The Highlander movie franchise is one of the strangest in existence, with all four sequels essentially existing in their own continuities. The trouble is that the ending of the original film wrapped up the story, so The Quickening's solution was to brutally retcon the saga's backstory. It revealed the immortals are actually aliens exiled from the planet Zeist and that Sean Connery's Ramírez could be resurrected by simply calling his name aloud.

Highlander 2 is a murky, boring and borderline incoherent mess, and outside some impressive production design and hammy work by Connery and main villain Michael Ironside, it's a chore of an experience. Highlander 2 sits at a well-earned 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and bombed, grossing over $14 million on an estimated $34 million production budget. In defense of the filmmakers, a lot went wrong during The Quickening's production - but the truth is, the sequel was always a misguided effort.

10 Things Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot Needs To Get Right After Multiple Movie Failures

Henry Cavill's long-awaited Highlander reboot is finally moving forwards but it needs to take some steps to avoid the franchise's past mistakes.

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What Went Wrong With Highlander 2: The Quickening

To paraphrase a Highlander: "Maybe there should only have been one!"

A promo image of Highlander featuring Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert standing back to back

The first Highlander has a fantastic high-concept idea that loans itself to sequels, but it was produced before franchises were really a thing. The film ends with Christopher Lambert's Connor MacLeod as the last surviving immortal, having won "The Prize." Even so, the shock success of Highlander led the creative team (including Lambert and director Russell Mulcahy) to reunite for The Quickening. As recounted in the 2004 making of Highlander 2: Seduced by Argentina, nobody was particularly happy with the story as written, with Clancy Brown refusing to reprise his role as The Kurgan upon reading the script.

... Highlander 2's completion bond company seized control, freezing out director Mulcahy and haphazardly assembling the theatrical version.

The production also made what proved to be a fatal mistake by filming in Argentina. On paper, this looked like a great idea since they could mount an epic sci-fi tale for a relatively modest cost. That's until Argentina's economy collapsed during the filming of Highlander 2, leading to hyperinflation and everything suddenly becoming incredibly expensive. As a result, Highlander 2's completion bond company seized control of the production, freezing out director Mulcahy and haphazardly assembling the theatrical version. Mulcahy was said to be so disgusted by their edit, he walked out of the premiere after enduring 15 minutes.

In the years since, Lambert and co-star Michael Ironside have been openly disdainful of the final product too. Mulcahy and the producers later reworked the sequel on two occasions with The Renegade Version and The Special Edition, which deleted references to the immortals being aliens while adding in new footage and improved effects. Neither of the reworked edits makes Highlander 2 a good movie, but they're definitely superior to the disastrous initial version.

Highlander: The Series Was A Far Superior Sequel To The Original Movie

Highlander is a natural fit for episodic storytelling

Adrian Paul holding a sword in Highlander: The Series

The Quickening was utterly lambasted upon release - even by fans of the first film. Thankfully, 1992 saw the debut of Highlander: The Series, following Connor's clansman Duncan (Adrian Paul). Highlander's pilot "The Gathering" also featured a Lambert guest appearance, confirming the links between the show and the series. While the spinoff wasn't flawless, having to work around a television budget and softening the harder edges of the franchise (AKA no onscreen decapitations), it became a beloved show in itself.

The Highlander Movie Franchise	Rotten Tomatoes Score	Box Office Gross
Highlander (1986)	69%	$12.9 million
Highlander 2: The Quickening (1991)	0%	$14.2 million
Highlander 3: The Sorcerer (1994)	5%	$13.8 million
Highlander: Endgame (2000)	11%	$12.8 million
Highlander: The Source (2007)	N/A	N/A

Highlander: The Series opened up the lore too, introducing elements like The Watchers - humans who keep an eye on the immortals - and the world's oldest immortal, Methos (Peter Wingfield). Being a series, the spinoff had the time to explore what it means to be an immortal, including flashbacks to Duncan's past misadventures. Granted, Paul wasn't as charismatic a leading man as Lambert, but Duncan was an easy protagonist to route for.

Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul eventually reunited for 2000's Highlander: Endgame.

Why Highlander: The Series Has Aged Surprisingly Well

Henry Cavill's Highlander reboot should take notes

The Series ended in 1998, though Paul went on to front the movie sequels Highlander: Endgame and The Source. The Henry Cavill-fronted Highlander reboot also keeps threatening to happen - but has yet to go before cameras. For fans of the movies who missed out the first time, Highlander: The Series is still worth seeking out. There is some 1990s cheesiness and questionable acting to sit through, but it's still an entertaining and creative ride.

... The Series might prove the Highlander concept is just better suited for television.

If anything, The Series might prove the Highlander concept is better suited to television. There are simply too many storytelling possibilities to squeeze into a single movie, and the extra runway can be used to flesh out characters and the mythology. The franchise has come a long way since the misfire of Highlander 2: The Quickening, and if there is one franchise that deserves a glorious redemption, it's this one.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, The Numbers