Summary

• Some sci-fi movies, like "Annihilation," may have untapped potential for sequels despite being standalone films.
• "Wall-E" and "Alita: Battle Angel" are popular movies that fans want sequels for due to their rich worlds and potential for further exploration.
• Despite their unique concepts and potential for expansion, movies like "Upgrade" and "Real Steel" may remain as standalone films.

Despite the glut of sequels, reboots and spinoffs in the movie industry, some great standalone sci-fi movies have not gotten the sequels they deserve. There are different reasons why different reasons might not push forward with a sequel. It's often the best choice not to mess with a successful movie, especially if there was no original plan for a franchise when the first movie was made.

However, some standalone sci-fi movies represent massive untapped potential, and fans have been calling for more ever since they were first realized. It can be especially frustrating when a movie is based on a book or comic with sequels, but these sequels never make their way to the big screen. Although they have brilliant concepts which warrant further exploration, these sci-fi movies have yet to give rise to sequels.

10 Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation is adapted from the first in a trilogy of novels

Annihilation could and should have been the first in a trilogy of movies, since author Jeff VanderMeer wrote two more novels in his Southern Reach Trilogy.

Annihilation could and should have been the first in a trilogy of movies, since author Jeff VanderMeer wrote two more novels in his Southern Reach Trilogy. Annihilation was met with a fair amount of confusion when it first hit Netflix. Some of its cerebral cosmic horror didn't sit well with audiences who wanted a more direct explanation of its premise, but it amassed a core of irers nonetheless.

Alex Garland has announced a hiatus from directing since the release of his most recent movie, Civil War, so a late sequel to Annihilation seems less likely than ever. Annihilation is not the most faithful adaptation, so Garland could have potentially taken the franchise in any direction that he wanted. As long as he maintained the same blend of mystery and horror, the franchise could have carried on with a rotating cast of stars.

9 WALL-E (2008)

Pixar has been making more sequels in recent years, but Wall-E has missed out so far

Although the story of WALL-E breaking free from his isolation and life returning to Earth is complete, there are aspects of WALL-E that could be explored more.

Toy Story is Pixar's biggest franchise, especially with the spinoff, Lightyear, but some of their other movies have gotten sequels over the years. Beloved classics like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Monsters Inc have all had their stories continued in one way or another, but WALL-E still doesn't have a sequel. This is a shame, because it seems as though there's a lot more to explore in WALL-E's world.

Although the story of WALL-E breaking free from his isolation and life returning to Earth is complete, there are aspects of WALL-E that could be explored more. The gorgeous visual style hides plenty of details which could come into the spotlight in a potential WALL-E sequel. In a way it's a shame that the ending of WALL-E jumps forward in time to an Earth teeming with life once again. The rebuilding process could have been the basis for many sequels, with more adorable robots being introduced.

8 Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

James Cameron has shown interest in making a sequel

Alita: Battle Angel is based on a popular manga series, so there is much more to explore if and when a sequel moves forward.

Alita: Battle Angel 2 has been teased ever since the release of the first movie, but concrete information about the sequel has been hard to come by. Producer James Cameron remains confident that he and director Robert Rodriguez will get to work on a sequel at some point. The big question is when he will find time between his other projects. Alita: Battle Angel delivered solid but unspectacular returns at the box office, so a sequel still isn't a certainty.

Alita: Battle Angel is based on a popular manga series, so there is much more to explore if and when a sequel moves forward. The story follows a cyborg who wakes up with amnesia, and she must piece together the events of her past in a grim, unwelcoming dystopia. Alita: Battle Angel earned praise for its unique visual style and its fast-paced action sequences. It just needs a script which can match this level.

7 The Creator (2023)

Gareth Edwards' sci-fi epic has more to explore

Despite its tragic ending, The Creator could easily set up a long-running franchise, with different movies exploring different stories from the war.

The Creator underwhelmed at the box office, which makes a sequel much less likely. This is despite the movie's widely-publicized $80 million budget. The Creator looks like the kind of sci-fi epic which might cost upwards of $200 million, according to recent trends, but it was somehow produced for a fraction of the cost. What's most impressive is that The Creator doesn't trade in any of its ambitious scale.

The Creator tells the story of war between human life and artificial intelligence. Despite its tragic ending, The Creator could easily set up a long-running franchise, with different movies exploring different stories from the war. Rogue One director Gareth Edwards could take inspiration from Star Wars in that regard. If The Creator had had better luck at the box office, the huge potential of its universe could have been fully explored.

6 Upgrade (2018)

The sci-fi martial arts movie deserves a sequel

Although Upgrade tells a complete story, creating a franchise would potentially be a great way of expanding the universe with a considerably larger budget.

Upgrade is a bold genre clash of sci-fi and martial arts. It follows a paralyzed mechanic who receives an experimental implant which allows him to control his body once again, and he goes out for revenge. Upgrade makes the most of its relatively slender budget, delivering some beautifully choreographed action sequences and plenty of intrigue to keep the plot moving along quickly.

Although Upgrade tells a complete story, creating a franchise would potentially be a great way of expanding the universe with a considerably larger budget. There was talk of a TV series based on Upgrade back in 2020, but news of this has since dried up. It seems increasingly likely that Upgrade will remain as a standalone movie, which is a shame considering the potential of the premise of cybernetic enhancements being used for combat.

5 Real Steel (2011)

Real Steel could be a sci-fi sports franchise

Real Steel is a sports movie about a fictional sport, and it could have been a robotic alternative to the Rocky franchise.

Real Steel is a sports movie about a fictional sport, and it could have been a robotic alternative to the Rocky franchise. With robots taking the place of humans in the ring, Real Steel still adheres to many of the typical beats of a boxing movie, but its sci-fi premise allows it to expand beyond the typical framework of a sports movie. This means that an entire franchise could have had limitless possibilities.

Real Steel uses a combination of practical effects and CGI to bring its seismic fight scenes to life. The concept and some of the story elements may be a little silly, but Real Steel revels in this simple joy, delivering a crowd pleasing combination of blockbuster action and sentimental charm. Hugh Jackman stars, but he wouldn't necessarily have to return for a sequel, since the concept is so distinct on its own.

4 Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan doesn't usually do sequels, but Inception could be a good candidate

Unlike other fascinating high-concept sci-fi movies like Interstellar and The Prestige, Inception feels like it could have the potential for a sequel.

Aside from the Dark Knight trilogy, Christopher Nolan hasn't made any sequels. This is a big positive, because it focuses his attention on creating new and original movies. There probably wouldn't have been as many movies like Oppenheimer if Nolan was more concerned with creating sequels for his existing movies. On the other hand, this means that some stories which could be developed further never get the chance.

An Inception sequel could be the ideal candidate to break the mold, if Nolan ever changed his mind. Unlike other fascinating high-concept sci-fi movies like Interstellar and The Prestige, Inception feels like it could have the potential for a sequel. The premise of dream-sharing could lend itself to other espionage plots, and there are no limits to the range of imaginative, trippy action sequences Nolan could come up with.

3 The Rocketeer (1991)

The Rocketeer's Nazi plot sets up a WWII sequel

The movie isn't afraid to have a little bit of fun with historical accuracy, which means a franchise could have envisioned an entire alternative history of the war.

There aren't many sci-fi movies set in historical eras, but The Rocketeer makes the most of its pre-war setting. It's a fun, adventurous tale about a man who finds a prototype jetpack and becomes embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse with Nazis, mobsters, and other evil forces who want to get their hands on it. The Rocketeer also weaves plenty of romance and humor into its plot.

In setting and tone, The Rocketeer resembles Indiana Jones, and it too had the potential for at least one sequel. The Rocketeer has some similar beats to a superhero origin story, so watching Cliff's exploits throughout the Second World War could have been wildly entertaining. The movie isn't afraid to have a little bit of fun with historical accuracy, which means a franchise could have envisioned an entire alternative history of the war.

2 Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt could be ideal leads for the franchise

Edge of Tomorrow puts a fresh twist on the common sci-fi trope of time loops

Tom Cruise has many great standalone action movies which could easily develop into long-running franchises, but he doesn't rush into sequels. This means that many of his most exciting movies still have the potential to be developed into much more, and Edge of Tomorrow would be the ideal candidate. Emily Blunt stars alongside Cruise, and her career has only gone from strength to strength since, with her critically acclaimed roles in the Quiet Place franchise, Oppenheimer, and many more.

Edge of Tomorrow puts a fresh twist on the common sci-fi trope of time loops, with Tom Cruise playing a soldier fighting a war against a race of aliens with the ability to reset time to ensure that they are always victorious in battle. It may be difficult to make a sequel, since so much of the movie's intrigue comes from the investigation into the aliens, but the sci-fi combat scenes are so exciting that it could easily carry a sequel or two.

1 The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (2005)

Douglas Adams' beloved novels deserve a worthy movie adaptation

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy may have struggled to communicate Adams' idiosyncratic style to a general audience, but the franchise has too much potential to leave unexplored.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is based on a novel by Douglas Adams. Although the movie doesn't quite deliver on the full potential of the book, it has come closer than many other attempts at an adaptation. Since there are many other stories in the series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy should have been just the beginning. Adams' peculiar brand of comedy isn't for everyone, but he still has a substantial following which would have ensured interest in a movie franchise.

The problem with any movie adaptation of a popular book is that each reader has their own ideas of how things should look on screen. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy may have struggled to communicate Adams' idiosyncratic style to a general audience, but the franchise has too much potential to leave unexplored. With a surreal style of comedy and a seemingly limitless universe to explore, the first movie had the potential to develop into much more.