Stephen King didn’t approve of 1992’sPet Sematary Twogetting made, and its existence helped shape his attitude to sequels moving forward.Despite being one of the bleakest King books, there have been fourPet Sematarymoviesto date. The originalStephen King novelinvolves a distraught father burying his son’s body in the titular graveyard in the hope of bringing him back to life; needless to say, the consequences are devastating. The book received its first adaptation in 1989, with the Mary Lambert-directed chiller giving a generation of young viewers nightmares.
Anybody who’s seen the movie or read the book will know there’s little wiggle room for a direct sequel. That didn’t stop Paramount pressing ahead with one afterPet Sematarygrossed over five times its production budget with a box-office haul of $57 million in the U.S. alone(viaBox Office Mojo). Lambert returned to helm 1992’sPet Sematary Two, which starred Edward Furlong - hot off the success ofTerminator 2: Judgment Day- as a teenager who tries to resurrect his late mother using the same burial ground. The sequel wasn’t well-received by critics or King himself.
Stephen King Didn’t Want Pet Sematary Two Made And Disowned It
A Return to Salem’s Lotwas the first King sequel with no direct source novel to adapt, with this direct to video effort quickly vanishing into obscurity in 1987. King has never offered his views on this Larry Cohen-directed affair, but it received largely poor reviews and had little to do with the original miniseries. 1992 became a banner year for King movies the author was unhappy with. While cyberpunk thrillerThe Lawnmower Manwas supposedly based on his short story, King sued to have his name removed as it bore almost no relation to his work.
This was also the year the first of manyChildren of the Cornsequelsarrived, but the movie King was vocally unhappy about wasPet Sematary Two. Speaking withFangoriain 1992, King was asked about the sequel andChildren of the Corn IIand opened with “Sequels are a sore point with me,” before explaining there was a time when studios demanded sequel rights when purchasing book rights. However,King was told by Paramount brass that aPet Sematarysequel would never happenand was not shy about expressing his anger when they went back on their word.
I read the script - or as much of it as I could stand - and I read enough to realize that it was exactly like the first Pet Sematarywith different characters. I don’t approve of [Pet Sematary 2] and I didn’t want it made. I hope the people who read FANGORIA, the people who read my books and anyone who likes my stuff will stay away from this picture. And this is one that I will not see myself.
The last point is key, as King previously said that he had seen everything based on his work, good or bad.To the author,Pet Sematary Twowas a thinly veiled remakeand despite the fact he didn’t write it, it would still be sold on his name. In the same way he had his credit taken off ofThe Lawnmower Man, King removed his name fromPet Sematary Two. Even so, King resented knowing that the viewing public would still associate him with the sequel, despite having no involvement with it.
Pet Sematary Two Inspired An Important Stephen King Sequel Rule
It didn’t help with the Children of the Corn franchise though
The author may have mellowed in recent years, but he has never been timid about expressing opinions on the movies based on his work. King famously hated Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining- despite many considering it a masterpiece - and has had harsh words for other adaptations like 1984’sFirestarter. King’s views onPet Sematary Twofelt particularly personal, and there is a feeling of both anger at the Hollywood system and the attempt to use his name to sell something he wasn’t a part of. As King toldFangoria,Pet Sematary Twosparked his no sequel rule:
But it has had this effect, and that is that I will never sell sequel rights to another book to go with the movie rights. If somebody wants to make a movie from one of my books and insist on the sequel rights, that book will not be sold.
That meant any books King sold the rights to after 1992 didn’t come with sequel options, hence noDreamcatcher 2orThe Mist 2. However, this didn’t stop various King-free sequels popping up in later years, which were largely to movies producedbefore1992. There have been countlessChildren of the Cornsequels and remakes, and follow-ups to lower-budget fare likeThe ManglerorSometimes They Come Back.
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IT: Chapter 2wasn’t so much a sequel as the second half of an adaptation, whileThe Shiningfollow-upDoctor Sleepwas based on a sequel book King himself had penned.King even gave a good review (viaX/Variety) to 2023’sPet Sematary: Bloodlines, a prequel to the 2019 remake. The reception to this entry was very mixed but King had a good time with it, and since it was based on a chapter from the source material, he gave it a pass as an adaptation.
Why Stephen King Hates Sequels Not Based On His Work
Yes, that includes Creepshow 3 and The Mangler: Reborn
King is one of the most adapted authors alive, and there are few of his books or short stories that have been adapted into some medium. The quality of these films runs the gamut fromMiserytoThe Shawshank Redemption- which is commonly considered one of the best films ever made - to the borderline unwatchable likes ofKing’s only directorial effortMaximum Overdrive,orFirestarter 2024. Regardless of their quality, they were all at least based on something King had written - which is not the case with sequels likePet Sematary 2.
… King took his name off Pet Sematary 2 and other movies that didn’t directly adapt one of his books
King also knows that most audiences would be lured to something likeThe Rage: Carrie 2orA Return to Salem’s Lotbased on his name, which he feels is a cheatto them. That’s why he took his name offPet Sematary 2and other movies that didn’t directly adapt one of his books. King’s thoughts onSometimes They Come Back… Againwill probably forever remain a mystery, but on the topic of the most prolific franchise based on his writing, he toldDeadlinethat “I could do without all of the Children of the Corn sequels.”
Pet Sematary Two Was Poorly Received
Sometimes, franchise death is better
Pet Sematary Twoarrived three years after the original was a solid hit, and had a rising star at its center in Edward Furlong. This did little to help the sequel though;Pet Sematary Twogrossed a paltry $17 million worldwide(viaBox Office Mojo) and received some vicious reviews. It stands at 21% onRotten Tomatoes, and while it has defenders - mainly thanks to Clancy Brown’s deliciously hammy villain turn - it’s not considered an underrated gem. Even so, among the other King-less sequels, it’s still one of the most enjoyable.
Thankfully, the response toPet Sematary Twokilled what could have been a budding franchise early. While he vowed to skip it it would be interesting to find out if Stephen King ever caught the sequel, or even watched clips from it. He may have objected to its existence then, but compared toChildren of the Corn: GenesisorLawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, it might just look like a horror classic.
Pet Sematary II
Cast
Pet Sematary II is the 1992 sequel to the horror film based on Stephen King’s novel. It follows Jeff Matthews and Drew Gilbert, two boys dealing with personal tragedies, as they encounter the eerie powers of the pet sematary, which is capable of resurrecting the dead.
Pet Sematary
“Pet Sematary” is a horror franchise based on Stephen King’s 1983 novel. It focuses on a burial ground with the power to resurrect the dead, though those revived return as twisted versions of their former selves. The stories often explore themes of grief, the consequences of tampering with death, and the dark allure of second chances. The franchise has spawned several film adaptations, including remakes and prequels, maintaining its place as a staple of supernatural horror.
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
