Summary
- Good sequels require as much effort as the original, adding layers and depth to the story.
- The best sequels offer something fresh each time, not relying on the success of the predecessor.
- Franchise filmmaking demands continual improvement to avoid becoming a parody of itself.
When it comes to franchise filmmaking, directors who work on a sequel have a precious opportunity. They can either build on the inherited foundation, or they can decide that since they have the foundation, there’s less work to do, and they’ll just draw from the same formula and go through the gears. But to build on something means to put in the same amount of effort as the first time. It means to add many more layers, a model for which Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy is a prime example.
In sports, good teams who have won multiple games in a row know they have an advantage, but they also know that if they get even a little complacent and don’t work just as hard as each time before, they’ll lose the next game. Similarly, when sequels aren’t built with the right mentality, things go downhill. The franchise can become a parody of itself. The Hobbit franchise started very strongly, but by the third movie, it was apparent that the content became very thin, and the running time was an excuse for endless CGI fights without substance.
Even with sequels that are adapted from books, filmmakers need to stay on their toes and offer something creatively fresh each time. These are the fifteen best sequels that are better than the original, and to keep if fair we are only looking at second entries to a movie instead of subsequent third, fourth, and even fifth films.
Update February 18, 2024: This article has been updated with even more great sequels that are better than the originals and with information on where to stream each title.
15 Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is the third entry in Warner Bros. Pictures MonsterVerse and is a direct sequel to 2014’s Godzilla. The movie takes place five years after the events of that film (in a timeline that has recently been explored on AppleTV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) and shows an eco-terrorist group looking to unleash a wave of titans upon the Earth to wipe out humanity in an effort to save the planet. The organization Monarch realizes their only hope is the legendary titan Godzilla, and the world of the Titans expands with the introduction of Mothra, Rodan, and the legendary villain, King Ghidorah.
Why It’s Better
While 2014’s Godzilla was praised for its atmosphere and for bringing a sense of gravitas back to the Godzilla franchise that was similar to the original 1954 film, it never quite stuck the landing. The movie was criticized for its bland human characters, lack of any real political commentary, and also the fact that the movie kept cutting away from the monster action. While Godzilla: King of the Monsters certainly isn’t the most politically motivated movie or has that much deeper human characters, it does deliver on the action. The film feels like a 21st-century big-budget adaptation of the classic 60’s era Godzilla movies where audiences were coming to see the characters fight. The movie’s action is awe-inspiring, and these Titans have never looked better. This was the big-budget Godzilla film that many people dreamed of as kids and, until this moment, only existed in their minds. Stream on Hulu
14 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
While the first film established the characters and the structure of the games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire focused more on the political, as well as the relationship dynamics. Katniss and Peeta’s joint victory and refusal to fight each other at the end of The Hunger Games has inspired rebellious sentiment in the districts and now, President Snow, with the help of the mysterious Plutarch Heavensbee, tries to quell the unrest.
Catching Fire Brings the Heart
The franchise saw a change in the directorial chair, eschewed the handheld cinematography of its predecessor, and critics have called it an all-around more polished film. There certainly is a reason Francis Lawerence directed the following two films and the recently released prequel. It is widely regarded as the best installment in the exhilarating franchise, as audiences and critics all agreed it possessed a compelling emotional depth, thought-provoking themes, and stunning visuals that outshined its predecessor and added to the series’ overall popularity. Rent/Buy on Prime Video
13 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The first Captain America movie was a fun time and a great period piece movie that established the character of Captain America for The Avengers. Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a vast improvement. A smart political thriller before being a typical Marvel superhero film, it dealt with such issues as mass surveillance, threat prevention, security versus freedom, the use of powerful weapons for good, and what happens if they fall into the wrong hands. The Winter Soldier explored these themes through good storytelling with a chilling HYDRA as the villainous entity at its center.
Former Friends Face-Off
Before this, the expectation for Marvel sequels typically was less than favorable. Both Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World showed Marvel Studios had trouble doing direct sequels, but The Winter Soldier changed that is now many people’s favorite Marvel movie. Fans were excited to see Captain America partnering up with Black Widow and his future predecessor, Falcon, to hunt down the lethal assassin Winter Soldier, as the beloved hero is forced to square off against his former best friend. In addition to the exciting action sequences and ruthless antagonist, the emotional showdown between Steve and Bucky truly elevated the stellar sequel. This movie was so successful it made the Russo Brothers the main directors Marvel went to for both Captain America: Civil War and the two-part epic Avengers films, Infinity War and Endgame. Stream on Disney+
12 X2: X-Men United (2003)
X2: X-Men United follows the events of the previous X-Men movie and truly expands on them. The previous movie focused on mutants fighting one another, but now Magneto’s warning to Professor X comes true as humans have made an attack on the mutant community when Colonel William Stryker’s paramilitary group attacks the Xavier Institute, forcing the various mutants to split up and regroup all while the villain with ties to Wolverine’s origin threatens the entire mutant population. The X-Men and their old foes, the Brotherhood of Mutants, must stand together or face extinction.
Why It’s Better
X-Men was very much a cinematic pilot, a promise of what the X-Men movies could come. It quickly introduced the heroes, the world, and the stakes with a lot of interesting avenues to explore. X2: X-Men United delivers on that promise, delving both into Wolverine’s origins but featuring a new host of mutant characters like Nightcrawler, Colossus, Pyro, and Lady Deathstrike while also strengthening the relationships between all the characters. From the opening scene of Nightcrawler attacking the White House, it is clear the movie is working on a bigger and more exciting canvas. While X-Men: Days of Future Past was a great sequel to X-Men: First Class, it is hard to argue the jump in quality between X-Men and X2: X-Men United is much greater. Stream on Disney+
11 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar: The Way of Water
This Avatar sequel will further explore the relationship between the Na’vi and the humans that have interrupted their peaceful existence. James Cameron returns to direct.
- Release Date
- December 16, 2022
- Runtime
- 3hr 10min
James Cameron’s Avatar was the highest-grossing movie of all time, yet despite that, there were people who were saying nobody wanted to see a sequel. Yet in 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water went on to become the highest-grossing movie of 2023 worldwide and the third-highest-grossing movie of all time. The sequel picks up thirteen years after the first film as humanity has come back to Pandora looking to reclaim it, and with Jake Sulley and his family the number one target, they decide to move to a water tribe and lay low, but trouble eventually finds its way to them and their kids.
Why It’s Better
James Cameron is the king of sequels, as Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgement Day are regarded as two of the greatest sequels of all time. Avatar: The Way of Water shows that Cameron still has it, and it might be a better movie than the previous entry. While the first film is a more self-contained story, and The Way of Water is clearly setting up a follow-up, the emotional complexity here is greater. The villain has more depth, and so do the heroes. Making Jake and Netyri’s parents put more at stake, and while the final battle isn’t as big as the previous entry, more is at stake emotionally. Avatar: The Way of Water showed that this franchise still had a lot of value and made a sequel that was better than the original. Stream on Disney+
10 Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Dawn of the Dead
- Release Date
- September 2, 1978
- Cast
- David Emge , Ken Foree , Scott H. Reiniger , Gaylen Ross , David Crawford , David Early
- Runtime
- 126
The spine-tingling second installment in the great George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series, Dawn of the Dead depicts the devastating effects the zombie apocalypse had on humanity while focusing on a group of terrified survivors who seek refuge within a large shopping mall. Though none of the original film’s characters returned for the sequel, moviegoers still flocked to theaters to witness even more gory goodness, with the horror hit going on to earn a whopping $66 million against a modest $640,000 budget.
Back and Better Than Ever
After taking a brief break from the chilling genre (to avoid being considered solely a horror director), Romero returned to his zombie franchise with a vengeance and delivered one of the greatest horror hits of all time. Not only did he amp up the blood, gore, and all-around gruesome special effects in Dawn of the Dead, but Romero also provided social commentary on the pitfalls of materialism in between all the shocking violence and brutal bloodshed. Rent/Buy on Prime Video
9 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi picks up immediately after the events of The Force Awakens. The First Order attacks the Resistance while Rey has discovered Luke Skywalker, hoping for him to return while also training her as a Jedi Knight but things do not go as she planned. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren is torn more between his duties to the First Order and his own desires, ones that will lead him down a dark path.
A Sequel That Is Better Than People Give It Credit For
This will certainly be a controversial pick, but The Last Jedi is a better movie than The Force Awakens, which itself is great. The Force Awakens did a great job at setting in place a lot of set-up for The Last Jedi but also had to stick closely to the structure of A New Hope to get audiences back on the Star Wars franchise after the prequels hurt their reputation. The Last Jedi expands on the set-ups laid out in the Force Awakens thematically while also paving its own path. It certainly follows the template of The Empire Strikes Back but does so more creatively by replicating plot points and what the film meant. The shocking twist of Darth Vader being Anakin Skywalker hung over the franchise, so the shocking twist for The Last Jedi was not to make Rey someone’s daughter because everyone would see that coming with the more interesting twist being she is nobody. The Last Jedi is a great sequel, despite what some fans might think, and the real shame is how the third film, The Rise of Skywalker, dropped the ball. Stream on Disney+.
8 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes had no right being as good as it was because, on the surface, it felt like a cold, cynical attempt to reboot another franchise with an origin story, and it did so in an incredible way that defied all expectations.Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is somehow even better. The sequel, directed by Matt Reeves, picked things up ten years later in the timeline, with Caesar’s apes coming into contact with a group of humans at a time when human populations were dwindling on Earth.
A Refreshing Follow-Up
While the first film took a “lab experimentation gone wrong” approach, as well as a sort of “family broken apart” movie in which the adopted ape Caesar discovered his roots, the sequel did something different enough and more interesting: its theme was conflict, how it’s managed, how it’s avoided or escalated. Both Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman lent gravitas to the human group, and Andy Serkis continued to give a brilliant performance as Ceaser. The film is an emotionally complex sequel, one where there are heroes and villains on both sides that push an inevitably of war that tragically could have been avoided. Stream on Max
7 The Dark Knight (2008)
The only reason The Dark Knight isn’t higher on this list is that Batman Begins was an incredible movie to begin with. While The Dark Knight didn’t have the same well-rounded perfection as its predecessor, it was more ambitious in its messier nature. The sequel featured an unhinged villain played by Heath Ledger, it achieved greater heights on many occasions over the course of its running time, and it capped things off with a final montage that’s up there with the most compelling endings ever put on screen.
Ledger’s Sensational Performance
Ledger’s unparalleled performance as the anarchist Joker riveted moviegoers across the world, as did the welcome addition of Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent. Critics felt that the Joker was without a doubt the best-written character and that Ledger spectacularly stole the show in every scene he was in, proving his dynamic range as an actor and a true force to be reckoned with on-screen. For many, The Dark Knight is the gold standard of not just superhero sequels but also sequels in general. It was a movie sensation in 2008 and can be said to play a big role in director Christopher Nolan’s continued popularity among mainstream audiences. Stream on Max
6 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Tobey Maguire reprised his role as the world’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man when he once again partnered up with Sam Raimi for the superhero extravaganza Spider-Man 2, with the courageous Marvel character battling against the nefarious Doctor Octopus in the sensational sequel. Peter Parker struggles with juggling his two drastically different lives as he discovers his powers are waning, causing him to have an existential crisis and question his future as the web-slinging hero.
Raimi Finds His Groove
Raimi dazzled audiences with spectacular visual effects and his masterful use of CGI, and critics were thoroughly impressed by the emotional weight, character development, and epic villain included. Many felt that the acclaimed director found his confidence and honed in his vision for the series with the sequel, which has since been deemed one of the greatest superhero films of all time. Spider-Man 2 helped pave the way for future superhero sequels and is regarded as a blueprint for the thrilling genre. Stream on Disney+
5 Before Sunset (2004)
The Before trilogy had an original concept. The first movie, Before Sunrise, simply followed spontaneous conversations about topics big and small between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) who spent a day in each other’s company. They met on a train and took it from there. At the end, they parted ways, agreeing not to exchange contact information and to meet at the same place six months later. It was a good enough film. But then, Before Sunset was so much more. Nine years later, both in filmmaking and storytelling terms, they’re in very different places in their respective lives, their six-months-later rendez-vous having never happened, but the day they had shared and the subsequent missed opportunity having marked them both. So much so that Jesse has written a novel about it, which is how Céline finds him.
An Exploration of Love & Regret
The movie follows them around for another day, but this time, small talk slowly gives way to buried longings and regrets – not only about each other but also about life, about the roads taken and not taken. All of the films in the franchise tend to be regarded as equally great, so it’s hard to say which film in the franchise is the best or if the sequel is better, but much of what one tends to think about which entry is the strongest in the franchise is at what point in your life you find yourself. For many who are in their late 20s or 30s, Before Sunset speaks to them on the way far more proudly than the predecessor. Rent/Buy on Prime Video
4 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
True to his word, action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger was back and better than ever when he reunited with director extraordinaire James Cameron in the blockbuster sci-fi hit Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The action-packed sequel was the highest-grossing film of the year (raking in over $520 million) and is considered a benchmark for sequels because of its revolutionary special effects and stellar screenplay.
Schwarzenegger’s Transcending Portrayal
Schwarzenegger’s T-800 was given a major movie makeover and went from being an antagonistic force to a bonafide hero, and his emotional bond with the young John Connor only added to the overall heart and soul of the epic sequel. Robert Patrick was phenomenal as the ruthless and resilient T-1000, and his dazzling and brutal battles with T-800 left audiences on the edge of their seats. Not only were the special effects out of this world, but Sarah, John, and T-800 became a makeshift family and banded together, and the unstoppable machine became a surrogate father for John by the end of the film. Stream on AMC+
3 The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
According to Empire, which considers The Empire Strikes Back the second-greatest movie of all time, this sequel in the original Star Wars trilogy was the origin of the trope of sequels adopting a darker tone than the original. The second chapter in the space saga wondrously explored The Force more deeply as Luke went to Dagobah to train under Yoda, a new character that stole the show. The groundbreaking entry also introduced audiences to the Emperor, a new anti-hero, Lando Calrissian, and the live-action introduction of Boba Fett. The iconic “I’m your father” scene, gave the sci-fi epic much of its renown and massive popularity and is considered one of the most buzzed-about plot twists in all of cinematic history.
The Plot Twist of the Century
Things ended on a grim cliffhanger in The Empire Strikes Back, and the sequel had a profound impact on pop culture and filmmaking as a whole with almost every sequel aiming to be the “Empire Strikes Back” of their franchise. Notably, at the time, many fans were not happy with how dark Empire Strikes Back was and how different it was from the first Star Wars, but over time, audience esteem for the film grew. Ask most Star Wars fans what their favorite film in the franchise and more often than not, they will say Empire Strikes Back. Stream on Disney+
2 Toy Story 2 (1999)
Lauded as one of the greatest animated films ever made, Toy Story 2 somehow masterfully managed to surpass the original movie in almost every way: it added profound emotional depth, introduced unforgettable new characters, and retained its heart and soul while never tarnishing the legacy of its predecessor. Buzz and the rest of the misfit gang teamed up and went on a daring mission to rescue their pal Woody after he was stolen by a toy collector and are joined by a new group of characters, including Jessie, Bullseye, and even Barbie herself.
A Fun & Spirited Follow-Up
Joan Cusack memorably joined the cast of the beloved franchise alongside Kelsey Grammer, Wayne Knight, and Joan Cusack, with her plucky cowgirl character Jessie becoming an instant fan-favorite. Audiences were blown away by the overall heartwarming message and amusing hijinks featured in the sequel, which currently holds a highly-coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score. Toy Story 2 won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and remains a celebrated entry in the animated series. Stream on Disney+
1 The Godfather Part II (1974)
Trying to top a revered cinematic masterpiece is a daunting task for even the finest of filmmakers, yet Francis Ford Coppola was able to do just that with his epic crime film The Godfather Part II. The prequel/sequel to the trailblazing 1972 original, the picture tells two interconnected stories centering on the Corleone family, showcasing the highs and lows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) experiences as the new Don while also providing a look at the early beginnings of his father Vito (Robert De Niro).
Compelling Character Study
Despite garnering divisive reactions upon its initial debut, The Godfather Part II has gone on to earn a reputation as one of the greatest movies ever made, earning appreciation for its complex screenplay, engrossing character study, and knockout performances by both Pacino and De Niro. The gangster classic became the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it took home an additional five awards, including Best Director for Coppola. Stream on Paramount+
