Not many film franchises get the distinction of hitting number four. It’s even more impressive when they’re actually good. For Fourth of July, we’re counting down the fourth movies in a given series from worst to best because it’s patriotic and also because the number four. Also this is our site so why not.
“Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace”
Technically it’s the fourth “Star Wars” movie made, so we’re counting it. We’re also counting that besides the pod racing, it isn’t very good.
“Jaws IV: The Revenge”
“I have never seen it (Jaws 4) but by all accounts it is terrible,” star Michael Caine said about the movie. “However, I have seen the house that it built and it is terrific.”
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)
Thank the heavens that “Logan” and “Deadpool” happened.
“Batman & Robin” (1997)
Isn’t this an ice list?
“Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” (1972)
Fans of the “Planet of the Apes” prequels might be interested to see Caesar’s original origins, although the new films do the character more justice.
“Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol” (1987)
Did you know the Razzies had a “Worst Original Song” category? The one from this film was called “Let’s Go to Heaven in My Car.”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master” (1988)
Easily confused with the far superior “Dream Warriors.”
“Superman IV: The Quest For Peace” (1987)
Folks, just because there’s a fire hydrant doesn’t mean it’s New York.
“Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” (1984)
“The Final Chapter.” That’s hilarious.
“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)
After “Season of the Witch,” we’ll take anything.
“Sudden Impact” (1983)
“Go ahead,” Dirty Harry would say. “Make our day… no please, make our day. This movie is not great.”
“Lethal Weapon IV” (1998)
Should’ve just left it at three.
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008)
It’s a shame when the highlight of your movie is when Harrison Ford crawls out of a refrigerator.
“Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)
This is the movie with dinosaurs/dinofours.
“Alien Resurrection” (1997)
It’s probably aged better than a lot of other fourth films, but “Resurrection” suffers from a thin plot and an obvious attempt to keep a franchise alive.
“Terminator Salvation” (2009)
The only good thing that came out of “Salvation” was Christian Bale’s telephone freakout.
“Vegas Vacation” (1997)
Why would we watch “Vegas Vacation” when “Christmas” and the original exist?
“Saw IV” (2007)
Might as well has been “Saw IV: The Final Chapter.”
“Shrek Forever After” (2010)
Get it? GET IT?
“Bourne Legacy” (2012)
Remember when Jeremy Renner starred in a Bourne film? No? Just us then?
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012)
Remember when you used to love seeing “Lord of the Rings” films?
“Thunderball” (1965)
But what if James Bond but underwater?
“Bride of Chucky” (1998)
One of Jennifer Tilly’s best roles, without a doubt.
“Scream 4” (2011)
It’s easily a cash grab, but it’s one of the most fun horror movies to come out in recent years and is way better than it has any right to be.
“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (2011)
We thought we’d get bored of watching Tom Cruise jump out of things. We were wrong.
“Thor” (2011)
The fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was considered risky at the time, but Kenneth Branagh and a career making performance by Tom Hiddleston helped us to take it seriously.
“Live Free or Die Hard” (2007)
We didn’t need another “Die Hard” movie but considering the break between the third and fourth ones, this isn’t half bad.
“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986)
They made us really care about those whales in this fish out of water comedy.
“Fast & Furious” (2009)
You have this film to thank for your favorite, average drag racing action flicks getting turned into what is ostensibly a superhero film with cars. We’re not complaining.
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
The third and last films in the franchise are probably the best in terms of quality and how successfully it adapted the source material, but “Goblet of Fire” killed off Robert Pattinson and broke our hearts.
“Rocky IV”
Yes the “Rocky” movies became incredibly corny after the first two installments, but Rocky versus the Russians might be the most quintessentially 80s concept every put to film and it hasn’t been topped since.
“Wonder Woman”
Fourth time’s the charm with the DC Cinematic Universe. After the mediocre “Man of Steel” and the travesties that were “Batman v Superman” and “Suicide Squad,” the female superhero’s first big screen outing gave us hope.
“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”
Technically this is the first “Star Wars” movie made, so it can’t possibly be number one on our “fourth movies” list, but because George Lucas gave us a sequential order that we have to stick by, we’ll give it the distinction.
“Mad Max Fury Road”
I fought tooth and nail to get this in the number one spot. It managed to reboot a dead franchise, making it modern, fresh, and one of the best action movies of the 21 century.
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