History SequelHook / LiveActionFilms

* Deliberately averted in ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' by Edwards. He says that he typically rolls his eyes at films that go out of their way to introduce plot points near the end for the express purpose of having them resolved in future instalments. He prefers to have a film that can stand perfectly well on its own. That said, the film's ending leaves itself open for a sequel, as Godzilla returns to the ocean, with the expectation that he'll return when humanity next needs him.

*** Grindelwald tells Creedence his supposed birth name, Aurelius Dumbledore, and says his "brother" is trying to kill him. There's a couple of ways this can be taken. First of all, him being Dumbledore's brother just does not add up. Second of all, Grindelwald has been lying to and manipulating Credence since the moment they met. These two things imply that it's manipulation while also kicking the can down the road about who Credence really is.

* ''Franchise/AlienVsPredator''

** ''Film/BatmanBegins'': "Take this guy: Armed robbery, double homicide. Has a taste for the theatrical, like you. [[ComicBook/TheJoker Leaves a calling card]]."
*** This is a ShoutOut to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'', which ends exactly the same way.

* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
** ''Film/ManOfSteel'' has Clark considering what he will do and how he will help people now that the world knows he exists. The last scene is him talking about what the best job would be to keep aware of world situations, and [[ClarkKenting he dons the famous glasses]] and joins the staff of the Daily Planet. In more of a tidbit, logos are seen around the movie for both [[ComicBook/LexLuthor Lex Corp]] and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Wayne Enterprises]], with Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne showing up in the sequel ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''.

*** The metahuman footage scene, which serves to set up the upcoming movies for ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}, Comicbook/{{Cyborg}} and Franchise/TheFlash (and ''Justice League'').

** Comicbook/LexLuthor is defeated, but claims that something [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid far worse]] is on the horizon now that Superman is dead, setting up ''[[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague Justice League]]''.

** ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' has a separate [[TheStinger stinger]] showing Etta Candy, Sameer, Chief and Charlie gathering after the events of the film in order to find a [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague Mother Box]].
** ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}'': Bruce Wayne meets Amanda Waller, who hands him over files about Aquaman, and Bruce warns her that if she causes a mess again with her Task Force X project, his "friends" (the Justice League) will respond.

** ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'': Black Manta teams up with Dr. Shin and intends to kill Aquaman.
** ''[[Film/Shazam2019 SHAZAM!]]'' features a scene during the credits where Dr. Sivana ends up in jail after being defeated by [[SuperFamilyTeam the Shazam Family]]. It is there where he meets Maxivermis Mind, in a sequence clearly setting up an adaptation of the ''Shazam and the Seven Magic Lands'' story arc going on in [[ComicBook/Shazam2012 the comic book]] at the time.
** ''Film/{{Birds of Prey|2020}}'': the Birds of Prey (Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya) are formed at the end of the film.

* ''Film/{{District 9}}'': Christopher promised he'd be back in three years- [[AlienInvasion with reinforcements]]. [[HumansAreBastards We have it coming]].
* ''Film/DoctorDetroit'' ends with a promise of ''Doctor Detroit II: The Wrath of Mom''. Sadly it remains unproduced to this day.

* The 1980 ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}'' movie had someone pick up Ming's ring after the story ended; since the movie was a bomb, nothing came of it. Possibly in homage, the third series of the revived ''Series/DoctorWho'' ended with someone picking up the Master's ring and laughing evilly.

* From the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:

** ''Film/IronMan1'' has James Rhodes looking at the older Mark II silver-and-grey armor and says "Next time, baby", an obvious foreshadowing of his becoming ComicBook/WarMachine (ironically this is not to be, at least for Rhodes' actor). The brief after-credits scene has Creator/SamuelLJackson as ComicBook/NickFury declaring the existence of other superheroes and the "Avenger Initiative" is about as blatant as a Sequel Hook can get without being a {{Cliffhanger}}.

** ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'' had Samuel Sterns [[MyBrainIsBig head mutating]], hinting at him turning into Leader. Tony "Film/IronMan" Stark makes a cameo announcing that they're putting a "[[ComicBook/TheAvengers team]]" together. In the end Bruce attempts a controlled transformation with an ambiguous smile on his face. According to the DVD commentary, whether the smile indicates that he'd actually gained control or not would depend on which came first: another Hulk movie (where Banner wouldn't be in control) or ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' (where he would).

** ''Film/{{Thor}}'' contains a post-credits sequence revealing that ComicBook/NickFury is in possession of the Tesseract, and that ComicBook/{{Loki}} is still alive and controlling Doctor Selvig. This directly leads into ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' and foreshadows the events of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger''.
** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' has Steve waking up in the present day after being frozen for 70+ years. A post credits scene hints to ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' by having Nick Fury give Cap a mission, in fact being a scene taken directly from that movie. It then shifts into a straight-up trailer for the film. The Red Skull's spectacular "[[NeverFoundTheBody death]]" also works as a sequel hook for future Cap movies, though it wound up only being a bit part in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar''.
** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' itself ends with the Other lamenting the Chitauri invasion has failed as humans are "too unruly", and claims trying to take them on again would be "courting Death." Cue TheReveal of ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, smiling at the thought.
** ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' ended with Loki sitting on the throne of Asgard and impersonating the Allfather after faking his own death. TheStinger shows the first appearance of the Collector, from ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'', being given the Aether to look after by Sif and Volstagg. It also announces that the Aether and Tesseract are Infinity Gems and the Collector wants to get them all. "One down, five to go."
** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' ends with Nick Fury faking his death to go after ComicBook/{{HYDRA}} and Cap and ComicBook/TheFalcon heading off to find the [[ComicBook/BuckyBarnes Winter Soldier]], who in TheStinger is shown learning about his past life. There's also a second hook, with ComicBook/ScarletWitch and ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} being shown as HYDRA captives.
** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'' has TheReveal that ComicBook/StarLord is only half-human and that his father sent Yondu to abduct him for unknown reasons, ComicBook/{{Drax|The Destroyer}} shifts his vendetta from Ronan to [[GreaterScopeVillain Thanos]], and Nebula is still alive.
** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' ends with most of the team on hiatus, leaving Captain America & ComicBook/BlackWidow to form a new line-up for the Avengers. TheStinger also shows Thanos taking the Infinity Gauntlet and declaring that he'll find the Infinity Gems himself.

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', the film itself ends with Captain America breaking his allies out of jail and going on the run, with Black Widow implied to be a fugitive as well. In {{The Stinger}}s, Black Panther gives asylum to Bucky until his brainwashing is undone, with the warning that doing so could bring war on Wakanda, and Spider-Man recuperates from the fight back at home and discovers the Spider-Signal built into the upgraded web-shooters that Stark made for him, with the promise that "Spider-Man will return." This also retroactively set-up the ''Film/{{Black Widow|2021}}'' {{Interquel}}.
** ''Film/{{Doctor Strange|2016}}'': In the film itself, the day is saved but the Ancient One is dead, meaning evil forces will want to take advantage of there being no Sorcerer Supreme to oppose them. As for the stingers, one is a scene lifted from ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', as Thor comes to Strange for help with what's been going on in Asgard. The other shows that Mordo has made a FaceHeelTurn.

** ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' doesn't really have a hook as much as it gives an update on an existing one: following from ''Civil War'', Bucky is continuing his physical and mental rehabilitation in Wakanda.

** ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'': Subverted with the main one in the film, Ronan promises to come back to Earth for Carol -- but this film is a ''prequel'', and [[DoomedByCanon we know that he'll die before he can make good on his threat]]. Carol does make a similar promise to stop the Kree's warmongering, though, which would work equally well for a sequel. The Stinger once again just updates an existing hook, with Carol arriving on Earth in response to Fury's signal in ''Infinity War''.
** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': While mostly serving as a conclusion to the Infinity Saga of the series, it does set up a few new plot threads for the series going forth. In the middle of the film, (the past version of) Loki escapes with the Tesseract, and remains at large in his timeline even as Thanos is dealt with, setting up the events of ''Series/{{Loki|2021}}''. Then at the end, Thor joins up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to help track down the time-displaced Gamora of 2014; leaving ComicBook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}} in charge of the Asgardian refugees now living in New Asgard, setting up ''Thor: Love and Thunder'' and presumably the third ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' film. Meanwhile, Steve, now elderly after choosing [[TheSlowPath to remain in the past]] and live a full life with Peggy, passes his shield and the mantle of Captain America over to Sam, setting up ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier''.

** ''Film/{{Black Widow|2021}}'': Although it's an {{Interquel}} set between the events of ''Civil War'' and ''Infinity War'', the last scene shows Yelena Belova visiting Natasha Romanoff's grave to pay her respects. Afterward, she is approached by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who offers her the chance to kill the man responsible for Natasha's death: Clint Barton, which sets up the ''Hawkeye'' series.

* ''Film/PainkillerJane'': The film ends with the reveal Erfan is alive, selling his substance to East Asian men, and it's implied he's enhanced himself, with a clear indication for future story lines. This never happened however, as the series was completely different.
* ''Film/{{The Phantom|1996}}'' has a voiceover stating that the love interest plans to return soon.

* The 2001 Creator/TimBurton ''[[Film/PlanetOfTheApes2001 Planet of the Apes]]'' [[TheRemake remake]] ends with Leo (Creator/MarkWahlberg) crash landing in a present day Earth ruled by Apes.

* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'':
** ''Film/ResidentEvilFilmSeries''.
*** ''Film/ResidentEvil2002'' ends as Alice wakes up to find Raccoon City ravaged by a ZombieApocalypse.
*** ''Film/ResidentEvilApocalypse'' ends on the prospect of Dr. Isaacs having control over her similar to the Nemesis.
*** ''Film/ResidentEvilExtinction'' shows her waking up an army of clones and vowing revenge on Umbrella.
*** ''Film/ResidentEvilAfterlife'' has Jill, in her battlesuit, along with a squadrop of Umbrella [=VTOLs=].
*** ''Film/ResidentEvilRetribution'' ends with Wesker injecting the T-Virus back into Alice, and Wesker tells Alice, Jill, Ada, and Leon that the Red Queen has declared an all-out war on humanity, and that this is the last stand.
** In the same canon of the original games, ''Anime/ResidentEvilDegeneration'' shows that [=WilPharma=]'s assets have been acquired by [=TriCell=]. The ending for the ride ''Biohazard 4D Executer'' has Dr. Cameron escaping the city, having become a practically immortal creature capable of GrandTheftMe.
* ''Film/TheRocketeer'' ended with Jenny Blake giving Peevey back his reverse-engineered blueprints for a new and improved version of the rocketpack, which were stolen by [[TheDragon Lothar]] earlier in the film.

** The first ''Film/{{Transformers|2007}}'' film has four hooks; Optimus's message to other Autobots at the end, Megatron's corpse dropped in the Laurentian Abyss, Starscream leaving the planet during the credits and Optimus picking up a fragment of the movie's MacGuffin.

** TheStinger for ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' features Deadpool parodying the stinger for ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'' ("You're still here? It's over! Go home.") before adding that the next Deadpool movie will feature ComicBook/{{Cable}}.

* ''[[Film/Zapped2014 Zapped]]'' ends with a stinger showing some detention students finding Zoey's cracked phone in the trash. Turns out it still works fine, and it shows the "Listen and Obey" app upon startup.

* The first ''Film/MissionImpossible'' movie ends with Ethan flying back home and a flight attendant offering him his next assignment [[BookEnds in the same manner as Jim]].

*** Examples in the latter series include the [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 first film]] showing Freddy influencing Nancy's dreams at the end by taking control of the car occupied by herself and her friends, and then yanking her mother through the front door's window, [[NotQuiteDead despite supposedly being defeated]]; the [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet2FreddysRevenge second film]] featuring him performing the same trick from the first film on Jesse, Lisa, and their friends, this time aboard a schoolbus; the [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet3DreamWarriors third film]] showing [[TheEndOrIsIt the model Elm Street's lights turning on unbeknownst to Neil]]; the [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet4TheDreamMaster fourth film]] showing Alice Johnson seeing Freddy's reflection in the water of a fountain; and the [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet5TheDreamChild fifth film]] showing a group of children humming Freddy's rhyme while jumping rope.

** The first ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' film has four hooks; Optimus's message to other Autobots at the end, Megatron's corpse dropped in the Laurentian Abyss, Starscream leaving the planet during the credits and Optimus picking up a fragment of the movie's MacGuffin.

* ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'': Cobra Commander (actually using that moniker, to be exact) and the masked Destro appear only almost at the end, the US President whistling a certain tune and the Joes going off on another mission.

* The LiveActionAdaptation for ''Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' ended with the movie's BigBad, CorruptCorporateExecutive Ian Hawke, trying to get squirrels to sing. Like the ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' example below, this is a Sequel Hook only in retrospect.

** Doc Brown whisks Marty and girlfriend Jennifer away at the end of the [[Film/BackToTheFuture first film]]. The writers merely intended it as [[HereWeGoAgain a closing gag]], and later had to work out ''why'' he whisked him (''and her'') away. WordOfGod states that they would have not put Jennifer in the car if it was planned as a sequel hook, note that she never does little but pass out. That repeat of the end scene of part 1 at the beginning of part 2, while looking like a continuation picking right up at the Sequel Hook, was actually a re-filming of it with a minor {{Retcon}}, so that the new actors could match up with the footage to follow, and so that they could subtly insert a moment in which Doc has a new reaction to Marty asking whether he'll become an asshole in the future that is more appropriate to what Part 2 portrays. (In the original version of the first film's end scene--the one ''from'' the first film--he immediately brushes off the question with a sincere-sounding reassurance that "both you and Jennifer turn out just fine". In the re-filmed version of the scene at the beginning of part 2, he says the same line, but this time hesitates first with some hems and haws and an "oh shit, I wish he hadn't asked me that" look in his eyes.) A rare case of a Sequel Hook actually going against ''itself''.

** With ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' and ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' being filmed at the same time, like ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', ''Reloaded'' contains one in the last shot: an unconscious Neo in the ''Hammer'' infirmary...and an unconscious Bane-slash-Smith on another bed.

** Overlooked because of how awesome it was, but Tony telling a press conference outright that he ''was'' Iron Man not only subverts the SecretIdentity thing but [[ComicBook/CivilWar makes you wonder where they are going to take that]].

** ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' itself has a ''huge'' sequel hook, edging into {{cliffhanger}} territory: The series can't very well end on Batman being demonized and hunted]], so how will he atone for Two-Face's crimes and regain Gotham's trust? Yet that ending is so organic and un-gimmicky it takes a minute to recognize it ''as'' a hook.

*** Lex Luthor hires Deathstroke to target Batman, telling him that he is Bruce Wayne.

* Anybody remember the ''Film/SuperMarioBros''? Princess Daisy bursts into Mario and Luigi's apartment armed with a {{BFG}}, proclaiming "Guys... you're not going to believe this". Then everyone follows her out the door and the movie ends. There was no sequel, but nearly 20 years later, graphic novel sequels are planned.
** There were some webcomics touted as the "true" sequel to the film, but even those stopped updating and became an OrphanedSeries. (see the Webcomics subpage on that link for references)

** ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' ended with Loki sitting on the throne of Asgard and impersonating the Allfather after faking his own death. TheStinger shows the first appearance of the Collector, from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', being given the Aether to look after by Sif and Volstagg. It also announces that the Aether and Tesseract are Infinity Gems and the Collector wants to get them all. "One down, five to go."

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' has TheReveal that ComicBook/StarLord is only half-human and that his father sent Yondu to abduct him for unknown reasons, ComicBook/{{Drax|The Destroyer}} shifts his vendetta from Ronan to [[GreaterScopeVillain Thanos]], and Nebula is still alive.

** In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', the film itself ends with Captain America breaking his allies out of jail and going on the run, with Black Widow implied to be a fugitive as well. In {{The Stinger}}s, Black Panther gives asylum to Bucky until his brainwashing is undone, with the warning that doing so could bring war on Wakanda, and Spider-Man recuperates from the fight back at home and discovers the Spider-Signal built into the upgraded web-shooters that Stark made for him, with the promise that "Spider-Man will return." This also retroactively set-up the ''Film/BlackWidow2021'' {{Interquel}}.
** ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'': In the film itself, the day is saved but the Ancient One is dead, meaning evil forces will want to take advantage of there being no Sorcerer Supreme to oppose them. As for the stingers, one is a scene lifted from ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', as Thor comes to Strange for help with what's been going on in Asgard. The other shows that Mordo has made a FaceHeelTurn.

** ''Film/BlackPanther2018'' doesn't really have a hook as much as it gives an update on an existing one: following from ''Civil War'', Bucky is continuing his physical and mental rehabilitation in Wakanda.

** ''Film/CaptainMarvel2019'': Subverted with the main one in the film, Ronan promises to come back to Earth for Carol -- but this film is a ''prequel'', and [[DoomedByCanon we know that he'll die before he can make good on his threat]]. Carol does make a similar promise to stop the Kree's warmongering, though, which would work equally well for a sequel. The Stinger once again just updates an existing hook, with Carol arriving on Earth in response to Fury's signal in ''Infinity War''.
** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': While mostly serving as a conclusion to the Infinity Saga of the series, it does set up a few new plot threads for the series going forth. In the middle of the film, (the past version of) Loki escapes with the Tesseract, and remains at large in his timeline even as Thanos is dealt with, setting up the events of ''Series/Loki2021''. Then at the end, Thor joins up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to help track down the time-displaced Gamora of 2014; leaving ComicBook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}} in charge of the Asgardian refugees now living in New Asgard, setting up ''Thor: Love and Thunder'' and presumably the third ''Guardians of the Galaxy'' film. Meanwhile, Steve, now elderly after choosing [[TheSlowPath to remain in the past]] and live a full life with Peggy, passes his shield and the mantle of Captain America over to Sam, setting up ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier''.

** ''Film/BlackWidow2021'': Although it's an {{Interquel}} set between the events of ''Civil War'' and ''Infinity War'', the last scene shows Yelena Belova visiting Natasha Romanoff's grave to pay her respects. Afterward, she is approached by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who offers her the chance to kill the man responsible for Natasha's death: Clint Barton, which sets up the ''Hawkeye'' series.

%%** [[FunnyAneurysmMoment Horribly ironic in the case of the former.]]

* Played with in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'': the last scene has Mutt about to pick up Indy's NiceHat (which a gust of wind blew off its rack and towards him) only for Indy to grab it right before he has a chance to put it on.

** ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'': Cipher escapes at the end of the FinalBattle after Dom and the Shaw brothers ruin her plans, and Mr. Nobody reports that she was last seen in Athens. [[Film/F9(Film) Time will tell when she'll make her next move]].

** ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'': Cipher escapes at the end of the FinalBattle after Dom and the Shaw brothers ruin her plans, and Mr. Nobody reports that she was last seen in Athens. [[Film/F9 Time will tell when she'll make her next move]].

** ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'': Cipher escapes at the end of the FinalBattle after Dom and the Shaw brothers ruin her plans, and Mr. Nobody reports that she was last seen in Athens. [[Film/FastAndFurious9 Time will tell when she'll make her next move]].

* ''Film/MortalKombat'' concluded with victory and ended on a cliffhanger, as Shao Kahn, TheManBehindTheMan to Shan Tsung, shows up and announces he's come to take their souls. Raiden's response: "[[CatchPhrase I don't think so]]".