$378M Best Picture-Winning Movie Gets Unexpected Sequel Update 16 Years Later (2024)

A movie that made over $378 million at the box office and won the Academy Award for Best Picture has received an unexpected sequel update 16 years after its release. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1929, the Oscar for Best Picture has been awarded annually and is regarded as the event's most prestigious honor, traditionally the last trophy presented during the night. Over the years, some big box office successes have won the award, with Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Oppenheimer among the highest-grossing Best Picture winners.

Of the many movies to win Best Picture over the years, even big box office successes, very few have received sequels, often due to their standalone narratives, artistic integrity, among other reasons. One of the first Best Picture winners to receive a sequel was The Godfather which, the highest-grossing film at the time of its release, was followed by two sequels, The Godfather Part II, which also won Best Picture, and The Godfather Part III. Another example from the 1970s was Rocky, which received five sequels. Gladiator is the most recent example, with Gladiator II releasing on November 22.

Slumdog Millionaire Gets Unexpected Sequel Update 16 Years Later

The Best Picture Winner Made Over $378 Million At The Box Office

Slumdog Millionaire, the Best Picture-winning movie that made $378.4 million at the box office, receives an unexpected sequel update 16 years later. Co-directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, with a script written by Simon Beaufoy loosely based on a 2005 novel by Vikas Swarup, the 2008 film follows a teenager from the slums of Mumbai, Jamal Malik, who competes on the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and, interrogated under suspicion of cheating, recounts his life story and reveals how he was able to answer each question correctly. Dev Patel starred in his film debut.

Now, 16 years after its release, the Best Picture winner has received an unexpected sequel update. According to Deadline, the film sequel and TV rights to Slumdog Millionaire have been acquired by the newly launched production banner Bridge7. The rights were acquired from Celador Films, who produced and financed the original film, though they will still work with Bridge7 on the planned sequel. The new banner is run by Swati Shetty and Grant Kessmanm who shared the following statement:

Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, and Slumdog Millionaire is undoubtedly one of them. Its narrative is universal, cutting across cultural and geographical lines and it embodies the kind of stories we love — ones that bridge entertainment with profound human experiences.

What This Means For A Slumdog Millionaire Sequel

It's A Serious Possibility

This news is somewhat surprising since, in the 16 years since Slumdog Millionaire became a big box office hit and won Best Picture, there has been virtually no talk of a sequel. While this doesn't mean it's officially happening, Bridge7 acquiring the rights and planning to work with Celador is a sign that they are serious about making a sequel to Slumdog Millionaire, whether it's a film or television show. It's currently unclear if Dev Patel or any other original cast members will return for the potential sequel, though it is expected to tell "the next chapter of Jamal's journey."

Source: Deadline

See Also

Oscars: Complete Winners List

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Slumdog Millionaire

pg-13

Drama

Romance

Slumdog Millionaire is an Oscar-winning movie directed by Danny Boyle. It tells the story of a young man, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), who gets out of Mumbai's slums to compete on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". As he progresses through the game, flashbacks reveal how his life experiences have given him the answers to the questions.

Where to Watch

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Director

Danny Boyle

Release Date

March 5, 2009

Studio(s)

Pathé

Distributor(s)

Pathé

Writers

Danny Boyle

Cast

Dev Patel

Runtime

120minutes

Budget

$15 million