After 35 Years, This Epic Movie’s Disastrous Sequel Still Has One Saving Grace

Source: Warner Bros.

Few cinematic conclusions capture the essence of pure, unadulterated wonder as effectively as the 1984 fantasy classic The NeverEnding Story.

After a journey spent vicariously living through the exploits of the young warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) and the ethereal denizens of Fantasia, young Bastian (Barret Oliver) finds himself literally woven into the narrative. The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) reveals a profound truth: though the malevolent “Nothing” has laid waste to her realm, Bastian possesses the divine spark of imagination required to rebuild it. Given the power of infinite wishes, he asks how many he is granted, only to be told, “As many as you want.”

The film culminates in a breathtaking sequence featuring Bastian astride Falkor the Luck Dragon (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer), soaring through a rejuvenated world before crossing into reality to settle the score with his neighborhood bullies. It is a moment of total emotional catharsis.

While it is only natural to want to linger in that feeling of triumph, I must offer a stern warning: do not attempt to sustain that joy by watching the 1991 follow-up, The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. This sequel is a hollow, uninspired endeavor that manages to evoke the same sense of emptiness as the “Nothing” it once sought to defeat.

Source: Warner Bros/Everett Collection

To understand the depth of this disappointment, consider that the production saw a near-total overhaul of its cast. Only Thomas Hill returns as the prickly bookseller, Carl Conrad Coreander. The late Jonathan Brandis stepped into the role of Bastian; while he was a talented performer, the character never quite feels like the same boy we left behind. The same disconnect plagues the new actors portraying Atreyu and the Childlike Empress.

Even the mythical creatures feel “off.” Falkor returns with a jarringly deep voice and unsettling crimson eyes that replace his original, soulful gaze. Meanwhile, the Rockbiter is saddled with a child—a creative choice that veers more toward the uncanny than the charming.

The film even attempts to introduce a contemporary musical theme that feels entirely out of place in the whimsical world of Fantasia.

However, the script is the primary culprit. In this iteration, Bastian is transported to Fantasia almost immediately, only to fall victim to a curse: for every wish he makes, he forfeits a memory. By the climax, he is on the verge of losing the memory of his late mother. It’s a narrative pivot that transforms the most magical element of the original film—the power of wishing—into a source of dread.

If that isn’t enough to dissuade you, perhaps the most interesting thing about the film’s legacy is the one genuine highlight that occurred in its orbit.

When The Next Chapter arrived in theaters 35 years ago in 1991, it served as the vehicle for a historic Warner Bros. revival. It premiered alongside Box-Office Bunny, the first new Bugs Bunny short to hit the big screen since 1964.

The theatrical cartoon short was once a staple of the cinema experience, a tradition dating back to the 1930s. However, by the mid-60s, rising costs and the growth of television animation largely killed off these seven-minute gems. While the Looney Tunes survived in reruns and TV specials, fresh theatrical content had effectively vanished for decades.

In 1990, during the massive “Bugs Bunny’s 50th Birthday” celebration, the studio greenlit Box-Office Bunny. Although it technically debuted in early 1991—slipping just past the official anniversary year—it was a monumental occasion for fans of the “wascally wabbit.”