
UrbanDictionary.com defines Sequelitis as, “A medical condition propagated by a combination of commercial success and creative ineptitude.”
This epidemic has plagued Hollywood for nearly a century, starting with The Fall of a Nation (1916), the forgotten follow-up to D.W. Griffith’s popular The Birth of a Nation (1915). This inspired sequels in every genre, from historical dramas (Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth twofer) to softcore porn (the Wild Things foursome). The second Nation film may have been the movie industry’s first sequel, but the first major sequel with an uncreative title was the second film in The Godfather trilogy. (Say that 5 times fast.)
It’s hard to believe, but The Godfather Part II (1974), the otherwise incredibly inventive Oscar-winner that many regard as the best sequel of all time, is credited with kick-starting the worst naming trend of all time — even worse than giving people names to pets. That’s right, I’m talking about lazy sequel titling.
This newer pandemic, known hereafter as Sequel-title-itis (*), is the focus of today’s ridiculously overthought show business article. What are its symptoms? How is it spread? Who can treat it?
Commence ridiculous overthinking… NOW.