Bridget Jones is back again, but do fourth films work?

'The Matrix Resurrections' - The first film to come out in the franchise since 2003, 'The Matrix Resurrections' sees Keanu Reeves back in the leading role, along with co-star Carrie-Anne Moss. Fantastic new cast members like Jada Pinkett Smith, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra are also in this flick, but it was not as highly rated as its predecessors.

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'Toy Story 4' - 'Toy Story 3' wrapped the trilogy up perfectly, so fans were skeptical of a new edition. However, 'Toy Story 4' made more than US$1 billion, and was highly rated by critics.

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'Ocean's 8' - 'Ocean's 8' was the fourth film in the rebooted series. The cast was praised, and the reviews were mostly positive, but some viewers were left wanting more.

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'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' - 19 years after the last 'Indiana Jones,' this sequel swung into cinemas in 2009. Harrison Ford starred alongside Shia LaBeouf, in a film that was mostly praised by critics and made a big return at the box office. The fifth and final film, 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' was released in 2023.

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'Rambo' - 20 years after 'Rambo III,' lead star Sylvester Stallone directed, co-wrote, and starred in the fourth film. Fans were impressed, critics were polarized, and the film was banned in Burma.

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'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' - 'Goblet of Fire' darkened the 'Harry Potter' franchise, with more adult themes introduced. Fans and critics were very impressed, and it's arguably a stand-out in the series.

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'Mad Max: Fury Road' - One of the highest-rated films of recent years is 'Fury Road,' a film that swaps Mel Gibson for Tom Hardy in the title role. The film didn't make a huge amount at the box office, but it remains a faithful fan favorite.

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'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' - Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in 'Ghost Protocol.' Critics liked the style and setpieces, and fans fell back in love with the 'MI' series.

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'Spectre' - Daniel Craig's fourth film as James Bond was 'Spectre,' seen as a slight step down from previous film 'Skyfall.' It was criticized for having an all-too-familiar formula.

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'Live Free or Die Hard' - The fourth 'Die Hard' was brought into the modern world more than a decade after the third film in the franchise. It was popular with critics, made a fair bit of cash, and seems to be popular with audiences.

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'The Hobbit' - Peter Jackson's fourth film in Middle Earth was 'The Hobbit,' a prequel that kickstarted its own trilogy. It made nearly US$3 billion, but some fans and critics were disappointed.

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'Dogma' - The fourth edition in Kevin Smith's 'View Askewniverse' series, which started with 'Clerks.' It was another film that got lukewarm reviews, but it's become something of a '90s cult favorite.

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'Fast & Furious' - This film follows Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, back working with the FBI to bring down a drug lord. It made a fair few million at the box office, but critics were not impressed.

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'Terminator Salvation' -

Christian Bale and Sam Worthington starred in 'Salvation,' a box office money-maker but trashed for its "robotic" storyline and lack of heart.

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'The Bourne Legacy' - 'The Bourne Legacy' swapped Matt Damon for Jeremy Renner, in a film that polarized fans and critics alike. Matt Damon returned for the fifth film, which didn't do much better.

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'Shrek Forever After' - The first two 'Shrek' films were a hit with fans and reviewers, but by the time 'Shrek Forever After' came around, some wanted the story to end. That said, it still made over US$750 million at the box office.

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'Alien: Resurrection' - Like 'Shrek,' the 'Alien' series is best represented by the first two films. 'Resurrection' split reviewers, and it didn't make much money either. Still, Sigourney Weaver remained loyal to the franchise.

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'Saw IV' -

The 'Saw' series was never about making masterpieces, but the first film is still seen as a watermark for modern horror. 'Saw IV' made a big return at cinemas, but just didn't impress critics or general audiences.

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'Spy Kids: All the Time in the World' - 'Spy Kids: All the Time in the World' was pretty much a flop, trashed by the press and unpopular with general audiences. By 2011, the 'Spy Kids' franchise had run its course.

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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' - Filmmakers decided to split 'Breaking Dawn' into two parts, beginning in 2011. It made over US$700 million at the box office, but it didn't have much appeal outside of its intended audience.

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'Jaws: The Revenge' - 'Jaws' apparently isn't an idea that lasts for four films, as proven by 'The Revenge.' Fans, general audiences, and critics were all left unimpressed by the shark attack sequel.

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'Paranormal Activity 4' -

Another success for the Blumhouse production studio, who invested just US$5 million and made over US$140 million off the low-budget screamer. Though it wasn't highly rated.

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'Bride of Chucky' - The reception was 50-50 for 'Bride of Chucky,' another comical horror featuring the killer doll. 'Chucky' fans should love it, general audiences not so much, but might crack up at the twisted jokes.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' - 'Pirates' started strong, but sequels have yet to reach the acclaim of 2003's 'Black Pearl.' This sequel made over a billion at the box office, but some fans and reviewers weren't quite on board.

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'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home' - Leonard Nimoy (Spock) directed the fourth 'Star Trek' film, a surprising hit at the box office and critical success. Most Trekkies hold 'The Voyage Home' as a standout film adaptation.

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'Rocky IV' -

'Rocky IV' introduced Ivan Drago, who utters the famous quote, "If he dies, he dies." It was the highest-grossing sports film for 24 years, but it's best appreciated by loyal fans of the franchise, as it wasn't highly reviewed.

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'Batman & Robin' - The fourth 'Batman' film from Warner Bros., 'Batman & Robin' was a big flop with fans and critics alike, and some call it one of the worst films ever! George Clooney even apologized for his involvement in the film.

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'Evil Dead' - Around 21 years after the third 'Evil Dead,' this modernized edition received mostly positive looks from the press, with fans falling back in love with the gritty horror series.

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'Insidious: The Last Key' - 'Insidious' was a big hit, so much so that they made three sequels, finishing with 'The Last Key.' If you haven't spotted the pattern, here goes: big at the box office, slighted by critics.

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'Men in Black: International' -

'International' introduced Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in new leading roles. It garnered unfavorable reviews from critics, but the new stars were praised.

For more Keanu Reeves content, read all about his immortal life.

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NL Beeld

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'Toy Story 4' - 'Toy Story 3' wrapped the trilogy up perfectly, so fans were skeptical of a new edition. However, 'Toy Story 4' made more than US$1 billion, and was highly rated by critics.

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'Ocean's 8' - 'Ocean's 8' was the fourth film in the rebooted series. The cast was praised, and the reviews were mostly positive, but some viewers were left wanting more.

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'Rambo' - 20 years after 'Rambo III,' lead star Sylvester Stallone directed, co-wrote, and starred in the fourth film. Fans were impressed, critics were polarized, and the film was banned in Burma.

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'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' - Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in 'Ghost Protocol.' Critics liked the style and setpieces, and fans fell back in love with the 'MI' series.

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'Spectre' - Daniel Craig's fourth film as James Bond was 'Spectre,' seen as a slight step down from previous film 'Skyfall.' It was criticized for having an all-too-familiar formula.

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'The Hobbit' - Peter Jackson's fourth film in Middle Earth was 'The Hobbit,' a prequel that kickstarted its own trilogy. It made nearly US$3 billion, but some fans and critics were disappointed.

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'Fast & Furious' - This film follows Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, back working with the FBI to bring down a drug lord. It made a fair few million at the box office, but critics were not impressed.

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'Terminator Salvation' -

Christian Bale and Sam Worthington starred in 'Salvation,' a box office money-maker but trashed for its "robotic" storyline and lack of heart.

NL Beeld

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'The Bourne Legacy' - 'The Bourne Legacy' swapped Matt Damon for Jeremy Renner, in a film that polarized fans and critics alike. Matt Damon returned for the fifth film, which didn't do much better.

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'Saw IV' -

NL Beeld

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'Jaws: The Revenge' - 'Jaws' apparently isn't an idea that lasts for four films, as proven by 'The Revenge.' Fans, general audiences, and critics were all left unimpressed by the shark attack sequel.

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'Paranormal Activity 4' -

Another success for the Blumhouse production studio, who invested just US$5 million and made over US$140 million off the low-budget screamer. Though it wasn't highly rated.

NL Beeld

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'Rocky IV' -

NL Beeld

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'Evil Dead' - Around 21 years after the third 'Evil Dead,' this modernized edition received mostly positive looks from the press, with fans falling back in love with the gritty horror series.

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'Men in Black: International' -

'International' introduced Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in new leading roles. It garnered unfavorable reviews from critics, but the new stars were praised.

For more Keanu Reeves content, read all about his immortal life.

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Bridget Jones is back again, but do fourth films work?

It's time to get ready for 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy'

10/04/24 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Sequels

We’re living in an era of reboots and unexpected sequels where nostalgia reigns supreme, providing Hollywood with an easy formula to turn a profit. These seemingly unending film series bring joy to some fans who can't get enough of their favorite characters and universes, but they can also cause great disappointment when they fail to do justice to a beloved franchise.

In the case of the 'Bridget Jones' movies, it's arguable that the quality declined with each of the sequels, of which there have been two so far: 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason' (2004) and 'Bridget Jones's Baby' (2015). However, many fans simply love to see her antics continue, no matter how absurd the storyline becomes. The film studio Working Title has now announced that a fourth installment in the series is imminent! Based, as always, on a book by Helen Fielding, this third sequel is titled 'About a Boy.' Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant will reprise their roles, with new heartthrob on the scene Leo Woodall thrown into the mix. Woodall recently starred in the immensely successful Netflix series 'One Day.'

The story picks up several years after the previous film, with Jones now a mother and a widow after Colin Firth's Mark Darcy is killed by a landmine in Sudan. This doubtlessly leaves her susceptible to the charms of several dashing and inappropriate men. Filming will take place in London during the summer of 2024 and the film is slated for release on Valentine's Day, 2025.

While you wait, click through to take a look at the fourth film in various franchises, evaluating if they are classic continuations or unnecessary sequels. Click through the gallery to get started.