what
WHAT
HOW DID THEY THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
Because despite horrendous reviews it made a stuffload of money.
It cost $150 million, and made back $131 million in the US, which would normally mean a film wouldn't have a sequel.
But it then made a further $319 million outside of the US, so it made a profit of $300 million.
They don't give a stuff if it does awfully, so long as it makes a similar amount of money.
And if places like China or India enjoy it then it's going to be successful even if it's despised in America.