Unloved Sequels

An all-new adventure down the yellow brick road. At time of recording The Wizard of Oz is available to stream on HBO Max in the USA and Sky Cinema/NOW in the UK. Return to Oz is available to stream on Disney+

You are cordially invited to the royal event of the season. In this episode Michael and Claire are graduating college and preparing for life as a very normal 21-year-old - apart from the fact of also being heir apparent of a totally made up European land in which no two people's accents are the same and the revelation that unless we find someone to marry within a month we'll lose the throne to Chris Pine. It can take a lifetime to find true love; she's got 30 days in The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement! At time of recording The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement are available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and USA.

If adventure has a name, it must be... Indiana Jones. In this episode Michael & Claire defy the laws of age, time travel and quality movie-making in an octogenarian "romp" with Fleabag and a kid that definitely isn't a plug-and-play rip-off of a character from a previous instalment. A legend will face his destiny... in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny! At time of recording the first four movies in the Indiana Jones franchise are available on Paramount+ in the USA and Prime VIdeo in the UK. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is available on Disney+ in both countries.

Something unexpected has evolved In this episode Michael & Claire are getting tricked into revisiting their biggest life trauma to date, in search of a 12 year old boy who's savvier and more resourceful than most of the adults surrounding him put together. This time it's not just a walk in the park in Jurassic Park III At time of recording Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and USA

They came. They saw. They ran. In this episode Hallowe'en goes family friendly as Michael & Claire face off against old foes, new outfits and terrible CGI - zoinks! Doo the fright thing - with Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed! At time of recording Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed are available to stream on HBO Max in the USA and Sky Cinema/NOW in the UK. Featuring a guest interview with Trace Thurman, co-host of Horror Queers and Scooby-Doo superfan.

She never forgives. She never forgets. She never left. In this episode Michael & Claire launch spooky season with a trip back to that weird, old, creepy house where a bunch of kids killed themselves in mysterious circumstances a few decades ago. Where better to take a group of pre-teen war evacuees...? Don't look! You mustn't look... at The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death At time of recording the Woman in Black and The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death are available to stream on Sky/NOW Cinema in the UK. The Woman in Black is available to stream on Paramount+ in USA, while The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death is on Peacock & Tubi.

Would the real James Bond please step forward? In this episode Michael & Claire are coming out of retirement but *definitely* showing their age in a sequel was borne out of decades of legal wrangling and is perhaps the very definition of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" If you haven't seen Sean Connery in 'Never Say Never Again' then you haven't seen James Bond 007! (apparently...) At time of recording Never Say Never Again is available to rent or buy from most digital platforms.

The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success. In this episode Michael & Claire are taking on a power-crazed media mogul, his team of henchmen *and* his wife - not to mention a kick-ass fellow agent who could probably take on the whole movie's quota of bad guys single handed. All in a day's work for our favourite movie spy. The Man. The Number. The License...are all back in Tomorrow Never Dies! At time of recording GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies are available to rent or buy from most digital platforms. Tomorrow Never Dies is also available on ITVX in the UK (if you don't mind watching with adverts).

There's being a kid. There's being an adult. And then there's that year in between. In this episode Michael & Claire are moving on from the movie death that scarred a generation and looking to both the future and past in a coming-of-age story that'll have you checking your mood ring to see what colour it turns. Why is it boys talk so much, when they have nothing to say? And girls have plenty to say, but no one will listen? Find out in My Girl 2! ***featuring a special guest interview with Emily Marinelli, author of Comfort Sequels: The Psychology of Movie Sequels from the 80s and 90s*** Order your copy of Comfort Sequels: The Psychology of Movie Sequels from the 80s and 90s... Amazon US (release date 20th September 2024): https://a.co/d/aWiCs8O Tucker DS Press (direct from publisher, available now): https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/comfort-sequels Amazon UK (release date 30th September 2024): https://amzn.eu/d/ejfhyHT At time of recording My Girl and My Girl 2 are available to buy or rent from most online platforms, or to buy on DVD

Evolution will make a last stand. In this episode Michael & Claire are back from the dead, but with a malevolent alter-ego hell-bent on destroying the very people we once called family - all whilst wondering whether it's better to be true to oneself or to be accepted by the wider world. Featuring an exclusive deep-dive interview with X-Men x-perts Ryan and Adam from the Homo Superior podcast. Whose side will you be on? It's X-Men: The Last Stand! At time of recording all of the X-Men movies are available to stream on Disney+ in the USA and UK

Angels are like diamonds. They can't be made, you have to find them. Each one is unique. In this episode Michael & Claire are discussing a contemporary (at the time) reboot of a classic entertainment franchise - which has since had its own, more contemporary, reboot. Although whether this middle pair of instalments can be considered classics is very much a matter of opinion... This summer, the Angels are back in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle! At time of recording Charlie's Angels is included in Amazon Prime in the UK, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle in available to rent or buy from most streaming services. Both movies are available to rent or buy from most streaming services in the USA.

Born into Wealth. Groomed by the Elite. Trained for Combat. In this episode Michael & Claire are visiting an iconic video game crossover - complete with skin-tight lycra and fake nipples - to save the world from Pandora's Box and the epic destruction contained therein. Remember that "no gun" rule? She reconsidered for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life! At time of recording Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is available to stream on Paramount+ and MGM+ in the USA and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life is available to rent & purchase from most paid streaming services. Both movies are available to stream free of charge on iPlayer in the UK

History has a nasty way of repeating itself. In this episode Michael & Claire are escaping to a small-town island community for some much-needed R&R, only to find themselves caught up in an incredibly familiar series of inexplicable bird attacks. Imagine the terror that lies ahead - it's The Birds II: Land's End! At time of recording The Birds is available to rent and buy from online platforms in the USA and UK. The Birds II: Land's End had a limited DVD release in the USA in 2022.

The devil walks the world! In this episode Michael and Claire are checking in on baby Andy thirty years later to see just what happens when Satan's spawn comes of age. Not much, as it turns out... This is the shocker you've been waiting for since the day he was born (according to the movie's taglines, at least) - it's that made-for-TV classic Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby! At time of recording Rosemary's Baby is available to rent and buy on most platforms in the UK and USA, while Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby is available to watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/W4NGyDoRGoo?si=0d8lWpL73NpsK6TP

Journey to the most wonderful place in the universe... home. In this episode Michael and Claire are bringing our alien friends back to Earth to rescue their long-lost kin, only to find ourselves facing an existential crisis over whether a life without our own loved ones is any life at all. Five years have passed, yet somehow it only feels like three in Cocoon: The Return At time of recording Cocoon: The Return is available to rent and buy on most streaming platforms. Cocoon is not available to stream anywhere, and you'll be lucky to get hold of a copy on DVD or Blu Ray either - which is why this episode includes an exclusive interview with podcaster and YouTuber Jeff Rauseo. Follow Jeff Rauseo at https://linktr.ee/JeffRauseo?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

The Machines Will Rise In this episode Michael and Claire are facing the realisation that the globally apocalyptic event that we averted a decade ago was, in fact, inevitable and is coming back to bite us on the bum. Oh, and that kid we haven't seen since making out with them back in high school is destined to become our spouse. And, as promised, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back - this time with a sexy but silent female antagonist. She'll be back... in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines At time of recording the Terminator franchise is spread across several streaming services in both the UK and USA, so good luck tracking them down! (in the UK only, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is included in an Amazon Prime subscription)

Something has survived... In this episode Michael and Claire are heading to Site B, only to find that in a completely unpredictable turn of events the secret creatures living there are not as harmless as everyone thought. If only Jeff Goldblum had warned us it was a bad idea... Once again life has found a way in The Lost World: Jurassic Park! At time of recording Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park are available to stream on Sky Cinema & NOW Movies in the UK and on Max in USA.

She's been frozen for a thousand years... now it's time to break the ice. In this episode Michael and Claire discuss a centuries-old curse that happens to manifest in exactly the same way, and in exactly the same place, as a completely different centuries-old curse had done just a few years before. This is a lively comedy about a living doll - it's Mannequin 2: On the Move! At time of recording Mannequin is available to stream on MGM and Mannequin 2: On the Move on YouTube in the UK. Both movies are available on HBO Max in USA

The world's favourite family is back! In this episode Michael and Claire end 2023 the same way they started it - with a shoddy sequel to 1989's John Travolta/Kirstie Alley classic romcom. But this time it's Christmas. And there are dogs. It's our last episode of the year so grab a glass of something festive, get comfy and join us for Look Who's Talking Now! At time of recording Look Who's Talking, Look Who's Talking Too and Look Who's Talking Now are available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms.

No smoking. No littering. No red meat. No freedom of religion. Marriages must be approved. In this episode Michael and Claire visit yet another dystopian future, except this time it's strangely familiar in a sequel that certainly isn't vastly different from its first instalment... Snake is back in Escape From LA! At time of recording Escape from New York and Escape from LA are both available on Freevee in USA. In the UK Escape from New York is available on STUDIOCANAL and Escape from LA is available on Paramount+

Nuclear Power. In the best hands, it is dangerous. In the hands of Lex Luthor, it is pure evil. In this episode Michael and Claire discuss a movie that's part morality tale, part ego trip and killed off the franchise for almost two decades. This is Superman's greatest battle. And it is for all of us in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. At time of recording the Christopher Reeve-era Superman movies are available on HBO Max in the USA, and to rent or buy from most streaming services in the UK.

He's Back... And It's About Time In this episode Michael and Claire are marking the 60th anniversary of an iconic British TV institution that never quite made it to the big screen but did have a TV movie instalment. Featuring an exclusive interview with writer Matthew Jacobs, time waits for no man - except one - in Doctor Who: The Movie. At time of recording the entire Doctor Who back catalogue, including Doctor Who: The Movie, is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK. Doctor Who: The Movie is available to rent or buy in the USA from most streaming services. Doctor Who Am I, a documentary featuring and co-directed by Matthew Jacobs, is available to stream on ITVX Premium in the UK and Amazon Prime in the USA.

Rules of a trilogy: Chapter one sets the rules. Chapter two bends the rules. But in the finale...forget the rules. In this episode Michael and Claire are tackling another threequel, but this time it's Hollywood-style. The most terrifying scream is always the last in Scream 3! At time of recording Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 3 are available to stream on Sky Cinema in the UK and Paramount Plus and Max in USA.

The evil lives on... can it be stopped? In this episode Michael and Claire are revisiting a past trauma in the hope of solving the mystery of a priest's sudden death, via a trip to Africa and a swarm of locusts - it's Exorcist II: The Heretic! At time of recording The Exorcist is available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Exorcist II: The Heretic is available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms.

It's not over yet. October is almost here, which can only mean one thing - it's time to start on the spooky sequels!!! In this episode Michael and Claire are crossing the border into Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia to take on a pack of lusty lupines, hell-bent on taking over the world and destroying humanity - it's Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf! At time of recording The Howling and Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf are available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms.

Yabba-Dabba-Doo! We're back, and in this episode Michael and Claire have even more to say about The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas! Our two-part episode continues, with an exclusive interview with director Brian Levant. At time of recording The Flintstones and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas are available to rent and buy from most streaming platforms.

In this episode Michael & Claire are going waaaaaaay back in time, and then going back a bit further for the prequel! One of the great love stories of our time, or at least of their time - it's The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas! Part one of a two-parter, featuring an exclusive interview with composer David Newman. At time of recording The Flintstones and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas are available to rent and buy from most streaming platforms.

In this episode Michael & Claire are conducting unauthorised experiments with the children in tow - what could possibly go wrong?! You'd think they'd have learned from the first time but clearly not because it's Honey I Blew Up the Kid! At time of recording Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Honey I Blew Up the Kid are available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and USA

It dies with us (the franchise, that is) In this fun-sized episode Michael & Claire revisit a long-forgotten urban legend and, in doing so, unintentionally manifest and undead killer. No, really. Keep those 4th of July celebrations going because it's I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer! At time of recording I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer are available to rent or buy from most streaming platforms. With apologies for some slightly wobbly sound recording in this episode - are we being haunted by the undead spirit of a man we wronged long ago? Or is it just an unstable internet connection...?

Some secrets will haunt you forever. In this episode Michael & Claire are haunted by secrets long thought forgotten and a man long though dead. Twice. Make sure you know the capital of Brazil because it's I Still Know What You Did Last Summer! At time of recording I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer are available to rent or buy from most streaming platforms.

Let the ritual begin. In this episode Michael & Claire delve into the mysteries of the occult and uncover secrets long thought forgotten. Look to the north, south, east and west - it's The Craft: Legacy! At time of recording The Craft and The Craft: Legacy are available to rent or buy from most streaming platforms,

The adventure continues... (whether you want it to or not!) In this episode Claire & Michael set off on an adventure through the 50's, in search of inter-dimensional beings and their psychic powers. Hold on to your fedoras - it's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! From 31st May 2023 the first four Indiana Jones movies will be available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and USA.

Never tell him the odds (yes, that really is the tagline for this movie...) In this episode Claire & Michael are making the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs (if you round down) to celebrate Star Wars Day with an origin story that no-one asked for. May the Fourth be with you, it's Solo: A Star Wars Story! At time of recording Solo: A Star Wars Story, and the rest of the Star Wars franchise, is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and USA.

Man's deepest fear has risen again (is that the shark, or the franchise...?) In this episode Claire & Michael are racing to the Bahamas, one in a plane and one swimming, to see who gets there first. This time it's personal in Jaws: The Revenge! Featuring an interview with Paul Downey, author of The Shak is Roading - The Story of Jaws: The Revenge At time of recording Jaws: The Revenge is available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms in the UK and USA.

The third dimension is terror... In this episode Claire & Michael head to SeaWorld for another undersea adventure - but something's definitely a bit fishy in Jaws 3-D! Featuring an interview with Mike Ballew, film 3-D historian and author of forthcoming book Close Enough to Touch: 3-D Comes to Hollywood. At time of recording Jaws, Jaws 2 and Jaws 3 (not in 3-D) are included on Prime Video in the UK and available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms in USA

Grease is still the word! In this episode Claire & Michael pull on their pink jackets and go searching for a Cool Rider - The Music and Feeling go on Forever in Grease 2! At time of recording Grease and Grease 2 are available to to stream on Paramount+ in the UK and USA

Christine! Christine! Always Christine! In this episode Claire & Michael unleash their inner Prima Donnas to discuss one of the UK's most famous theatrical flops which, after some well-publicised spit & polish, somehow still managed to get made into a movie (of sorts). The Angel of Music is reigniting old flames in Love Never Dies. Featuring an interview with special guest Jack Lyall, who played Gustave in the Australian stage production, which was filmed for home release and received a limited cinema run. At time of recording The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) and Love Never Dies are available to rent and buy on most streaming platforms in the UK and USA

Far up! Far out! Far more! James Bond 007 is back! (yes, that really was the tagline...) Events don't get any bigger than... BOND vs BOND! In this episode Michael & Claire go head to head with their favourite bad Bond sequels. In the red corner the first Bond recast takes us back to the 60's in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. In the blue corner is Pierce Brosnan's final fling as 007, Die Another Day. Will romance win out over space lasers? Or will swordplay beat skiing stunts? And does either movie really deserve its licence to sequel...? At time of recording On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Die Another Day are both available to rent and buy on most streaming services in the UK and USA.

Mikey's back and about to face his greatest challenge... His new baby sister. In this episode Michael and Claire are living in a world of voiceovers and dream sequences, all in the pursuit of domestic bliss. Hold on to your diaper bags - it's Look Who's Talking Too! At time of recording Look Who's Talking and Look Who's Talking Too are available to buy or rent on most streaming platforms in the USA and UK.

The Superstars of the Supernatural are back. And this time, it's no marshmallow roast. In this episode Michael and Claire round off the year being haunted by a new wave of spooky spectres, with the end of the world only days away! Who're they gonna call? It's Ghostbusters 2! At time of recording Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 are included in Prime Video and Sky Cinema subscriptions in the UK and available to buy or rent on most streaming platforms in the USA. Happy New Year!

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Two Dads. One Mission. Double the Holiday Fun! It's not long till Christmas now, so we're diving into the eggnog-muddied waters of festive sequels... First up, Claire & Michael discuss a seasonal sequel that went straight to home release. Form an orderly queue, it's Jingle All the Way 2! At time of recording Jingle All the Way and Jingle All the Way 2 are available to stream on Disney+ in the USA. Jingle All the Way is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK but Jingle All the Way isn't... You can rent or buy it to watch online, or you could make Claire an offer for her DVD copy - she's unlikely to need it again.

Happily Never After... Fresh from the House of Mouse, in this episode we're talking about a sequel so new we had to wait a week after release to record, to see if it would qualify as Unloved. It does. Close your eyes and make a wish, it's Disenchanted! At time of recording Enchanted and Disenchanted are available to stream on Disney+

The forces that made them fantastic, will give rise to a new power, and nothing will ever be the same. Superhero month wraps up as Claire & Michael discuss a Marvel sequel from before Marvel was making ALL the sequels. Hold on to your superpowers, it's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer! At time of recording Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is available to stream on Disney+. The original Fantastic Four movie from 2005 isn't though, because the rights ownership on these movies is a hot mess.

You can't fight your destiny... Superhero month takes an R-rated turn as Claire & Michael tackle an ultra-violent comic book adaptation. It's time to gather your friends and dig out that lycra suit for Kick Ass 2! At time of recording Kick Ass and Kick Ass 2 are available to rent or buy on most streaming platforms.

The next generation of mischief... Superhero month continues as Claire & Michael dive to the bottom of Rotten Tomatoes' ratings list for a CGI-fuelled follow up to a massive box office hit. Yes, Loki's mask is back and causing more trouble in Son of the Mask! At time of recording The Mask is included on Prime Video in the UK, while Son of the Mask is available to rent on most streaming platforms.

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. It's a bird! It's a plane!!! NO!!! It's just Superman's first flight into the world of Unloved Sequels, amid falling box office numbers and terrible reviews.... In this episode, Michael and Claire put on their red capes and take to the air over to Metropolis to discuss Richard Pryor's Superman movie, starring Christopher Reeve. At the time of recording, Superman 3 was available to stream on HBO Max in the USA and to buy from most good streaming platforms (Amazon, Apple, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube, etc.) worldwide

Evil Never Dies. You can burn it, you can shoot it, you can lock it up forever, but evil never dies. In this episode Claire & Michael are heading back to Haddonfield, where horror meets reality TV in the form of Dangertainment - good thing we've been practising our Kung Fu! Michael Myers' work is not done yet as evil finds its way home in Halloween Resurrection! At time of recording Halloween and Halloween II are available to stream on Lionsgate in the UK, while Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is available to stream on Netflix in the UK and Halloween: Resurrection is on Sky Movies/NOW. It might be easier to just buy the box set... CONTENT WARNING: this is a very sweary movie, so it's a very sweary episode.

What if you had the power to move objects with your mind? What if everyone around you gave you a reason to use that power? In this episode Claire & Michael use their latent telekinetic powers to wreak revenge on their high school bullies, and discover some unspoken family history along the way. Terror runs in the family in The Rage: Carrie 2! Featuring an interview with special guest Preson Max Allen, composer of The Rage: Carrie 2 (An Unauthorised Musical Parody) At time of recording Carrie (1976) and The Rage: Carrie 2 are available to stream on MGM in the UK and on Philo in the USA