Sequels Sequels SEQUELS

Every time I pass the Oxford Odeon I stop by to look at the cinema listings, even though I usually know what they are already. Let's take a look at what is showing at the moment:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2
• Honey 2
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Pirates of the Caribbean 4
• The Hangover: Part II
• Thor 3D
• Water for Elephants
• X-Men: First Class

That's two films that I've seen (Thor and Water for Elephants) and two films that are not sequels. I'm being generous here as well, since Thor is technically part of the Avengers series.

So far the highest-grossing films of 2011 are Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Fast Five (The Hangover: Part II in the UK). Third on the rankings is Rio, which is refreshing - animated films have had their fair share of sequels however, with the creatively named Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil and Kung Fu Panda 2, with Cars 2, Puss in Boots, and Happy Feet Two still to come.

Looking back to 2010, five out of ten of the highest-grossing films were sequels (Toy Story 3, Shrek Forever After, Iron Man 2) or parts of series (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Eclipse). But in the year 2000, the highest-grossing film, Mission: Impossible II, was the only sequel on the top ten list.

It's pretty obvious that sequels are huge moneymakers. But why? Are people so lazy that they can't bother to look into original films? Were the originals so amazing that audiences can't wait to come back for more? 

Sequels have developed a reputation for being cheap remakes of the beloved originals. Back to the Future. Grease. All of the various Disney animated films you never even knew had sequels (Mulan. Cinderella. Lady and the Tramp). Then we have the great sequels. The Godfather Part II. The Dark Knight. Shrek 2. Last year's Toy Story 3. Is it unmissable successes like this that cause moviegoers to return to the cinema year after year to see continuations of the films they have already seen?

The cinemas are currently preventing me from buying tickets because I haven't seen the precursors to the films playing. Yes, I'm probably in the minority here, one of the few people on the planet who has yet to see the third Pirates film or even hit comedy The Hangover. I guess now is a good time to rent some oldies. Or maybe I'll just go see some artsy foreign films at the independent picture house instead.