Many franchises have started under a unified title, but have then dropped it and released sequel(s) without the franchise title. Which ones you know?

!This thread isn’t for confusing sequel numbering, like the Halloween series!

Evil Dead - The third installment completely dropped the Evil Dead name, being titled only Army of Darkness. The later reboot of the franchise did carry the original name again.

Call of Duty - When Modern Warfare 2 first launched, it’s Call of Duty title was nowhere to be found, leading to possible loss of hundred thousands copies sold. The title was added back soon later, and the subsequent games in the franchise are labeled under this title.

Rambo - When first Rambo arrived in theaters, it was called simply First Blood. The sequel was called Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and when the third installment arrived, it was simply called Rambo 3, making this franchise completely change it’s name from First Blood to Rambo.

Wolfenstein - The first 2 games carried franchise name Castle Wolfenstein, with Wolfenstein 3D dropping the “Castle”. Later sequel, Spear of Destiny, missed the Wolfenstein name entirely, only for it to be picked up again with Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

Alien/Predator - Starting off as two separate franchises - Alien and Predator - these later merged with Alien VS. Predator, but the later prequel, Prometheus, had neither of the both original franchise names.

Heretic/HeXen - Originally called Heretic, with the sequel changing name to HeXen: Beyond Heretic, with HeXen II continuing with that franchise name, only for it to be reverted back with Heretic II.

Rocky - The seventh Rocky movie dropped the Rocky name completely, changing it’s name to Creed, since Rocky wasn’t the protagonist anymore.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The upcoming Leatherface movie dropped the TCM name.

Indiana Jones - The original movie was called only Raiders of the Lost Ark, with only the sequels acquiring the Indiana Jones title.

The Twilight Saga - The first movie was called only Twilight, with the sequels modifying the title to The Twilight Saga

Neglify said:

Star Wars - The Clone Wars was the first film to not have an Episode number.

There are some folk in the Preservation forum that might literally skin you alive for saying that.

(Did HansiG forget how to make pointless threads? This one isn’t half bad!)

Indiana Jones might’ve been put on the DVD cover art but Raiders never had the franchise name.

I’ve also recently seen the Twilight movies listed in TV guides by their sub-titles (New Moon, Eclipse etc) but the posters and DVD covers show them with the “Twilight Saga” banner. I will not subject myself to those films again to check what comes up on screen.

yhwx said:

Possessed said:

Neglify said:

Star Wars - The Clone Wars was the first film to not have an Episode number.

There are some folk in the Preservation forum that might literally skin you alive for saying that.

Like who?

Just pick any random thread and your bound to find someone bitching about EpIV being added to Star Wars.

WITH GOOD REASON

Meh.

But ambiguity is such a silky skinned seductress … like a hybrid clone of Jessica Rabbit and Morticia Addams.

Wolfenstein - The first 2 games carried franchise name Castle Wolfenstein, with Wolfenstein 3D dropping the “Castle”. Later sequel, Spear of Destiny, missed the Wolfenstein name entirely, only for it to be picked up again with Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

Alien/Predator - Starting off as two separate franchises - Alien and Predator - these later merged with Alien VS. Predator, but the later prequel, Prometheus, had neither of the both original franchise names.

Heretic/HeXen - Originally called Heretic, with the sequel changing name to HeXen: Beyond Heretic, with HeXen II continuing with that franchise name, only for it to be reverted back with Heretic II.