While horror fans are always eager for new content, sometimes a popular franchise comes to an end and that's a good thing. There have been some disappointing movies in recent years, from 2016's Blair Witch to 2019's Child's Play.
The pop culture world is all about remakes and reboots these days, but there are some horror franchises that deserve at least one more film. This could be because fans truly love these characters and premises and it would be fun to visit this world again. Or maybe a new film needs to right the wrongs of a lackluster remake.
Urban Legend (1998-2005)
The third movie in the Urban Legend franchise, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, is one of the worst teen horror movies and the Urban Legend sequel isn't great, either. But the original film from 1998 is really fun, and it would be cool to see a fourth and final film in the franchise.
This new film could be a remake of the first and could feature college students discovering that a serial killer is using these mythical stories as their motive and guide. The movie could use a few classic urban legends, like "The babysitter and the man upstairs" and the classic killer with a hook, as these are timeless. With well-written characters and a school setting, a new Urban Legend could be just as entertaining as the first movie.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997-2021)
Amazon's I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series is dull and the entire season doesn't live up to the interesting twist at the end of the pilot episode. But the 1998 movie is a cheesy ride and it would be fascinating to see a contemporary filmmaker take on this story and interpret it for today's audience.
The idea of teenagers accidentally killing someone and then covering it up, only to be stalked by someone who knows their secret (and who sends them eerie notes), is still a good one. It would be awesome to see a new movie to make up for the TV series, which isn't as streamlined and easy to invest in as the original film. There is a lot here that will work, from the villain Ben Willis to the friend group who are protecting each other but nowhere near as close as they used to be.
Friday the 13th (1980-2009)
The original Friday the 13th is beloved and has become a classic slasher franchise... but fans agree that the 2009 remake isn't fun or scary. A new group of campers are at Camp Crystal Lake and they come across Jason Voorhees. The remake has a 26% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 46% Audience Score.
While it's fair to say that no one was happy with the remake, why not try for one more movie and make it great? The camp setting, sympathetic horror villain, and popularity of the franchise are all compelling reasons to give this one more shot. At the very least, fans of the franchise will be really happy to visit Camp Crystal Lake one more time.
Poltergeist (1982-2015)
There are four films in the Poltergeist franchise, but while the original is a timeless 1980s horror movie, the 2015 Poltergeist remake is missing something. According to Bloody Disgusting, Anthony and Joe Russo are working on another remake, which is definitely great news.
While not every franchise needs a new movie, Poltergeist absolutely does. The story of the original film is classic because it can be watched anywhere, anytime and audiences will relate to the idea of a sweet family being worried about their young child being disturbed by ghosts. The 2015 remake missed the opportunity to recreate this scary situation for contemporary audiences. If the upcoming movie is well-crafted, then horror fans will get the chance to watch a new, interesting family realize that their new house is haunted.
A Nightmare On Elm Street
For a while now, horror fans have heard that there could be a new movie about Freddy Krueger, and there are many directors who could reboot A Nightmare On Elm Street. There hasn't been any updates, but it definitely seems like a new movie would be a good idea.
The bones of A Nightmare On Elm Street would lend themselves to a new film, from Freddy to final girl Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) to the idea that parents can't always keep their children safe. Since this is such a popular horror film that is always finding new fans, it would make sense to continue with plans for a reboot. While the 2010 remake was bad, that just opens up the door for a new, more creative film.