Anytime a sequel is created for a blockbuster movie, the focus shifts to whether or not it holds up to the original. It often takes work to top what has already been done, especially if the original was successful. But there are plenty of examples of sequels that ended up not just matching the level of quality but becoming even better than the original.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Captain America trilogy is one of the strongest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but The Winter Soldier is the best. The Russo brothers did a terrific job of taking the characters and connections from the original and enhancing things, particularly with the complex relationship between Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers. This is a unique Marvel movie because it feels like a spy thriller for most of it, with secrets and hidden politics helping to keep audiences on the edge of their seat throughout. It keeps the movie grounded in reality while also stepping up the stakes.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings trilogy keeps the quality high throughout the movies, which is why the franchise is so beloved. But The Two Towers certainly steps things up regarding the level of excitement, sense of danger, and action. The content that Peter Jackson has to work with in this one lends itself to being more entertaining. But the details in the characters and their relationships truly make this so unique.
Batman: The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is often considered one of the greatest superhero movies ever, instantly giving it an edge over Batman Begins. Christian Bale brings another strong performance as Batman, but Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal of The Joker makes this movie so entertaining. Their chemistry makes for a fantastic dynamic with the darker, grittier edge that this movie provides, unique for the typically colorful comic book world.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
The original Star Wars was a colossal hit, but the sequel took things to a new level. Rather than being a soap opera in outer space, the movie was given a darker tone, focusing on the villains, adding even more mystery to the plot. It is the perfect sequel with great action and characters that can be fleshed out further.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Harry Potter franchise gets progressively darker as the movies go on, but it’s with Prisoner of Azkaban that the shift in tone truly begins to take place. With werewolves lurking and Sirius Black on the loose, it takes a dramatic turn from the fun and fantasy-like worlds built in the first two movies. It’s a much-needed change of pace and helps to make the long-term story even more dramatic due to the nature of the final twist.
Paddington 2
Following up on the original in this series would be tricky due to how well it was received both critically and commercially. But Paddington 2 managed to step things up even further, with Hugh Grant being a big reason. He brought his usual charming levels of performance but flipped the script from his usual roles to being the detestable villain, with this movie bringing tons of emotion that pulls at the heartstrings.
Toy Story 2
Topping Toy Story was always going to be tough, as it’s one of the greatest animated movies ever. However, Pixar managed the seemingly impossible by adding more characters like Jessie, Bullseye, and Barbie. Splitting up Woody and Buzz Lightyear for the bulk of the film creates two compelling storylines and gives more time for the secondary characters to shine, enhancing the adventure fans are taking on.
Superman II
Superman II provided everything people loved from the original while adding elements that helped make things even more robust. The romantic aspect of Lois Lane was leaned on much more, which helped to make the titular hero more relatable and strengthened the character.
Thor: Ragnarok
While the character of Thor has always been popular due to Chris Hemsworth’s fantastic portrayal, the first two movies were rather lackluster. Marvel opted for a complete shift in tone for Thor: Ragnarok, and bringing in Taika Waititi as the director proved to be the perfect choice. It created a hilarious movie that brought excitement, showcasing just how entertaining Thor could be when going outside the box.
High School Musical 2
Musicals rarely get the sequel treatment, but the High School Musical franchise proved to be so popular that it became a trilogy. The second in the series is the strongest, ironically when the characters are removed from the school environment. Focusing on summer placements, the change in location, and the shift to the characters attempting to become more mature while not losing their youthful charm, coupled with some great songs, makes for a fun movie.
Scream 2
Horror movies often get sequels if the original succeeds, but Scream 2 showcased how one can be even better. The film follows many similar tropes because Sidney Prescott is the main target, but considering the characters’ dynamics are stronger, there’s much more to enjoy. The violence is stepped up, the dialogue is stronger, and the twists keep people guessing, which creates a great movie.
Avatar: The Way of Water
The original Avatar broke box office records upon its release, but its sequel took things to another level regarding the story. While the visual effects benefited from technology’s advancements, the presented moral dilemmas proved to be more thought-provoking. Adding the family dynamic helped create a stronger emotional bond for the viewers, and expanding the world made the movie even better.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Hunger Games franchise truly found its confidence in the second movie, with more unique ideas thrown into it, which ended up paying off. Of course, the characters were more detailed, and the action was superb. But the mystery, the twists, and the continuation of the world-building made this a stronger movie.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Sometimes, sequels can benefit simply from having bigger budgets or knowing that certain aspects of a movie need to be made larger. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior benefited from that, as the scale of everything was enhanced here, which ensured that it felt grander than the original.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest stepped up the swashbuckling adventure from the original. Providing an even darker and more fearsome villain in Davy Jones, which features excellent CGI. The movie was grittier and slightly scarier, all while keeping the same charm and comedic tone when necessary.
Spider-Man 2
Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of Spider-Man was fun, but he was given the most to work with in Spider-Man 2. Due to the character’s connection, fighting against Doctor Octopus brings brilliant drama. At the same time, the tension between Peter Parker and Harry continues to increase, creating some fantastic plot points as secrets are revealed.
Aliens
The violence and threat level were taken to the extreme in Aliens, which instantly helped to make this movie stand out as the strongest in the franchise. There’s no slowing down with this one; it packs a punch from start to finish with tons of fantastic action sequences that grip audiences.
Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values takes the beloved characters from the original story and puts them into even funnier scenarios the second time around. Joan Cusack joining the cast brings a ton of personality and excitement, which drives the movie to the next level.
Shrek 2
The Shrek franchise has been huge for DreamWorks, and after the original was a hit, the sequel was taken to a whole new level. Expanding the world and adding lots more characters helped to enhance the viewing experience. It brought more jokes and personality as another charming animation was created, leaving people wanting even more.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Making The Terminator a hero was a wise decision for this movie. The character was too cool for people to want to hate, and having him as an actual action protagonist allowed audiences to enjoy the sequel even more than the original. The fight scenes were incredible; this movie took everything up a notch.
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is one of the most famous sequels ever made. While the original set a high standard, it could somehow surpass it. It became the first sequel to win Best Picture at the Oscars, showcasing the quality of storytelling throughout.
