Both Kurt Russell and Bruce Campbell co-starred in a superhero movie,Sky High, three years before the beginning of the MCU, and their film desperately needs a sequel.Sky Highfocuses on the students of a high school designed to train teenage superheroes to use their powers. Russell plays Steve Stronghold, the father of Will (Michael Angarano) and a superhero who goes by the name “The Commander.” Campbell plays the high school’s gym teacher, Coach Boom. Both Russell and Campbell were great inSky High, but there’s a more important reason it deserves a sequel.
Sky Highis one of thebest superhero parody moviesever made, and one that has a cult following even 19 years later. It makes sense that Disney would want to make a sequel to it, and there wereplans forSky High 2backin 2016, but they never came to fruition. Now, however, the stars may be aligning forSky High 2, and it could finally be time for the sequel to happen. There have been quite a few changes in the superhero genre since 2005, whenSky Highwas released, and they both make a sequel more likely and make the original even better.
Sky High’s Superhero Parody Is Even Better 19 Years Later
The Superhero Genre Is Much More Popular Now, & Sky High Is Even Funnier Because Of It
Though it was made before superhero movies became massively popular,Sky Highhas become the perfect parody of the superhero genre. In the 19 years sinceSky Highwas released in 2005, the film’s jokes and jabs at superheroes are even more punchy because the superhero genre has given it even more material to satirize.All the tropesSky Highpoked fun at are still being used, like the idea of a school for super-powered teenagers that’s also featured in theX-Menfranchise andGen V. Because of that, the parody ofSky Highis even harder hitting and funnier now than it was in 2005.
Sky High Did Superhero Parody Before It Was Cool
Superhero Parodies Became Much More Common Years After Sky High
Sky Highwasn’t a huge success when it was released - it scored a fairly respectable 73% onRotten Tomatoes, and earned a solid $86 million (viaBox Office Mojo) - but it was far better than those numbers indicate.One of the main reasonsSky Highdidn’t perform as well as it could have is because it was ahead of its time. The superhero genre was just garnering mainstream popularity through films likeFantastic Four,Spider-Man 2, andBatman Begins, all of which came out in 2004 or 2005.Sky Highwas parodying the superhero genre long before audiences really wanted to make fun of it.
Sky High: The 10 Best Characters, Ranked
Disney’s Sky High is now on Disney+, which lets audiences see their favorite characters all over again. But which ones stood out the most?
Sky Highcould have been a much bigger success if it came out later, as evidenced by the litany of superhero parodies and satires out now.Shows likeThe Boys,My Hero Academia, andInvincibleare all supremely popular, and they all critique or parody superheroes in some way. Those shows are also very good, and deserve the success they’ve achieved, but they’ve also benefited from the simple fact that superhero parodies are a lot cooler now than they were in 2005. There’s a much bigger market for superhero spoof movies, which could still work inSky High’s favor.
Sky High 2 Is Exactly The Superhero Movie We Need Right Now
Sky High 2 Could Be Even More Effective Than The Original In Poking Fun At Superhero Movies
AsThe Boys,My Hero Academia, andInvinciblehave proven, the superhero genre is in the perfect state for parodies to have the maximum impact. For over a decade, the MCU and DCEU have dominated the box office, but it’s now on the decline. Many viewers feel either burnt out or disappointed by recent superhero movies, which presents the perfect opportunity for parodies to cater to fans who would agree with their satire. It’s also the perfect opportunity for a sequel toSky Highto get the praise the original deserved all along.
Sky Highis available to stream on Disney+.
IfSky High 2, orBruce Campbell’s pitch for aSky Highshow, ever comes to fruition, it would be exactly what the superhero genre needs.Sky High 2could deconstruct the entire genre and point out all of its valid critiques playfully.It would even fill a niche other superhero parodies can’t:Sky High 2would be much more lighthearted than the dark stories featured inThe BoysandInvincible. Now is really the perfect time to revisitSky High, as it could capitalize on the superhero genre’s popularity, but it could also be exactly the breath of fresh air needed to revitalize it.
Revisiting Sky High could be a success for Kurt Russell and Bruce Campbell’s movie, but it could also be a success for the superhero genre in general.
Sky High 2could be something of a reset for the superhero genre. Though it would be a sequel, it wouldn’t be part of a sprawling and daunting franchise with hours of content to get through, which would help alleviate some burnout. Its family-friendly comedy would also go a long way towards showing audiences that superhero movies can still be lighthearted and fun, in addition to more mature dramas with serious storylines. RevisitingSky Highcould be a success for Kurt Russell and Bruce Campbell’s movie, but it could also be a success for the superhero genre in general.
Sky High
Cast
Sky High is a 2005 comedy that follows the son of two famous superheroes as he attends a high school for student heroes. Michael Angarano stars alongside Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, and Kelly Preston, with appearances by Bruce Campbell and Lynda Carter.
