Entertainment
It’s Wild We Never Got a Sequel to This Great Jason Bateman Comedy That’s Leaving Netflix Soon
As Game Night prepares to leave Netflix on December 1, the same question that’s hung over the film for years resurfaces: how did a comedy this sharp, popular, and clearly built for more never get a sequel? Hollywood has greenlit far more unnecessary sequels, yet this one, a legitimate hit with a premise designed for escalation, has sat untouched since 2018. It feels like a blind spot in a market that rarely leaves IP on the table. Rewatching the film only makes the absence more perplexing. Game Night remains tightly constructed and consistently funny, anchored by a cast that understands exactly how to navigate the absurdity. With its strong box office performance and built-in flexibility, it should have spawned at least one follow-up. The fact that it didn’t is almost as surprising as the twists in the movie itself.
‘Game Night’ Has A Premise Built for Escalation
One of the reasons Game Night works so well is the way it blurs the lines between what’s staged and what’s real. The movie toys with perception from its opening scenes, leaning into misdirection without making the audience work to keep up. Writers and directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein use everything from clever establishing shots to carefully timed reveals to build a tone that’s playful but controlled; it’s staged like a thriller, but plays as comedy, with a timeframe that keeps the story tight. It’s the same balance of fun and legitimate thrills that they later brought to Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Its premise, building off a game night among friends, makes it ripe for continuation. The first film flirted with reality-bending chaos, starting with Kyle Chandler’s character inviting his friends into a role-playing game that escalates out of control. It’s David Fincher’s The Game combined with the shenanigans-in-suburbia plot of the Steve Carell/Tina Fey comedy Date Night. A second movie could push that concept further, letting the ensemble question whether they’re in another curated experience or genuine danger. Because the original already stretched its premise in clever ways, there’s room to go bigger without losing what made it work, and the film’s finale ended on a site gag that hinted more adventures might be in store.
The cast is more than capable of supporting that escalation. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams anchor the film with easy chemistry, grounding the surrounding absurdity. Since the film’s release, Bateman has further honed his dramatic chops in shows like Ozark and Black Rabbit, and McAdams’ role in Sam Raimi’s upcoming Send Help looks to combine thriller and humor in a way that suggests the same mix of humor and thrillers that were present in Game Night. Chandler is always welcome to play it straight or ham it up, and a sequel could either bring back the film’s supporting ensemble for another adventure or change up the tone by bringing in new comedians or dramatic actors. That mix is the engine of the film, and a sequel would only need to preserve that rhythm.
A ‘Game Night’ Sequel Could Give Jesse Plemons More to Do
For all the film’s strengths, one element stands above the rest: Jesse Plemons as Gary, the unnervingly earnest neighbor whose presence turns every interaction into slow-burn comedy. Plemons plays him completely straight, which makes each line funnier. Gary is sad, intense, and deeply lonely, the wild card that keeps the story unpredictable. Plemons is no stranger to awkwardness and ridiculous behavior, and expanding his crowd-favorite role in a sequel would be welcome.
The original uses him sparingly, but Plemons steals every scene he’s in. He loves his dog, misses his wife, and has uncomfortable driveway conversations about Frito-Lay’s profits. The character works because Plemons plays him deadpan and serious, which make his eccentricities stand out even more. Any sequel would need significantly more Gary and not just as an occasional surprise. He deserves a subplot that capitalizes on how strange, sincere, and oddly endearing he is, and needs to further ride the line of whether he’s a help or treat.
There’s also genuine potential in expanding his emotional role. Gary’s awkward sweetness hints at a richer dynamic beneath the jokes, and Plemons continues to be a strong and versatile actor. Incorporating him more directly into the central mystery and allowing him to develop a meaningful relationship with the group would give a sequel added depth. Plemons brought something distinctive to Game Night, and letting him take a larger swing could elevate a follow-up.
A Second Round of ‘Game Night’ is Long Overdue
The biggest obstacle for comedy sequels is usually whether the premise can sustain another story. But Game Night is built for exactly that. Its world is flexible, not tied to a single escalation or one perfect surprise. Its tone can shift without breaking, and its characters have room to evolve. Game Night arrived at a moment when mid-budget studio comedies were fading, replaced by broader, safer projects or streaming-first releases. Hollywood has struggled to revitalize the theatrical comedy, but movies like the recent The Naked Gun reboot proved that interest is there; the success of Friendship also suggests that perhaps audiences are looking for something a bit darker, which could allow Daley and Goldstein to ante up the stakes. And not for nothing, but Tim Robinson’s brand of awkward and chaotic comedy might make a great fit for a second round of Game Night.
Revisiting Game Night makes the lack of a follow-up feel even stranger. It’s a playful movie that has fun with its form and the setup is ripe for more adventures. Granted, Daley and Goldstein have a pretty full dance card, as they were recently announced to be taking over the next iteration of Star Trek movies; but Game Night’s premise allows for a movie that could be quick and low-budget, and it’s one that might even benefit from bringing in a new directorial voice to shake up the tone and take it to new places. The film was a hit, its cast is still in demand, and it ended with a set-up for more. It’s wild that no one’s asked for a second round.
Game Night is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
- Release Date
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February 15, 2018
- Runtime
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100 minutes
