A cliffhanger is only a fun plot device if the filmmakers intend to make another movie to conclude the storyline that left the audience hanging. That's not always the case, much to the ire of many disappointed fans. It doesn't just happen with television shows or stand-alone movies, either. While franchises have been left with unresolved stories, some of them were obviously expecting a sequel that never materialized.
There's a variety of reasons that movie franchises can't bring their cliffhangers full circle. Sometimes the budget is too small, sometimes the box office take isn't enough to justify another installment, or sometimes the popular actors weren't available, among other reasons. There's some hope, though, as certain famous names are coming back for new movies, even though the fans gave up on them years ago.
10 Independence Day Franchise
It started with a bang with the original in 1996 and left audiences with a massive cliffhanger in the sequel, Resurgence, in 2016. The aliens had been beaten into submission and were retreating, but this time, the humans had the technology to fight back and it seemed like the film ended with daring plans to attack the alien homeworld.
This is a classic case of the second film not even coming close to the fan hype or profitability of its predecessor, and therefore, burning out any hope for a third film.
9 The Divergent Series
The third and last film in this series ended on a cliffhanger that might not need a resolution, depending on personal taste. It ended when Tris reveals the existence of the Bureau to the world and Caleb engineers an explosion to create a hole between the two cities.
A fourth film was planned to resolve this storyline, but it was canceled. The other factor was that the Divergent franchise became less successful critically and financially as it went along, and although there were plans to continue in television series form, this suffered a similar fate.
8 The Golden Compass Franchise
Another movie that was heavily anticipated and cost a lot of money, the first film in what was supposed to be an expansive franchise fell flat. Not only were fans disappointed that virtually all of the best parts of the book were cut, but studio interference also got in the way of the director's vision.
Lyra and her friends were on their way to battle the ambitious Magisterium at the close of the film, and that's where the story ends, at least on the big screen. Fans of Phillip Pullam can still turn to the BBC for a television adaptation for more.
7 The Collector Series
Just to clarify, this has nothing to do with the brilliant thriller from 1965, starring Terrance Stamp. It's a horror franchise more in the spirit of Saw and was originally marketed as a possible prequel to that franchise. There were two installments, the first in 2009 and a sequel in 2012, entitled The Collection.
At the end of the second movie, Arkin is alive, but as the Collector's prisoner. His ultimate fate is never revealed since the movie didn't make enough money to warrant another sequel.
6 Guillermo Del Toro’s Hellboy
Fans were reminded of this good old remake from 2008 before the new bad remake in 2019, and this one was so popular that it might have slipped fans minds, for a time, but was never forgotten.
The second film in this franchise, The Golden Army, ended on a cliffhanger that included Liz expecting twins and Hellboy destined to destroy the world. Despite the love from fans, the movies weren't profitable enough to fund a trilogy, especially the kind that Del Toro would want to make.
5 The Descent Series
The success of the original 2005 movie prompted a sequel. This was where the problems with this franchise started, in the sense that there never needed to be one. Many moviegoers felt that the second film was little more than a cash grab, which was bad marketing from the start.
The Descent: Part 2 seemed to hint at future installments, as it ended on a cliffhanger that left the fate of the lone survivor unresolved. However, it was a box office flop, and even most fans of the original didn't like it.
4 The National Treasure Series
Here's a franchise that gets a lot more love from fans than critics and studio executives, which probably means there won't be any more sequels. Add the fact that Nicolas Cage isn't exactly the box office draw that he used to be, although he does have his cult-like following.
The last film, Book of Secrets, ended with a strong hint that a missing page from the book held some dark, terrible secret. This was a teaser for the next movie, but this was back in 2007, and no plans for another have materialized.
3 The "28" Franchise
28 Days Later was the movie that started the zombie genre up again back in 2002, and the success of the film prompted a sequel, 28 Weeks Later. Both movies were popular with viewers and critics, and the second film ended on an ominous note that suggested the plague had spread beyond London to Paris.
It's not the budget or story in this case, but a matter of the lead actors being occupied by other projects since 2007. It's possible that a 28 Months Later could happen if everyone's schedule cleared up.
2 The Journey Franchise
It's gone, but certainly not forgotten, as this dead franchise still sees a lot of love from fans. The second film in this series, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, came out in 2012 and ended with a teaser about a future journey to the moon. There's even a working title, apparently, From the Earth to the Moon.
It wasn't a lack of money or a lame storyline that sunk this franchise, but a conflicting schedule for the popular lead actors. In this case, one popular lead actor, namely Dwayne Johnson. Until there's someone who can replace him, another installment isn't going to happen.
1 The Matrix Franchise
Even a franchise that seemed dead might only have been dormant, and it's not a surprise that this one would be too popular to abandon. The third film in The Matrix trilogy ended with a healthy mix of both resolution and cliffhanger, especially concerning the final fate of Neo.
A fourth installment is expected to hit theatres in 2021, 18 years after Matrix: Revolutions came to an unsatisfactory conclusion.
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