5 Classic Fantasy Movies That Deserved a Sequel

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I absolutely love fantasy, and it’s easy to see why so many people do! It’s a genre that just lends itself to being expanded upon – think of all the incredible movies, shows, and books out there. But it really gets me down when I watch a fantasy film, completely fall in love with its world, and then find out it’s never getting a sequel. I know there are reasons why these things happen, and sometimes it’s understandable. However, it’s especially frustrating when the movie built such a rich, expansive universe with so much left to tell. If the first film really resonated with viewers and did its job, it feels like it deserved to be continued.

Whether it needed more development, a stronger impact, or simply the chance to expand into a larger series, here are some excellent fantasy films that deserved follow-up movies.

5) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I get why some people still love the original film, but Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory really resonated with my generation. We all know the story – Charlie, a kid from a tough background, finds a Golden Ticket and gets to tour Willy Wonka’s incredible, bizarre factory with a bunch of other kids who are…let’s just say, not the most responsible. But what really stuck with me was the idea of identity. It made me wonder, what happens when Wonka decides he’s done with everything? What then?

The film strongly suggests a sequel would be welcome. While Charlie inheriting the factory and bringing his family is a heartwarming conclusion, it leaves viewers wanting to see what happens next – specifically, how he’d handle running everything. A follow-up could explore compelling themes: would Charlie thrive in that environment, or is he too kind for it? Could he succeed without becoming like the previous owner? The movie established a rich world with plenty of potential for future stories.

4) Edward Scissorhands

It’s hard to imagine a sequel to Edward Scissorhands given how much people love the original, especially with the recent Beetlejuice news. However, Tim Burton isn’t interested, which is disappointing because the story feels eternally relevant. The film centers on Edward (Johnny Depp), a uniquely created man left incomplete with scissors instead of hands. He lives as a recluse until a kind suburban family takes him in, introducing him to a neighborhood that seems friendly on the surface. It’s easy to become captivated by Edward’s story.

A sequel isn’t really needed, but the original’s ending definitely hints at possibilities. It’s fun to picture the neighborhood years later, turning Edward’s story into a legend, and someone – perhaps a descendant of Kim’s – trying to uncover what happened to him. Even more interesting would be a story where someone tries to create another being like Edward, using today’s technology. A comic book actually explored this idea, and it would have been captivating to see it on film.

3) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

I really thought The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones had all the ingredients for a successful franchise. Based on a popular book series and tapping into that urban fantasy vibe, it felt like the next big thing. The story centers on Clary, played by Lily Collins, who suddenly finds out she’s connected to a hidden world of demon hunters after her mother vanishes. She gets pulled into a supernatural mystery with Jace, and it all revolves around finding this powerful object called the Mortal Cup. Unfortunately, despite all that potential, it just didn’t perform well at the box office, and plans for sequels were scrapped. It’s a shame, because the groundwork was there, but it just didn’t connect with audiences enough.

While this movie might not appeal to everyone, it’s gained a dedicated following who actually prefer it to the original TV show and have long hoped for a continuation. The main issue is that it feels incomplete, as the story is clearly setting up another film. A sequel could have resolved these issues and fully realized the potential of the rich mythology at its core. It’s surprising it never got one, considering how many less impressive franchises have continued for years.

2) Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Look, I wasn’t expecting much going into Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. After so many disappointing attempts to bring the game to the screen, I was bracing myself. But wow, was I wrong! This movie absolutely nailed it. It didn’t try to be the next Lord of the Rings; instead, it understood what makes D&D fun – the camaraderie, the chaos, and the hilariously bad decisions. We follow Edgin, played by Chris Pine, a charming thief-bard, and his crew of lovable oddballs as they try to right a past wrong by recovering a powerful artifact. It’s a wild, magical adventure, and honestly, it’s a blast.

The movie was so good, it left you wanting more – you could have happily watched for another two hours. The actors had fantastic chemistry, making it feel like you were watching a real, unscripted adventure. A sequel practically writes itself: a new villain, a different mission, and a new location would be perfect. It seems like we might still get more of this story, but as a TV series instead of a movie, and sadly, it won’t feature the original cast.

1) The Dark Crystal

Today, it’s rare to see a movie like The Dark Crystal. While many filmmakers attempt ambitious projects, few dare to create such a uniquely strange world and treat it with genuine seriousness. The film takes place on Thra, a planet governed by the Skeksis, creatures who are slowly destroying the world by exploiting the power of the Dark Crystal. The hero, Jen, learns he’s the one who must fix the crystal and save everything. What makes it even more remarkable is that the entire story is brought to life with incredibly detailed and wonderfully bizarre puppets.

The film creates such a vast and detailed world that it clearly deserves a sequel. While the main conflict – restoring the crystal – is resolved, the story leaves so many questions unanswered. How does the world recover, and what happens to the people who survived? There’s plenty of background material to support multiple films, and its originality would still make it stand out. The continuation ended up happening as a comic book series, similar to what happened with Edward Scissorhands, but the movie feels too special to be limited to just one installment.

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2026-05-21 01:41