From Dawn of the Dead to Saw X, a horror movie’s sequel can be just as good as (or even better than) the original. However, not all horror movies that deserve a sequel have gotten one. Some have faced budget constraints or casting issues that made the next film a non-starter. In other cases, the interest simply wasn’t there, or writers couldn’t come up with an enticing way to continue their terrifying tale.
Over time, renewed interest and resources have led certain franchises to earn belated sequels. For instance, Doctor Sleep, which followed Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining, came out nearly 40 years later. Hopefully, this is a sign that other horror films will soon follow suit, because the ones on this list are more than ready to make their return from the grave.
10 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show appeals to lovers of horror, comedy, and musicals alike. Starring Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, and Susan Sarandon, the movie follows fiancés Brad and Janet as their car breaks down outside a castle. Upon entering the building, they’re introduced to a host of strange characters, including the cross-dressing mad scientist Frank N. Furter, who is later revealed to be an alien. After several catchy songs, multiple romantic entanglements, and a good deal of murder, Frank N. Furter’s staff rebels against him before returning to their home planet.
Rocky Horror Fans Demand More
Although the film initially did poorly at the box office, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has since gained a cult following. The film is more than deserving of a sequel, and multiple attempts have been made to create one. Unfortunately, the only follow-up movie to see the light of day was Shock Treatment (1981), which is considered a stand-alone film. It still seems possible that, after a Time Warp or two, a future sequel could come to fruition, perhaps in the form of a stage play as envisioned by writer Richard O’Brien back in 2001.
9 The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s The Thing is a beloved classic, and for good reason. Based on the novella Who Goes There? and the 1951 adaptation The Thing from Another World, it follows a group of researchers as they travel to Antarctica, only to discover an alien known as the “Thing” that can perfectly imitate other creatures. This alien quickly begins killing the researchers until only two remain, causing them to doubt whether the other is human or a monster set to attack.
The Thing Could Become a Global Threat
Although The Thing has spawned a prequel and several comics, it has yet to be given a cinematic sequel. Carpenter considers the movie to be the first in his Apocalypse series, but the second two movies have nothing to do with The Thing’s monster. Hopefully, this beloved movie will soon have a follow-up, as there is so much left to explore. Besides the obvious question of which remaining researcher is the Thing, there is also the possibility that the Thing makes its way to a more densely populated area, causing further havoc as characters try to figure out whether their loved ones are who, and what, they appear to be.
8 Audition (1999)
The Japanese film Audition is the type of movie a viewer won’t easily forget. Often considered a forerunner in the “torture porn” genre, Audition tells the story of widower Shigeharu Aoyama as he begins auditioning women to become his wife. Soon, he finds himself falling for the enigmatic Asami, a woman who is covered in both scars and mystery. After proposing to her, he begins researching her past, only to realize that she is not the woman she claims to be, and that he and his son Shigehiko may both be in danger.
Why Audition Deserves a Follow-up Performance
Audition is infamous for its final scene, which is where much of the torture porn accusation stems from. During this scene, Asami dies, but not before expressing excitement about seeing Aoyama again. A horror sequel in which she does come back would certainly excite viewers as well, perhaps giving them a deeper glimpse into Asami’s past or showcasing how she deals with future betrayal.
7 I Am Legend (2008)
Will Smith stars as Robert Neville in the post-apocalyptic film I Am Legend. Along with his dog Sam, Neville spends the film trying to survive in a world ravished by vampire-like monsters called Darkseekers. After capturing a female Darkseeker, he attempts to create a cure but is unsuccessful. As the movie progresses, he meets another human named Anna, is hunted down by other Darkseekers, and begins to question his role in shaping the new and horrifying world.
I Am Legend Prepares for a Legendary Sequel
Fortunately, unlike most of the other films on this list, it looks like this movie is finally getting the sequel it’s owed. Preproduction is in the works with an expected release year of 2025. However, said sequel has come across multiple obstacles since it was first discussed in 2022, from Will Smith not wanting to return to a lack of clear direction for another movie. This pattern could mean future delays to the disappointment of excited fans.
Notably, I Am Legend has two different endings which could produce vastly different sequels (which was another reason for its production issues). In one ending, Neville dies, serving as a “legend” to the remaining humans. In the other, he comes to realize that he has become a sort of “dark legend” for the Darkseekers whom he’s captured and experimented on. The upcoming sequel appears to be going with the latter ending, which will be an interesting exploration into the effects of trauma, grief, and guilt.
6 The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Sometimes, a horror movie is just so good, it demands a sequel in spite of its story being complete. Produced by Joss Whedon and starring Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz, The Cabin in the Woods is one such movie. The film focuses on five friends who travel to a cabin in the woods only to find themselves in the middle of a real-life horror movie. Unbeknownst to them, they’ve been chosen as part of a ritual, and they must each fulfill their slated role in order to prevent the end of the world.
The Cabin in the Woods Leaves its Mark
The Cabin in the Woods helped revitalize the horror genre, simultaneously celebrating and challenging many of its tropes. Its final scene leaves viewers uncertain whether a sequel would even be possible, as the world becomes overrun with monsters. However, a future film could show how survivors adapt to the ongoing apocalypse. It could also include new rituals meant to restore reality, thereby playing on apocalypse tropes similar to the original’s treatment of “cabin-in-the-woods-esque” tropes. Regardless, the original movie left such a mark on horror fans that it only makes sense that they’re hungry for a sequel. From Merman to Dragonbats and The Evil Dead’s Deadites, the first movie offered several options for which monsters might get the spotlight next.
5 Circle (2015)
Directed and written by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione, the psychological horror film Circle begins like a bad dream: 50 strangers awaken in a dark room with no idea how they got there. Soon, a beam of light starts killing the strangers one by one, and as time winds down, they’re forced to vote for the laser’s next victim until only one remains.
Circle Has So Much Left to Explore
This movie’s concept is already fantastic, making a viewer interested in learning more about the masterminds behind the cruel game. Beyond that, the story ends ambiguously: the game’s “winner” is transported to a city where other implied winners congregate. Even stranger, alien ships surround them, as if to imply their game was only the beginning. A sequel could easily explore these winners’ fates, the aliens’ society, or even show an entirely new game in line with the aliens’ sadistic motives.
4 The Belko Experiment (2016)
The fact that The Belko Experiment has yet to be given a sequel seems like a huge oversight. Written by James Gunn, the film stars John Gallagher Jr. as Mike Milch, an employee of Belko Industries. On a seemingly normal day at work, Mike and his coworkers are instructed to kill two coworkers or else face punishment. After refusing to kill anyone, four employees are murdered by exploding trackers in their skulls, and the employees are told that even more will die if they refuse to follow the rules. However, these rules will also require far more killing until only one employee remains.
The Belko Experiment’s Sequel is Long Awaited
Similar to Circle, The Belko Experiment seems to hint at more deaths to come. Hauntingly, the movie ends with Mike emerging as his building’s sole survivor, only for multiple other survivors to emerge from their own buildings. A voice then declares that Stage One is over before introducing Stage Two, suggesting that Mike and the other survivors are about to be forced into another deadly experiment. This new experiment would make a fantastic sequel, helping to further shape Mike as a character while supplying the viewer with more of the original’s psychological brutality.
3 Cargo (2017)
The Australian movie Cargo is equal parts horror film and tear-jerker. The film follows Andy, played by Martin Freeman, as he attempts to live in a world overrun by a zombie-coded virus. Tragically, toward the movie’s beginning, his wife Kay is bitten and succumbs to the sickness, but not before Andy himself becomes infected–which leaves little time for him to find a suitable home and protector for his infant daughter, Rosie.
Cargo 2 Could Be a Cultural Revolution
On the surface, it might seem strange to want a sequel to this movie. The ending leaves few unanswered questions, and while bittersweet, the narrative as a whole feels complete. However, the movie offered a truly enriching look into Australian culture and a unique take on the somewhat stagnant zombie genre. In a sequel, viewers could learn more about Rosie and the girl who winds up caring for her, Thoomi, while also getting to experience more of the movie’s zombies. Simultaneously, the film could continue to highlight the villainous nature of man, as the movie’s human characters proved themselves to be far more monstrous than the undead.
2 Psycho Goreman (2020)
Psycho Goreman is perhaps the most aptly named movie, and monster, on this list. The film focuses on the titular monster, Psycho Goreman (also known as PG), who is imprisoned on Earth by an alliance of aliens. After being discovered by siblings Mimi and Luke, PG is forced into a protective, familial role that he desperately wants to break free from. Several battles and adventures later, and PG must decide whether love and friendship are worth pursuing.
Psycho Goreman’s Potential Gory Sequel
A summary of Psycho Goreman cannot do it justice. The film includes some legitimately shocking moments while still managing to be hilarious. The movie has already done so much to revitalize horror cinema by combining it with the ET-esque alien-friend genre. Although the movie ends with the big bad (at least, relatively speaking) being defeated, PG’s past is filled with pain and violence, and it seems likely that a new, old enemy is just waiting around the corner. In a sequel, PG could confront this enemy in the gory, violent manner he excels at and give him a warrior’s death. Additionally, the movie ends with PG deciding to destroy the world (sans his new friends) through the power of love. It would be interesting to see whether he’ll succeed, and if so, what that would mean for Luke and Mimi.
1 The Conference (2023)
The Swedish slasher filmThe Conference starts out innocent enough: a group of coworkers are attending a camp for a conference. The viewer soon learns that their company has recently secured land for a new shopping mall, but not all of that land was fairly taken. As the movie progresses, the employees are killed off in quick succession by someone dressed as the camp’s mascot. Toward the movie’s end, the main character, Lina, must figure out who’s attacking them and why, as she fights for her very life.
The Conference’s Sequel Could Introduce New Enemies
The Conference adds a fun, horrifying spin to the workplace comedy genre. A newer movie, it’s very possible that The Conference will eventually get its own sequel. Of course, most of the characters are dead, which would require fresh meat for the cast. However, a company corrupt enough to swindle farmers out of their livelihoods is probably hiding more skeletons in its closet. A second installment could center on Lina as she tries to make sense of their other wicked deeds, all while fending off a new series of attackers in the form of other vengeful landowners, the estranged employee Frans, or someone from the rival company Backman-Kroon.
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