Legacy sequels are hot right now. We’ve seen the Scream, Halloween, and Ghostbusters franchises come back to life after an extended dormant period. In each case, the films introduce a fresh new cast while also featuring returning characters from prior installments. It’s a best of both worlds approach that often appeals to newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Although legacy sequels have the potential to appeal to a wide audience, they don’t always succeed in that conceit. Some prove downright divisive. Fans were largely underwhelmed by The Exorcist: Believer. And the less said about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the better.
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s I Know What You Did Last Summer is an even more recent example of a legacy sequel that proved especially divisive. Some detractors called out the writing as subpar, with others lamenting the lack of scares. On the other hand, some fans and critics connected with the nostalgia factor and the charismatic ensemble cast. You can see just how mixed the reactions have been via the social media hot takes below.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) is the only movie that ever made me walk out of the theater before it was done https://t.co/QunEo4wXGm
— Avon Barksdale Jr (@PlayBoi_Ash) October 9, 2025
This is the setup for this divisive legacy sequel:
When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. One year later, the past comes back to haunt them as they learn someone knows what they did last summer. Stalked by a mysterious killer, they soon seek help from two survivors of the Southport massacre of 1997.
Our Josh Korngut was actually among the film’s biggest champions. He scored the picture 4/5 stars in his critique. In an excerpt from his playful review, Korngut sums the film up as, “…the perfect Brat Summer massacre, a red Solo cup brimming with sun‑soaked dread and a killer with an appreciation for theatrics.”
Korngut also connected with Jennifer Love Hewitt’s return as final girl Julie James, calling this, “her best Summer performance yet.” He also had the occasion to speak with Hewitt for our Digital Cover Story in July, touching on the character’s lasting legacy and enduring appeal.
During the exchange, Hewitt relayed to Korngut that she regards this latest incarnation of the character fondly, telling him, “What I love about her in this new movie is she’s still very much just a real woman who has carried all this with her… I love that she’s real and authentic in a world that still has all of the fun elements that horror movies can have.”
It’s nice to see that Hewitt holds the character in such high regard. She’s a noteworthy horror heroine, and her presence in this latest series installment is likely to prove a welcome sight, even for those who don’t connect with every aspect of the picture.
Given how all over the place the reactions have been on this one, it’s probably advisable to check it out for yourself so you can draw your own conclusions. The film just landed on Netflix. So, check it out. “What are you waiting for?”
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