"A Cinderella Story" holds a place as an important series, and the film featuring Hilary Duff is often considered a highlight. While her performance with Chad Michael Murray offered a contemporary take on the traditional Cinderella story, later movies in the series haven’t matched that level of quality. The franchise appears to be having difficulty recreating what made the initial movie so appealing, instead relying on extra storylines and changes from the central Cinderella plot. Efforts to emulate the success of the versions produced by Walt Disney and Rodgers and Hammerstein haven't worked out well, which has created a feeling of weariness and lack of importance for the franchise. Even with Selena Gomez in "Another Cinderella Story," that film didn’t achieve the same popularity as Hilary Duff’s movie. Likewise, Lucy Hale’s “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” received criticism for its poor handling and how it strayed from what makes the Cinderella story special. Sofia Carson's "A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits" tried to include dance scenes similar to those in "Grease," but didn’t succeed, representing a particularly low point for the series. Laura Marano’s “A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish” was considered the least successful installment and confirmed the decline in quality. With more movies planned, the negative reaction to recent releases has lessened excitement about future installments. It might be hard for audiences to get invested in what comes next because of how the franchise has been developing.

Source on TMDB