Movies these days are less and less self contained, ending with cliff hangers that set up multiple sequels, or franchises depending on how well a movie did. We didn’t used to be prepared for an endless sea of sequels, and now we want less of them, yet certain franchises took their sweet time before arising again.These aren’t the usual “a sequel was bound to happen,” since decades separate one movie from the next. Still, we were more than happy to return to the stories of these beloved characters, diving deep into what made them special in the first place.cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530",}).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796");});IMDbThe Incredibles 2Pixar fans waited 14 years between The Incredibles (2004) and The Incredibles 2 (2018). Despite the lengthy gap, the sequel famously picks up just moments after the ending of the original film.IMDbTop Gun: MaverickReleased 36 years after Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick finally reunited audiences with Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The long wait paid off, as the sequel became one of the highest-grossing and most acclaimed films of 2022.IMDbBlade Runner 2049Thirty-five years separated Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner from Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. The sequel expanded the original’s universe while bringing Harrison Ford back as Rick Deckard decades after his first appearance.IMDbFinding DoryPixar waited 13 years to follow Finding Nemo with Finding Dory. The sequel shifted focus to the forgetful blue tang while reuniting audiences with many familiar characters from the beloved underwater adventure.IMDbTron: LegacyDisney returned to the digital world 28 years after the original Tron. Tron: Legacy combined cutting-edge visual effects with Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn for a new generation.IMDbMary Poppins ReturnsMore than 50 years after the 1964 classic, Mary Poppins Returns brought the magical nanny back to Cherry Tree Lane. Emily Blunt stepped into the iconic role first made famous by Julie Andrews.IMDbWall Street: Money Never SleepsOliver Stone revisited Gordon Gekko 23 years after Wall Street. Michael Douglas returned to his Oscar-winning role, exploring how the legendary financier fit into the world following the 2008 financial crisis.IMDbZoolander 2Ben Stiller’s dimwitted supermodel returned 15 years after Zoolander. While anticipation remained high for years, the sequel ultimately received a far more mixed reception than its endlessly quotable predecessor.IMDbIndependence Day: ResurgenceTwenty years after aliens first attacked Earth, Independence Day: Resurgence continued the story with many returning characters. Will Smith did not return, but the long-awaited sequel finally arrived in 2016.IMDbDumb and Dumber ToJim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reunited as Lloyd and Harry exactly 20 years after the original comedy became a cult favorite. Fans had spent years hearing rumors before the sequel was finally produced.IMDbMad Max: Fury RoadAlthough not a direct continuation of the previous films’ storylines, Mad Max: Fury Road arrived 30 years after Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Production delays stretched for years before George Miller finally completed the acclaimed action epic.IMDbDoctor SleepNearly 39 years after The Shining, Doctor Sleep adapted Stephen King’s sequel novel. The film follows an adult Danny Torrance while revisiting the psychological scars left by the Overlook Hotel.IMDbComing 2 AmericaEddie Murphy returned as Prince Akeem 33 years after Coming to America. The sequel revisited Zamunda decades later, bringing back much of the original cast alongside several new characters.IMDbBeetlejuice BeetlejuiceFans waited an astonishing 36 years for Beetlejuice’s return. Released in 2024, the sequel reunited Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara while introducing a new generation to the mischievous bio-exorcist.IMDbBambi IIPerhaps one of Disney’s strangest delayed sequels, Bambi II arrived 64 years after the original film. Rather than continuing the story, it serves as an interquel, taking place during events from the 1942 classic.The post 15 Sequels That Took Their Sweet Freakin’ Time appeared first on Den of Geek.