If the sequel wasn't as successful as original, filmmakers shouldn't make the third, because of very high risk of flopping.

For examples:

Conjuring 2 wasn't as successful as original, James Wan should stop this franchise

TMNT live-action franchise should stop after Out of Shadow didn't perform as well as original

Same with Alice in Wonderland live-action franchise and Now You See Me franchise

The Conjuring 2 has already grossed almost 5 times its budget after less than 2 weeks and its getting good reviews, why wouldn't they make a sequel?

Conjuring 3 is coming

You say The Conjuring 2 is what?

Anyway, The Nun and The Conjuring 3 is coming

read ha.

if a sequel legitimately loses money the franchise should sleep for awhile, but not if it's raking it in.

Mte

Why do they keep making Divergent movies?

The Conjuring 2 is a huge hit, critically and commercially. They're making a direct sequel and spinoffs.

The Conjuring 2 is a success, though.

It will outsold the first one in the foreign box office, bookmark me. It's a success.

The first two movies did very well, not necessarily smashes but the first made nearly three times its budget while the second missed that mark but still outgrossed the original film. The third book was split into two films. The first one was released earlier this year and flopped, but still made more than its budget so they're finishing the series albeit with a budget cut for the final movie.