It seems that the announcement of a sequel to Dirty Dancing has brought up a lot of heated discussion, with early reactions from fans making it clear that they are not exactly looking forward to it. It has now been over three decades since the romantic classic became a phenomenon, and it seems that the announcement of a sequel to it has not been taken well by fans, with many of them expressing their feelings clearly across various platforms of social media platforms. It seems that some movies are better left alone, as evidenced by the reactions of fans to the announcement of a sequel to Dirty Dancing.
Legacy concerns and sequel fatigue
One of the main points of contention being raised by fans of the movie is that they are not sure as to why a sequel is even being made, as they feel that the movie had a complete story with no room for a sequel. “No offense but as a Dirty Dancing lover I can’t think of anyone who wants this,” one fan was quoted as saying, with this being one of the many sentiments being shared by fans of the movie across social media platforms.
At the heart of the problem, however, is the fact that Patrick Swayze, who played the iconic character of Johnny Castle, is no longer with us, having passed away in 2009. Fans of the movie are of the opinion that his character is irreplaceable, with many of them stating that it is not possible to make a sequel without him. “OMG…. Absolutely not. #DirtyDancing was perfect and complete as written. You cannot do it w/o Patrick Swayze! WTAH?” one fan was quoted as saying, with this being one of the many sentiments being shared by fans of the movie.
“I don’t see how they can do this without Patrick. Johnny will be gone and that will be so sad no matter what,” another fan was quoted as saying.
However, fans emphasize that Dirty Dancing was perfect and complete as written. From its famous dance scenes to its themes of social class, love, and self-discovery, it is a movie that has stood the test of time precisely because it feels complete. Fans are concerned that revisiting the story will somehow detract from its legacy rather than adding to it.
The general consensus among fans seems to be that the magic behind Dirty Dancing was its place in time. Some fans’ reactions also seem to be a general frustration with Hollywood’s tendency to churn out sequel after sequel, reboot after reboot. “Would you not get at least a little embarrassed as a producer?” one fan asked, pointing to sequel fatigue. For fans opposed to the project, it represents an industry unwilling to take risks on new, original material, instead relying on pre-existing properties with built-in recognition. Perhaps the largest factor behind fans’ reactions, however, is one of grief. “No need for this.
“No need for this. Patrick is no longer with us, so it doesn’t make sense,” another fan wrote. For fans, Dirty Dancing represents not just a movie, but a period in time and an irreplaceable star.
While the creators of the sequel may hope to introduce the original story to a new generation, they have an uphill battle ahead of them, at least according to fans. The verdict on the sequel from fans is in: Dirty Dancing did not need a sequel, and many fans wish it were not getting one.
