You might have expected Hollywood to be clamoring for a follow-up to Westworld, the 1973 theme park sci-fi that grossed more than eight times its budget while practically reinventing the techno-thriller. Yet with original studio MGM, original director Michael Crichton, and all but one of the original cast deciding to pass, Futureworld hit cinemas 50 years ago this month with an air less Disneyland and more Willy’s Chocolate Experience.
The unloved sequel was subsequently panned not only by critics, many of whom referenced its leading lady’s unfortunate line, “This is about as exciting as a visit to the water works,” in their scathing reviews, but also by its own producer: Paul Lazarus III stated it “wasn't a very good picture.” Unsurprisingly, it grossed half of its predecessor.
