Top 10 Movie Sequels That Earned Less Than Their Originals

10. Black Panther (1.3B) & Wakanda Forever (849M) – 441M difference

Even the mightiest kings can’t always rule the box office. Wakanda Forever had the almost impossible job of honoring Chadwick Boseman while keeping the Black Panther legacy alive. Fans flocked to see the new cast and the emotional storylines, but replicating the cultural phenomenon of the first film proved tricky. Action-packed sequences and stunning visuals were still there, yet the numbers show the sequel didn’t reach the same heights. It’s a reminder that sequels can be huge successes without eclipsing the original. At the end of the day, nearly $860 million is nothing to scoff at. | © Marvel Studios

9. Transformers: Age of Extinction (1.1B) & The Last Knight (600M) – 499M difference

Audiences may have been ready to see Optimus Prime in action again, but The Last Knight couldn’t quite match the explosive spectacle of Age of Extinction. The franchise still delivered giant robots, high-speed chases, and plenty of explosions, but enthusiasm was waning. Maybe viewers were growing tired of Michael Bay’s endless pyrotechnics, or perhaps it was just too much of the same thing. Regardless, earning over $600 million is far from a failure – it’s just a sign that the original set the bar sky-high. Sometimes, even blockbusters can feel the law of diminishing returns. | © Paramount Pictures

8. The Fate of the Furious (1.2B) & F9 (726M) – 510M difference

Cars, chaos, and family drama kept fans coming back, but F9 shows that even the most beloved franchises have limits. Dom and the crew still delivered over-the-top stunts and jaw-dropping sequences, yet the sequel couldn’t hit the $1.2 billion mark set by The Fate of the Furious. Part of it may have been pandemic timing, part of it franchise fatigue, but the result is clear: the numbers dropped significantly. Still, pulling in more than $700 million is impressive by any standard, and die-hard fans surely got their adrenaline fix. It’s proof that a sequel doesn’t have to surpass the original to be a win. | © Universal Pictures

7. Avatar (2.92B) & The Way of the Water (2.3B) – 603M difference

Following the highest-grossing film ever is a tall order, and The Way of Water shows why. Stunning visuals, breathtaking underwater worlds, and hours of world-building still brought in over $2 billion, but it couldn’t outdo James Cameron’s original juggernaut. Expectations were astronomical, and even a massive hit looks smaller next to a cultural phenomenon. Fans loved revisiting Pandora, but the numbers reflect just how big the first film was. This is a perfect example of a sequel earning less while still being a monumental success. Box office math can be tricky when your predecessor breaks the charts. | © 20th Century Studios

6. Aquaman (1.1B) & The Lost Kingdom (440M) – 712 difference

Even underwater kingdoms have their ups and downs. The Lost Kingdom made plenty of waves, but it couldn’t match the tidal surge of the original Aquaman. High expectations, franchise fatigue, or timing could all be factors, but the earnings clearly show a significant drop. Despite that, $440 million is still nothing to sneeze at, especially for a superhero movie navigating post-pandemic waters. Sometimes a sequel’s performance is less about failure and more about perspective – how insanely high the bar was set the first time. It’s a reminder that box office numbers are relative, not absolute. | © DC Studios

5. Alice in Wonderland (1B) & Through the Looking Glass (300M) – 726M difference

Step through the looking glass and you’ll see that sequels don’t always get the magic right. The whimsical world of Wonderland returned, but somehow the spark of the first film didn’t carry over. Tim Burton’s imaginative style was still present, and the star-studded cast tried their best, yet audiences didn’t respond with the same enthusiasm. It’s almost as if the novelty wore off, leaving the sequel to play second fiddle. Even with $300 million in the bank, it’s clear the original set expectations higher than any Mad Hatter could reach. Still, millions of viewers enjoyed the fantastical adventure, proving a sequel can succeed without matching its predecessor. | © Walt Disney Pictures

4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2B) & The Last Jedi (1.33B) – 737M difference

Reigniting a galaxy far, far away is never an easy task, especially after a beloved revival like The Force Awakens. While The Last Jedi continued the saga with stunning visuals and bold narrative choices, not everyone was on board with the direction. Box office numbers dipped noticeably, though $1.33 billion is hardly something to sneer at. The film sparked debate, some of it heated, and the difference in earnings reflects how high the hype had been. Sequels often carry the burden of audience expectations, and this one certainly did. It’s a reminder that a story can still be a cultural event even if it doesn’t surpass its predecessor. | © Lucasfilm Ltd.

3. Joker (1B) & Folie a Deux (207M) – 872M difference

Diving back into Gotham’s darkest corners is always risky, and Folie à Deux proves just how high the bar was set by the first Joker. The original shook audiences with its gritty, unsettling take, making over a billion dollars worldwide. The sequel, while eagerly anticipated, didn’t capture the same lightning in a bottle. A shift in tone, timing, and audience expectations all played a role in the steep drop. Still, $207 million is nothing to dismiss, especially for a character-driven film that isn’t aiming for mass blockbuster spectacle. Some stories shine brighter the first time, and this is one of them. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

2. Captain Marvel (1.1B) & The Marvels (200M) – 925M difference

Flying into the box office stratosphere once set a high bar, and The Marvels faced the challenge of keeping up. The original Captain Marvel thrilled audiences and shattered records for female-led superhero films, but the sequel didn’t reach the same heights. Competition, franchise fatigue, and timing likely all contributed to the dramatic drop. Even so, $206 million is far from failure – it’s a solid number for a film building a larger universe. Sequels sometimes inherit expectations too massive to beat, yet can still expand a story and entertain their fans. It’s less a flop and more a lesson in perspective. | © Marvel Studios

1. The Lion King (1.6B) & Mufasa (723M) – 939M difference

Returning to the Pride Lands carries both nostalgia and expectations that can be impossible to match. Mufasa had the weighty task of living in the shadow of the live-action Lion King, which raked in over $1.6 billion. The prequel told a compelling story, but box office numbers reflect the challenge of following a cultural juggernaut. Fans still turned out in droves, and the $723 million total shows that there’s room for success even when the original towers over it. Sequels and prequels often get compared to their predecessors, but financial difference doesn’t mean the story isn’t worth telling. Sometimes, it just proves how monumental the first film was. | © Walt Disney Pictures