Honestly, it’s not any different from Tron Legacy, The Wrath of Khan, Firefly, Fury Road, or even The Force Awakens. Anyone so inclined could go into any of these films cold and understand exactly what is happening. It just wouldn’t have the same meaning or weight as it would for someone who saw the previous material, much less a fan who was intimately familiar with each of the franchises.
And I don’t think the problem is that Reddit has so much influence on people and that Blade Runner fans are making it out that seeing specifically the Final Cut is absolutely de rigueur to appreciate BR2049. That’s just natural behavior in relation to a film with a cult following. Of course we want everyone else to join the cult.
The real issue is marketing and promotion. They brought out Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling because they have the biggest star power. But once you get Ford out there, everyone needs to talk about how BR2049 is a sequel to a film that almost no one saw in the theater during its initial run, and informed people need to ask about a relatively obscure plot point, etc. And it’s just a tough spot to be in. While they absolutely need Ford our there, it’s actually kind of unfortunate that we know he’s in the film in advance, because he’s not even close to being the protagonist. One of the advantages of marketing Fury Road, in contrast, is that they didn’t have to rely on actors in the previous movies to promote it.
Anyway, I’m just glad BR2049 exists and that I was able to see it on the big twice already, just as much as I was grateful for the Blade Runner Director’s Cut and then the Final Cut. All of this is way more than I had imagined would happen, based on the performance of the original. Whether or not BR2049 does well in the initial run, it’s still a great film on its own merits and a fantastic sequel to a classic SF film, and it boosts Villeneuve’s credibility and recognition for the future. I’m hoping for some Oscar hype and maybe even a brief theatrical re-release. But I’ll be satisfied with the Blu Ray and the inevitable special showings of the original and the sequel back-to-back.