Bad Moms features some of your favorite funny ladies as modern-day mothers who decide to do less PTA-ing and more partying. The movie, in theaters July 29, comes from the writers of The Hangover and has an all-star cast including Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, and Jada Pinkett Smith, among others. It's a perfect summer comedy, and already, many are hoping that Bad Moms will have a sequel. The movie certainly warrants one, but that's not to say it's guaranteed; after all, it can't be easy to coordinate the schedules of that many big stars.
It's not yet known if there will be a Bad Moms 2, but it's worth noting that it was an uphill battle just to get the first movie made. Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow were originally connected to the project but reportedly had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, according to Deadline. Additionally, Bad Moms was originally slated to be released by Paramount on April 15, 2016, but the distribution rights were then sold to STX Entertainment and the release date was pushed back. However, stars continued to sign onto the project, and now, it's hitting theaters and making waves. So, maybe a Bad Moms sequel, if it were to come out, would be unstoppable, too. Here are some factors that could play into whether or not the comedy will get a followup movie.
The Film's Performance At The Box Office
First and foremost, the biggest determinant of whether or not there will be a sequel is the amount of revenue that Bad Moms generates in ticket sales. It is worth noting that Bad Moms will be competing with a few somewhat similar movies; in particular, the all-female Ghostbusters and the raunchy comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates with Aubrey Plaza and Anna Kendrick.
The Critical Reception
Female-fueled comedies are huge right now (can I get an amen?!), so Bad Moms could prove popular with critics and audiences alike. The reception might depend upon reviewers' feelings about the performances of the ensemble and the film's execution of its zany plot (which includes many NSFW moments), but I have faith that the movie will be well-received.
The Availability Of The Stars
A downside to having so many big names in one film is the potential difficulty of trying to wrangle everyone together again should the opportunity arise for a sequel. Of course, new actors could always be added, so whatever happens with the original group, that shouldn't be too much of a deterrent.
The Willingness Of The Writers To Return
It's always nice to have the same writers on-board for a movie and its sequel, but Bad Moms screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore didn't return for any of the sequels to their famous comedy The Hangover, so it's not certain if they'd come back for Bad Moms 2. That being said, the success of the The Hangover series is itself evidence of the fact that sequels can be made without a film's original writers and do just fine.
There are many things to consider in trying to calculate the likelihood of a Bad Moms sequel, but it really is just too soon to tell. However, even if a sequel doesn't come to fruition, Bad Moms is sure to be a wild ride.
Images: STX Entertainment (2)
