Why a sequel to the 1987 Dirty Dancing movie shouldn’t happen

Jennifer Grey is returning for a Dirty Dancing sequel whether we want it or not

When Dirty Dancing premiered in 1987, it set the bar for movies of that era. Making over $214 million against a paltry $5 million budget, the film left behind a legacy, and fans continue to watch it 33 years later.

In 2004, Artisan Entertainment attempted to catch lightning in a bottle by releasing Dirty Dancing; Havana Nights. It bombed. Badly.

Basically, a re-imagining of the original move only set in Cuba, the film gross $27.7 million against a $25 million budget and was panned by movie critics with most agreeing that it just didn’t have what Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze had.

Then in 2017, along comes Dirty Dancing, the made-for-TV movie which was essentially a remake. It, too, took a beating from the critics, and the ratings weren’t what ABC had hoped for.  TV Line’s review summed up the problem with the movie succinctly.

"By adding unnecessary elements and turning Dirty Dancing into a musical, ABC proves that it wouldn’t know what made the original film special if it hit them in the pachanga."

Dirty Dancing’s success can’t be duplicated

It was special because, at its core, it was a forbidden love story between Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze), who had exceptional chemistry. A guy from the wrong side of the tracks falls in love with a 17-year-old with college aspirations and dreams of changing the world. That’s the kind of stuff that makes millions.

Now, according to Deadline, Jennifer Grey is starring in and executive-producing a Dirty Dancing sequel, and Dirty Dancing fans everywhere aren’t thrilled. Because even though the movie will include the original Baby, it can’t include the original Johnny as Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009. Finding someone who can emulate his character and share the same chemistry with Grey will be virtually impossible.

So what does that leave? A now mature Baby returning to Kellermans to seek out a new Johnny?  Grey can still carry the role with her amazing dance skills as evidenced by her Season 11 win of Dancing with the Stars with partner Derek Hough. But even though the title is Dirty Dancing, the movie is about so much more than the dancing. And it’s been told. Johnny and Baby’s story doesn’t need to be revisited.

What do you think about another Dirty Dancing movie? Share your thoughts in the comments below.