Any film franchises where the generally accepted "worse" entry is your favorite?

[Popcorn_Bliss]

I tend to think that there is something that is polarizing about the "black sheep" of a film series. Often, it gets that reputation because it doesn't follow the "formula" of more successful predecessors, etc.

Yet that same characteristic can also make the film a "diamond in the rough" to some viewers.

Are there any film series of which the generally accepted "worse" one is actually your favorite?

I can think of a few in my case...

Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)
If it's not considered the flat-out worst entry in the series, it's darn close. People will go on and on about how the film is "amateurish" (of course it is), and how there is no "real" Jason in the picture, etc. In my eyes, it is everything a great and sleazy slasher film should be.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
Again, I'm not sure it's considered the flat-out worst, but it certainly is very polarizing. Some seem to love its comic-like and dark-lit aura, not to mention the obvious themes of pollution and environmental issues prevalent at the start of the 1970's. Others seem to think it "brought down" the Godzilla series. I adore it! Probably my favorite of the Toho films.

Under The Cherry Moon (1986)
Not a series per se, but Prince had three "motion pictures" during his initial heyday - Purple Rain, Under The Cherry Moon, and Graffiti Bridge. Only "Purple Rain", though not as big a blockbuster as the album itself, was the only one to garner some fair acclaim. Yet "Under The Cherry Moon" is, by far, my favorite of the three. I love the black and white tones and its mix of stylish surrealism with almost absurd slapstick moments makes it all...Prince! In fact, the purple one directed it himself! Depending on your taste, that either drowns the film or makes it interesting. I love it!

[Astro Zombie]

Iron Man 3 is my favorite if that counts

[borgmatrix]

I might say Karate Kid part III. It's easily the worst, but the combination of Macchio's so-bad-it's-fun(funny?) acting and the entertainingly, ridiculously, over-the-top Evil of Cobra Kai's Sensei Terry Silver (and Kreese) has led me to watch that entry more than the previous two.

[Lord Method Man]

Halloween III is my favorite.

[The Debts]

Hannibal is definitely my favorite.

[JHolliday]

I liked Scream 3 the most

[MechaGodzilla]

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome is my favorite in the series. I just dig the lighter, adventure film-type feel it has, and the theme song is wonderful. The ending is also one of my all-time favorite movie endings.

[Zivouhr]

Originally I wasn't a big fan, but Back to the Future III set in the old western desert is a favorite, as much as I enjoy part 1. Part 2 I like in general, though 1 and 3 are the best IMO based on the settings/era, story, characters, etc.

I liked Spider-Man 3, though part 1 and 2 are still my favorite.

Prometheus of the Alien series I also enjoyed for what it offers.

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

Iron Man 3 is my favorite if that counts

Agreed. I enjoyed part 3 the most as Iron Man dropped some of his arrogance for most of the film.

Originally Posted by Lord Method Man

Halloween III is my favorite.

I love Season of the Witch as a movie on its own. The title is what gives it all of the criticism, since it's such a huge departure from the first 2.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

I tend to think that there is something that is polarizing about the "black sheep" of a film series. Often, it gets that reputation because it doesn't follow the "formula" of more successful predecessors, etc.

Yet that same characteristic can also make the film a "diamond in the rough" to some viewers.

Are there any film series of which the generally accepted "worse" one is actually your favorite?

I actually like Batman Forever the most of the original four, with Burton's first entry in second place. Tommy Lee Jones relished playing Two-Face, and I still think he's probably the most "disturbingly gleeful" version of the character so far. Jim Carrey expanded on Frank Gorshin's portrayal of the Riddler, and I actually liked Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne; he sold the "emotionally haunted" aspects very well. Chris O'Donnell made for a very good Robin, given them aging the character up to reduce the "creep factor" of a grown man having a young boy for a sidekick. Marvel would later do the same thing with Bucky Barnes, for the Captain America films. I really think Schumacher's first effort gets an unfair reputation, just because it was followed by the ultra-cheesy, 100% toyetic Batman & Robin.

Another example for me is probably Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, which I actually enjoy more than Secret of the Ooze. Lots of fans can't stand it, but I actually found the "feudal Japan" story interesting...especially the notion of Casey Jones having an (implied) ancestor from that time period. I also liked Mikey having a crush on Mitsu, and thought Stuart Wilson's greedy villain made up for the ridiculousness of "Super-Shredder" from the second entry. The original 1990 film is still the best, but the third is close to it in my opinion, followed by the 2007 CGI film and finally the second movie.

[surfdude12]

Planet of Apes (2001)

[zorbonaut]

Vegas Vacation

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome is my favorite in the series. I just dig the lighter, adventure film-type feel it has, and the theme song is wonderful. The ending is also one of my all-time favorite movie endings.

That used to be the case with me, though now Fury Road is my favorite (that's actually a series where I feel each film was better than the last, and all the sequels have a lot going for them but I find the first film to be a total bore).

I can't think of any long running franchise where the generally assumed worst film is my favorite, but if two films count, I imagine it is pretty rare to prefer Kick-Ass 2 over the first as I do

[FilmKoala]

Godzilla vs. Megalon is easily my favorite in the series. It's terrible but at the same time it's amazing.

[Impossible]

Temple of Doom
Back to the Future 2
Grease 2
Jaws 2

[MattPerdue]

Ocean's 12 maybe.

[SPilgrim]

Austin Powers in Goldmember
Amazing Spider-Man 2
Men In Black II
Monsters University
Ocean's Twelve (it's not my favorite but it's still good)

[L-Rouge]

Star Trek The Motion Picture is considered amongst the worst entries in the franchise, however it is a firm favourite of mine.

[aiman04]

While I usually like the so-called worst entries more than others, they never really my favorite of the franchise. I'll update if I remember any.

[toddly6666]

In the old days:
Temple of Doom
Return of the Jedi
Star Trek 4
Never Say Never Again
A View to a Kill
Octopussy
Moonraker

But those are now generally accepted as being decent.

I guess now Jaws 3 and the Highlander sequels since I was bored by the first films.

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by L-Rouge

Star Trek The Motion Picture is considered amongst the worst entries in the franchise, however it is a firm favourite of mine.

I thought The Final Frontier was.