Meet the Blacks and Meet the Blacks 2 (also known as The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2) are comedy horror films that parody the Purge franchise.
They star comedian Mike Epps as Carl Black, who relocates his family to Beverly Hills in the first film and his childhood home in Atlanta in the second film, coinciding with the annual “Purge” event when all crime is legal for 12 hours.
The first Meet the Blacks film was released in 2016 on a modest $900,000 budget but managed to gross over $9 million at the box office, proving popular as a cult comedy hit. This financial success for an independently produced film led to a sequel being made.
1. Development of Meet the Blacks 2
Plans for a sequel were first announced in 2017, with Epps and comedian Katt Williams attached to star. Filming took place in Atlanta in late 2017 on a budget of $3.5 million. After some delays likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Meet the Blacks 2 finally hit theaters and on-demand platforms in June 2021.
The sequel had a more prominent horror element than the original and also parodied vampire films. Williams plays the Blacks’ mysterious and possibly vampire neighbor Dr. Mamuwalde. Despite negative reviews from critics, Meet the Blacks 2 topped the specialty box office on its opening weekend and has so far grossed almost $3 million globally.
2. Will There be a Third Film?
As of early 2024, there has been no official announcement regarding a Meet the Blacks 3. However, given the financial success of the first two low-budget films, a third installment is a strong possibility.
Director Deon Taylor has expressed interest in continuing the franchise, saying in 2021: “I want to keep building it – that’s what people want.” And star Mike Epps has indicated he would be on board for another sequel, telling media at the premiere of Meet the Blacks 2 that he’s “ready for Meet the Blacks 3!”
3. Potential plot of Meet the Blacks 3
While details are purely speculative at this point, Meet the Blacks 3 would likely catch up with the Black family a year or two after the events of the second film. Perhaps they could relocate to yet another city coinciding with a new annual horror-themed event that is prime for parody.
More of Carl’s past could come back to haunt him again, putting his family in comic peril. And fan-favorite characters like Cronut (Lil Duval), Allie (Bresha Webb), and Lorena (Zulay Henao) would hopefully return for more misadventures with the Blacks. The first two films have some fun cameos, so a new slate of guest stars and celebrity appearances would also be expected for a second sequel.
Adding a fresh setting and new direction for the premise would keep things feeling fresh rather than just rehashing the first two movies’ plot lines.
4. When could Meet the Blacks 3 be released?
Assuming Meet the Blacks 3 enters active development soon after the second film, it’s possible another sequel could aim for a 2025 or 2026 release date. However, that may be an optimistic projection.
It depends on when creator Deon Taylor can write a script, secure financing, and coordinate schedules with the cast. Independent productions don’t always adhere to rapid Hollywood timelines, so it could take longer than expected as well.
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But the franchise clearly has an audience, so the motivation is there to make a third film if the pieces fall into place. So while Meet the Blacks 3 has not yet been confirmed, don’t rule out a return from the Black family down the line. Given the success of the micro-budget series so far, it seems likely fans will get to see Carl, Allie, Cronut and co. back on the big screen again soon for more comedic chaos.
