Even these are still rare cases, but yes, it is possible for a sequel to be better than the original film. We look at Top 3 greatest examples of such films.
Abe Friedtanzer
- Aliens
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- For a Few Dollars More
A good sequel delivers on the expectations of the original film, understanding what audiences enjoyed most about it and upping the stakes considerably. Alien, The Terminator, and A Fistful of Dollars are all terrific films in their own right, but there’s something even more impressive about their follow-ups. The isolating and harrowing journey that Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley undergoes in Alien is just as chilling in its action-packed sequel, and the presence of others around her doesn’t make the titular enemy any less terrifying. Terminator 2: Judgment Day flips the roles, turning its villain into an ally and offering a more dynamic, more ruthless hunter intent on extermination. Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name gets multiple on-screen partners, friends and adversaries alike, wrapping multiple stories and characters into one. All three successful sequels prove that more can indeed sometimes be better, especially when it improves storytelling and offers an even more appealing narrative.
Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi
1. Before Sunset
2. Back To The Future Part III
3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Reason: Whereas the first film (Before Sunrise) captures the moment of infatuation, and the third installment (Before Midnight) portrays the multifacetedness of a consolidated relationship, Before Sunset explores the mystery of rekindled love. It is compelling for the way it conveys the serendipity of life, albeit the passing of time. Back To The Future Part III is the time-travel movie that catapults Doc and Marty in the Wild West. It truly and finally provides a sense of belonging to the eccentric scientist and is a fun nod to classic westerns. Terminator 2: Judgement Day is undoubtably the best film of all the Terminator installments, for the way it develops the characters in an empathetic way, elevating it to a motion picture that can stand on its own.
Karen Bernadello
1. The Dark Knight
2. Fast Five
3. Thor: Ragnarok
The best sequels not only recapture the elements that made the original films enticing, but also expand upon those characteristics in an engaging way. Some follow-ups, especially in popular superhero and action franchises, actually end up outshining their predecessors, as they interweave their spellbinding stunts and special effects with more emotionally in-depth character development and reflections on society’s biggest moral, ethical and legal issues. Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Taika Waititi made a stunning directorial debut in Marvel Studio’s MCU with the third entry in the Thor series, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. The series’ second sequel took a lighter, funnier approach to the superhero genre with witty banter, villains that don’t take themselves too seriously and a new insight on the title hero’s emotional depth as he fights to maintain his sense of identity on his home planet of Asgard. The fourth follow-up in the Fast Saga, 2011’s Fast Five, is also a standout installment, as returning helmer Justin Lin powerfully shifted the franchise’s sole focus from drag racing to sleek action heists and the importance of family. The best sequel in Hollywood, however, is the visually spectacular second entry in co-writer-director-producer Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman trilogy, 2008’s The Dark Knight. The film’s success is in large part due to Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker, who happily drags Gotham into chaos just because he wants to challenge the status quo and social order. These three action-driven follow-ups powerfully build on the original film’s storylines, characters and stunt work to further engage their fans in their franchises’ overarching themes.
Matthew Schuchman
1. Evil Dead 2
2. Silence of the Lambs
3. The Dark Knight
Sequels have become a tricky thing now that we have film series that seemingly go on forever. So, I’ve stuck with the best direct 2nd feature sequels. There isn’t a real formula for a great sequel. Some succeed by taking what worked in the first film, and throwing it all out the window for a fresh start. While others just enhance the best parts of the original and turn the dial to 11. Evil Dead 2 was more of a soft reboot, but injected more of Sam Raimi’s signature style and humor. The Silence of the Lambs was never meant to be anything like Manhunter, but since it is the next part of the book series, it still counts, right? Taking the Thomas Harris thriller and mixing it with Jonathan Demme’s smart stylistic direction made for one of/the best thrillers ever. And what needs to be said about The Dark Knight…Christopher Nolan went full throttle with his real world feel Batman and just knocked it out of th park.
Nobuhiro Hosoki
- Aliens
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- Before Sunset
Before Sunset is a miraculous sequel born from Richard Linklater’s original script and the interaction between actors, while a normal sequel would have an original book or comic that based on or a grand scale action. It really relies on their chemistry to flourish, it not something the big studio could do. Terminator 2 : Judgement Day. Normally, when it comes to the sequel, it is a promise to power up the villain from the original work, but the reversal idea of making that enemy into an ally isn’t normal approach. Throughout the film, it overwhelms everyone who sees the story, action, VFX, and everything with an astonishing degree of perfection that surpasses even further from the previous work. Aliens…We all know that the theory of the sequel of the original successful film is to “follow the direction of the previous work and spend more money to expand the scale the same degree of engaging characters, because the audience expect it. However, “Alien 2” has succeeded in a very rare pattern of the blockbuster film with a completely different approach from the previous work. A near-future Marine Corps active on an unknown planet. Attractive machinery such as power loaders and giant spaceships. A flashy shootout that takes place using the latest firearms and so on. Part of the reason why James Cameron had so many blockbuster films in the past, because he doesn’t rest on his laurels, still has a mindset of independent filmmaker.
Karen Butler is taking a vacation, so she couldn’t participate for this one.