), who has similar abilities, and must protect her from an evil cult... all culminating in a final confrontation at the Overlook. Unlike the tragic end of The Shining, Doctor Sleep puts this 40-year-long-tale to bed on an (spoiler alert) uplifting note.
Original: This is Spinal Tap
March 2, 1984 | Directed by Rob Reiner
Sequel: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
September 12, 2025 | Directed by Rob Reiner
Wait time: 41 years, 203 days
Shot in a mockumentary style, fictional film director Marty DiBergi (played by actual director Rob Reiner) follows metal band Spinal Tap (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer) on tour. With comedic highs and tragicomic lows, DiBergi captures all the behind-the-scenes drama of one of England's loudest bands.
We've impatiently waited a cool 41-plus years to see Spinal Tap again, and this one's hot off the presses (er, film reels)! Released just this week, the gang's all here and we get to see what they've been up to all these years (i.e. cheese shop ownership, glue museum curating). To fulfill a contractual obligation, they must perform one final show, in all their bombastic, chaotic glory (with a few top shelf cameos thrown in for good measure).
Want to celebrate the release in style? Get yourself Nigel's iconic Green Skeleton Tee--the perfect wardrobe choice for playing air guitar at home or an evening out at the theater.
Original: The Goonies
June 7, 1985 | Directed by Richard Donner
Sequel: TBD
Wait time: Still waiting... but not for long!
A rag-tag group of kids living in Astoria, Oregon, who call themselves "The Goonies", discover an ancient treasure map and set off on an adventure to find a long-lost treasure, in order to save their homes from foreclosure. At first a moderately successful theatrical release, The Goonies has become a beloved cult classic: a coming-of-age, kid power movie that appealed to kids and adults alike (and especially to those of us who watched it as kids and are now adults!)
Goonies never say die, and they still refuse to say it 40 years later! Earlier this year, a sequel was confirmed, and is currently in development. Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus (The Goonies original screenwriter) are producing; the director and returning cast members remain unknown. We'll be keeping tabs on this developing story!
Well, there you have it, my sweet cinephiles: a bunch of long-ass stories, boldly told. Did you have a favorite, or a least favorite? Will you be tuning in as any of these sequels become trilogies? We're getting started on our predictions for what the future will be like in 2049, so please check back here in 24 years and see if we were right.