Jim Carrey’s ‘The Mask’ Almost Got a Sequel—But These 2 Follow-Ups Tell a Different Story

When Jim Carrey starred in The Mask in 1994, it wasn’t just another movie—it was a defining moment in his career, solidifying his unique blend of physical comedy and zany antics. Along with his roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber, The Mask catapulted Carrey to superstardom and remains a classic of 1990s cinema. But despite its massive success and lasting cultural impact, The Mask did not receive an official sequel featuring Carrey—at least not in the way fans might have hoped. Instead, the franchise was expanded through two very different projects: an animated series and the much-maligned Son of the Mask.

The Mask: Animated Series – A Surprisingly Great Follow-Up

In 1995, just a year after The Mask’s release, the movie was adapted into a children’s animated series. The Mask: Animated Series ran for three seasons, airing a total of 54 episodes, and became a notable success despite its unusual origins. The show followed Stanley Ipkiss (the character portrayed by Carrey in the movie) as he continued his adventures with the iconic, chaotic mask that granted him superpowers, but at the cost of his sanity. In a clever twist, Stanley even becomes a personal assistant to the President of the United States at one point, showcasing the zany and imaginative nature of the series.

What makes the animated series stand out is how it captured the comedic spirit of the original The Mask while softening the more violent and dark elements from the comic book’s origins. Despite the transition from a dark, violent comic to a kid-friendly TV series, the show managed to retain the bizarre humor and exaggerated antics that made Carrey’s portrayal so memorable. In fact, the series became so beloved that it even earned its own comic book spin-off. From 1995 to 1997, The Mask: Animated Series managed to carve out its own space in popular culture and is considered a surprisingly solid follow-up to the 1994 movie.

Son of the Mask – A Sequel No One Wanted

In stark contrast to the animated series, 2005’s Son of the Mask is a notorious example of a sequel gone wrong. Starring Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, the film introduces a new character whose child is born with the powers of the mask. Despite a much higher budget—estimated between $84 to $100 million—the movie failed to connect with audiences and was widely panned by critics. With Carrey’s absence and the lack of the original’s charm, Son of the Mask felt like an empty, uninspired attempt to capitalize on the first film’s success.

The movie not only flopped at the box office but was also savaged in reviews. It became the subject of ridicule, earning multiple nominations at the 2005 Golden Raspberry Awards (aka the “Razzies”), including a record seven wins. Son of the Mask is often cited as one of the worst sequels ever made, largely due to its poor writing, lackluster performances, and failure to capture the quirky, high-energy magic that made the original Mask so much fun.

Why Son of the Mask Failed

Part of what made Son of the Mask such a disaster was its attempt to build on the franchise without the magic of Jim Carrey. While Carrey’s wild, over-the-top performance in The Mask was a major draw, the sequel failed to recapture that same energy. The decision to focus on a new character, without the central, beloved figure of Stanley Ipkiss, left the movie feeling disjointed and uninspired. Critics and audiences alike lamented that the film would have been far better if Carrey had returned to reprise his role. With a much higher budget and advancements in special effects, one might have expected a better result, but instead, the movie bombed both critically and commercially.

Conclusion: The Mask’s Legacy Lives On—But Not Through Son of the Mask

While The Mask remains a beloved 90s classic thanks to Jim Carrey’s unforgettable performance and its outrageous comedy, the two sequels the franchise produced were vastly different in quality. The animated series is a surprisingly strong follow-up, managing to preserve the spirit of the original film while catering to a younger audience. On the other hand, Son of the Mask is a cautionary tale of how a franchise can go off the rails when it lacks the heart, humor, and star power of the original.

For fans of the first Mask movie, the animated series offers a fun extension of the universe, while Son of the Mask serves as a grim reminder that not all sequels are created equal. In the end, it’s clear that the magic of The Mask was a one-time wonder—at least until the day Jim Carrey decides to put the mask back on.