"Even casual fantasy fans know the 1984 film, The NeverEnding Story, which bravely attempted to adapt a piece of Michael Ende's beloved novel of the same name. But even those born in the 1980s and who came of age in the 1990s will struggle to remember the sequel, The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. And if you revisit this bizarre flop today, you'll instantly understand why we've all memory-holed this strange, unnecessary film."
"The total box office performance for the film was dismal: it made $17 million total against a budget of $35 million. Despite the strong love for the 1984 film and its status as a perennial VHS favorite, the sequel failed to connect, at least in part, because the film didn't have the original stars - namely, Barret Oliver as Bastian or Noah Hathaway as Atreyu."
The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter arrived in Germany in October 1990 and opened in the U.S. on February 8, 1991. The sequel earned roughly $17 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, marking a clear financial failure. The film recast principal child roles, replacing Barret Oliver and Noah Hathaway with Jonathan Brandis and Kenny Morrison. The long gap between installments and the drastic visual departure from familiar characters undermined audience connection. Loyal fans of the 1984 film and the Michael Ende source material largely rejected the sequel. The film faded into obscurity and is remembered as an unnecessary, ill-received follow-up.
Read at Inverse
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