Alien3

There was once a time when sequels were rare. Original films were what studios invested in and developed. Today, franchises are commonplace. Sequels are what commonly generate the most profit for major studios. It used to be that actors signed multi-picture contracts to star in different films for one studio. Now actors sign multi-picture deals to play one character for one studio. Franchises have the advantage of building a fan base. This gives new films in the franchise instant interest. A useful tool.
The Alien saga is one that has spanned nearly three decades, featuring four main films and a spin off franchise. It made a star out of Sigourney Weaver. It features elements of action, thriller, horror and drama genres. Basically it's as bankable a franchise as there is. Alien3 is considered by many to be where the franchise went sour. Since that film, each entry in the franchise has been mediocre at best. However, this is where I disagree. I find Alien3 to be a vastly underrated film. The theatrical release of the film is the one most people have seen. It is also the version that is what people say it is. The original cut is actually quite intriguing. It does away with the 'alien-vision' of the theatrical cut. It's longer as well, with some additional scenes and some of the theatrical scenes redone. The result is a much greater study of character and human behavior. We get a much better sense of the people involved and understand why they act the way they do. For example, Charles S. Dutton is a much more powerful character. His convictions play out more strongly which is punctuated by his characters fate at the conclusion of the film. As well, how the scenes play out with Ripley discovering she is carrying the Queen is much more profound. Her inner turmoil is more defined.
Franchises are becoming the lifeblood of the profit-driven film industry. Studios, for good reason, care more about making money than original work. That's ok. The problem is that the films play into profit-driven conventions. They are often cliche and thrill driven. This is where they fail. Most films would be met with greater critical and public approval if they are just as often left alone.