Before the 1970s, sequels in Hollywood were somewhat taboo. Not until the commercial and critical success of The Godfather 2 in 1974 did sequels become more acceptable in the industry as an artistic endeavor.
By the time of 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, sequels to popular films had become an expectation.
In the creatively corrupt present, new ideas are hard to come by. More often than not, the go-ahead for big-budget movies is not granted by producers unless it is attached to some form of profit machine, be it an actor, storyline, or franchise.
Some of the top online sportsbooks have created odds on a few potential sequels that could be making their way to a theater near you. The following prop is asking whether the sequel will be confirmed before the end of the year.
Confirmed Sequel In 2025?
- Trading Places EVEN
- St. Elmo’s Fire +500
- When Harry Met Sally +600
- The Breakfast Club +650
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit +700
- Animal House +700
- ET +950
- Rain Man +1200
- A Fish Called Wanda +1200
- Platoon +1400
- The Shining +2000
- Full Metal Jacket +2000
- @ BetOnline
Eddie Murphy
Following his debut on Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy exploded onto the Hollywood scene with a string of blockbuster hit films. One of his early movies involved a team-up with Dan Aykroyd, in which their two characters’ fortunes are suddenly reversed.
Aykroyd has reportedly submitted a story pitch to Paramount, although there has been no confirmation that the studio is interested. Trading Spaces 2 is currently leading the odds, garnering even money if the sequel gets the green light.
The Brat Pack
Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, and Anthony Michael Hall were all members of the so-called “Brat Pack,” a grouping of young Hollywood elites that starred in either The Breakfast Club or St. Elmo’s Fire.
Both films are featured in the odds at entertainment sportsbooks, suggesting that a Brat-Pack-led effort could be on the horizon. Demi Moore has experienced a recent career resurgence with her Golden Globe win for Best Actress for her performance in the 2024 film The Substance.
While her newfound popularity could propel either film into production, Moore may not be interested in a sequel at this time.
Stanley Kubrick
The late filmmaker created two strong entries into his catalog during the 1980s with The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. Both of these films are featured at the bottom of the above entertainment prop bet, with identical moneyline odds of +2000.
A direct sequel to The Shining, 2019’s Doctor Sleep, has already been released. The story could continue, but a new novel by Stephen King would likely be a prerequisite.
Full Metal Jacket is a Vietnam War epic that was based on the novel Short Timers by Gustav Hasford, who published a follow-up novel in 1990 titled The Phantom Blooper. The material is there for a second film, but will a studio or a director be interested in trying to fill Kuckrick’s shoes?
