A sequel is typically the mark of a successful first film, and a third film that marks a franchise that has established its legacy in pop culture and film history. The Cloverfield series, however, defies this convention in that the momentum of the first film did not carry over into the second, and yet a third was commissioned. Perhaps the true Cloverfield paradox is how a franchise with overall average reviews and dwindling pop culture relevance has managed to survive the test of time.
The Plots and How They Connect
Paramount Pictures
The first film, simply named Cloverfield, follows a group of New Yorkers who have their small party interrupted by the emergence of a giant, likely extraterrestrial creature leaving a path of destruction through Manhattan. The wreckage has a distinctly evocative feel, with the creature reminding the audience of Godzilla, and decidedly more morbidly, the shaky home footage of Manhattan crumbling brings the tragedy of September 11 to mind. The latter observation was noted in various reviews, but one could infer this added to the film’s success. Regardless of sentiments toward the film, controversy creates curiosity, which in turn creates views.
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In the end, this was not a particularly large issue for the film, which enjoyed a successful box office run regardless. This was especially notable considering the film’s relatively low budget of 25 million, with a then largely unknown J.J. Abrams serving as producer. One may have expected a promptly released sequel to a movie that surely surpassed all expectations, but this was not so. Not until 2016 did the silver screen see the release of the second film, 10 Cloverfield Lane.
This sequel is more of a loosely associated second installment, as the characters, filming style, and storyline veer away completely from Cloverfield. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman star in this thriller as Michelle and Howard, respectively, with Michelle finding herself chained to a stranger’s wall after waking from a car accident. The stranger, Howard, defends his hospitality, explaining that the apocalypse broke out just as she crashed. He was headed to his bunker when he spotted Michelle in need of help, so he brought her back to his doomsday lair. Michelle obviously does not believe him, as most people would not, until she meets Emmett — a seemingly and sane reasonable man who fought his way into the bunker due to the very same cataclysmic circumstances described by Howard.
Ultimately, Michelle trusts Howard until she discovers evidence that he kidnapped and potentially murdered a local girl that went missing some years back. Howard kills Emmett and Michelle escapes, only to find that Howard was right as she watches a strange alien-like and metallic creature flying in the sky.
The final installment veers away yet again, with this film focusing on the subtly yet unsettlingly twisted reality created by a team of scientists that create a Particle Accelerator, an ill-advised experiment that consequently creates disturbances in the past, present, and future of the existing timeline. The scientists rip through the space-time continuum as they enter an alternate dimension, with the chaos aboard their vessel mirroring the terror that has now broken out on Earth. The characters of Hamilton and Schmidt ultimately return to Earth, and the events of The Cloverfield Paradox explain the two preceding films. The rip in the space-time continuum is inferred to have caused the rise of both the creature invading Manhattan in Cloverfield, and the apocalyptic events of 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Box Office and Critical Reception
Paramount Pictures
The original Cloverfield film raked in 172.4 million dollars, a decided home run hit for any film, but especially a low-budget production. Reviews suggest that the audience and critics alike appreciated the unconventional cinéma vérité filming style and were engaged by the first-person perspective. The characters, however, are received as unrelatable and unlikeable, keeping audiences from forming a connection to them or their fate. Furthermore, some audiences expressed frustration at the characters’ lack of intervention on the antagonistic forces, and that the antagonist itself was a ripoff of Godzilla. Nevertheless, financial success gave way to a sequel, and one was produced nearly a decade after the release of Cloverfield.
The second film, 10 Cloverfield Lane, collected 110.2 million. This is still considered a decent success, but it is noticeably less revenue than the first film. Reviews were mixed, with some enjoying the blindsiding plot twists, and others finding the rhythm of the plot to be disjointed. Given this, one may reasonably assume that producer J.J Abrams would have halted the franchise so as to end on a moderately strong note. Despite this, production quickly fired up for 2018’s The Cloverfield Paradox. As expected based on the established trajectory, the third installment came and went without much conversation. Its expected theatrical release was pulled back into an exclusive Netflix release, likely due to poor critical reception and low expectations for profit. Reviews suggest the film is directionless, has a sloppy timeline, and lacks any real engaging elements.
Brief History of Sequels
What’s with all the sequels? Moviegoers may have noted a rise in sequels as of late, with many movies expanding into franchises for as long as they can. It can give the cinematic experience a cheapened feel, as if the artistry and craft are being sacrificed for the sake of maximizing capitalistic potential. Sequel making has long been a natural next move when a film is successful, and frequently those sequels tend to be of lower critical acclaim than their predecessors. It wasn’t until the ’70s that sequels began to expand into trilogies and multi-installment franchises, thus making the stakes of a sequel considerably higher.
A sequel was no longer a way of juicing a bit more money out of a successful project, but an attempt at extending its longevity for several years to come. The advent of multiple installments created a new benchmark for success, with films that enjoy such longevity typically boasting high ratings or at least great popularity. Such films tend to make a mark on pop culture, such as Star Wars, Pink Panther, and Lord of the Rings. This is where the expansion of the Cloverfield universe draws logical scrutiny– the trilogy has not established any such impact on pop culture and has not garnered the acclaim one would expect. Despite this, it has been confirmed that there will, in fact, be a fourth installment from producer J.J. Abrams.
The Secret to Success and What is to Come
The formula to Cloverfield’s enduring success may well be a loyal fan base. Though lacking a prominent impact in its industry, perhaps studios have taken note of a subculture they can depend on for consistent viewing. There are various subreddits dedicated to the films and such forums, and casting familiar names with niche fan bases may draw audiences on a name-recognition basis alone. It remains to be seen if this will continue to work for the franchise upon the release of its fourth film, which is still in early pre-production stages.
