5 ’90s Movie Sequels That ’80s Kids Loved, But Probably Should Have Stayed There

Many millennials look back on the movies they loved in the 1990s with real affection, even when those films don’t exactly age gracefully. For kids who grew up in the ’80s, a big part of that decade meant renting movies from the local video store based on the box art or simply because they recognized a familiar franchise. That habit led to countless sequels being rewatched again and again. Some were follow-ups to movies they genuinely adored, while others were just part of favorite series, even if the films themselves weren’t very good.

It would probably seem unfair to call these movies weak to the people who grew up with them. They were seen so often that many fans likely know the dialogue by heart, and they’ll always have a nostalgic place in millennial memory. Still, it’s fair to admit that loving a sequel and thinking it’s actually better than what came before are two very different things. Looking at them now makes it easy to see that these sequels may have been best left in the past.

5) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Few things were cooler to an ’80s kid than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The heroes in a halfshell already had a hugely popular cartoon before they were turned into live-action movie stars. The first two films weren’t masterpieces, but they were fun and still enjoyable today, whether it was Super Shredder showing up or the famous “Ninja Rap” moment. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, though, was the installment that felt completely off. Even so, the franchise name and the idea of sending the turtles through time drew plenty of kids back to it again and again.

Many children had a great time with the movie when it was new, but critics and older fans were much less impressed. It skipped villains from the comics and the animated series, came across as unfunny, and even the turtles themselves looked strange. Released in the early 1990s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III does have a soundtrack that many kids probably still remember fondly, but most of the rest is better forgotten.

4) 3 Ninjas Kick Back

It wasn’t hard for ’90s kids to fall for 3 Ninjas. Watching kids their own age learn martial arts and take on bad guys was exactly the kind of fantasy many young viewers loved, which is why the 1992 original remains well liked. Its success led to several sequels, but none matched the first movie. 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up was shot back-to-back with the original but did not arrive until later, while 3 Ninjas Kick Back became the next film in the series, though the franchise timeline is a little messy.

3 Ninjas Kick Back was still something many children watched repeatedly, especially after enjoying the first movie. Even so, it hasn’t aged well. It leans heavily into cheesiness, has very little story to speak of, and feels tied to its era in a way that doesn’t help it today.

3) Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves

It’s easy to forget how big the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise was during the ’90s. The 1989 original, led by the very likable Rick Moranis, was a major box office hit and remains a movie many people can still enjoy today. It spawned a sequel, a TV series, and even a theme park attraction. The third entry, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, took the concept in a different direction, with much less success.

Instead of shrinking the children, this time the adults shrink themselves, which doesn’t really create the same kind of chaos. There are still enough shrinking-related antics to entertain younger viewers, and the effects were surprisingly good for a direct-to-video release. Even so, it’s clear in hindsight that Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves doesn’t offer enough beyond that to be considered a strong film.

2) Casper: A Spirited Beginning

In the mid-1990s, Casper became a major hit and earned nearly $300 million worldwide. That kind of success naturally opened the door for more stories, leading to Casper: A Spirited Beginning a couple of years later. Although it’s a prequel, it breaks continuity with the earlier film. It had a lot going for it on paper, including a recognizable cast that featured Steve Guttenberg, Lori Loughlin, Rodney Dangerfield, and James Earl Jones, along with decent effects, but that’s where most of the strengths end.

Kids likely embraced Casper: A Spirited Beginning simply because it was an easy watch built around a character they already liked. Rewatching it as an adult makes it obvious that it only worked when viewers were younger. The reviews were poor, the performances feel half-hearted, and the story is thin. The next film, Casper Meets Wendy, was actually an improvement.

1) Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie

One franchise that rivaled or even surpassed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in popularity during the ’90s was Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. The first film, released in 1995, was a success, and fans were eager for more. Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie arrived in the late 1990s and was meant to launch a new era for the series, eventually giving rise to Power Rangers Turbo. In that sense, it served its purpose as the franchise continued to evolve over the years.

Fans who loved the series probably watched Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie over and over, especially with Jason David Frank, Amy Jo Johnson, and other familiar faces in the cast. Even so, the movie has some very cheap-looking effects and doesn’t deliver the same excitement as the original. You may have adored it as a kid, but looking back, it doesn’t quite feel like the version of Power Rangers that made the franchise such a hit.