Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Max is a beginner in terms of professional media experience. But his attention to detail and passion for movies, TV & theatre shine through in every article he writes. After graduating Curtin University with an undergraduate degree in Screen Arts, Max joined Collider in 2022.
At worst, sequels are cynical cash grabs generally devoid of new ideas that shamelessly attempt to profit off as much of the original work’s success as possible. But at their best, sequels can not only continue the story established in the original, but they can outright surpass it.
Sequels such as these can be rare, but when they hit, they become just as beloved, in some cases even more popular, than the originals. Films like Toy Story 2, The Godfather Part II, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes smartly take what the first film attempted to do and surpass it on every level. They expand their worlds, introduce new characters and settings, and bring new life to arcs that could have just been finished satisfactorily in the first. In doing so, they set their own standards, not just for how to properly continue a series, but also for how to advance cinema as a whole. 10 ‘Toy Story 2’ Directed by John Lasseter While Pixar sequels are known for being hit or miss, their first sequel, Toy Story 2, is still regarded as their best. On a mission to save a fellow toy, Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector. As Buzz leads a group of toys to save him, Woody discovers he was a piece of merchandise from an old TV show called Woody’s Roundup, and is a valuable collector’s item. The Toy Story franchise uses toys and growing up to deal with surprisingly mature themes of mortality. In Toy Story 2’s case, Woody is directly given the option to accept a happy life with Andy and his toys, knowing full well his time is finite, or taken to a museum where he can be the toy equivalent of an immortal but only loved from a distance. This story layer, along with the improved animation and fun new cast members, elevates this sequel from a kid’s movie about toys to something profound. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Toy Story 2 G Animation Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy Release Date November 24, 1999 Runtime 92 minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 9 ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ Directed by Matt Reeves Dawn is the second of the Planet of the Apes reboot films, and it might just be its best. Ten years after the Simian Flu was unleashed upon the world, human society has almost completely collapsed, while Caesar’s society of intelligent apes has evolved. A group of humans attempts to make a deal with the ape revolutionary for assistance with reviving an old dam that could power their city again and make contact with the outside world. But a mutual sense of distrust grows on both sides, and war seems all but inevitable. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes the foundation of what was already one of the smartest franchise reboots in history and throws the franchise in an engaging new direction. It keeps Ceasar and his fellow apes as the true protagonists while transplanting them into a new setting full of danger, switching loyalties and hope for a future that can never be. In doing so, it turns a story of revolution into a Shakespearean tragedy. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Dawn of the Planet of the Apes PG-13 Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi Release Date July 11, 2014 Runtime 130 Minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 8 ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ Directed by James Cameron Ten years after Sarah Connor destroyed the Terminator, her son John finds himself meeting a new T-800 – but this time, he’s been sent to protect John, not kill him. A new terminator, the T-1000 , is determined to ensure the future leader of the human resistance is killed, and this makeshift trio decides to confront the man whose creation of the Skynet A.I. system will lead to the downfall of humanity. Not unlike a certain other James Cameron-directed sequel, this was the film that turned the Terminator from a creative slasher horror into a sci-fi epic. Terminator 2: Judgment Day expands the goal of the heroes beyond just destroying one terminator and expands their ambition to prevent Judgment Day once and for all. With bigger action, bigger special effects, and a bigger story in general, it’s still perhaps the most hopeful entry in the series, believing that if even a machine can learn the value of human life, so can we all. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Terminator 2: Judgment Day R Action Thriller Science Fiction 7.8/10 Release Date July 3, 1991 Runtime 137 minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 7 ‘Spider-Man 2’ Directed by Sam Raimi In his second live-action film, Spider-Man achieved a feat that neither Batman nor Superman could initially accomplish – make a sequel that outdid the first. For Peter Parker , every day seems like a struggle as his personal life begins to fall apart thanks to his duties as Spider-Man. This imbalance begins to affect his powers, and he decides to retire as a result. But when a new villain dubbed Doctor Octopus starts to cause havoc in New York, Peter must be reminded of his great responsibility to regain his great power. Spider-Man 2 is perhaps the best superhero sequel ever made, building upon the first film’s strong foundations with improved CGI, a perfect new villain, and further exploration of the themes of responsibility. The struggle between the mask and the man is made ever more apparent, with Peter facing increasing overlap between his civilian and heroic lives. With a happier conclusion than the first, it posits that eventually, the struggles and sacrifices can reveal their own rewards. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Spider-Man 2 PG-13 Action Adventure Sci-Fi Superhero 10/10 Release Date June 25, 2004 Runtime 127 minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 6 ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Directed by Joseph Kosinski After an unauthorized experimental test drive, renegade Air Force captain Maverick is sent back to teach at Top Gun. He’s forced to teach a whole new team of hot-headed young pilots – one of whom happens to be Rooster , the son of his dead partner Goose. Initially wanting to keep him off the flight squad to spare him his father’s fate, Rooster might just be the key to resolving a potential international incident. The original Top Gun is a cheesy yet iconic film, whereas Top Gun: Maverick heightens the action and emotions of the original in every way. The flight scenes make for the most dynamic action sequences in film history, and Tom Cruise’s performance makes for one of the best in his career. The complex dynamic between Maverick and Rooster as well as the bittersweet, yet wonderful, return of Iceman bring much-needed pathos to an adrenaline rush for the ages. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Top Gun: Maverick PG-13 Action Drama War 9 10 8.3/10 Release Date May 27, 2022 Runtime 130 Minutes Cast See All After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. Powered by Expand Collapse 5 ‘Evil Dead II’ Directed by Sam Raimi Working as both a sequel and a soft remake of the original gory classic, Evil Dead II has set the golden standard for horror movie sequels. Ash Williams and his girlfriend Linda have traveled to spend a romantic weekend in an abandoned cabin in the woods. But when they discover an old, evil book bound in human flesh, a monstrous entity possesses the house. As Ash deals with an increasing number of horrors, he’s now got to stand up with a gun and a chainsaw if he hopes to expel the evil once and for all. The original Evil Dead is a serious, disgustingly gory film, while Evil Dead II apes the gore up to cartoonish levels. It never forgets to take the titular evil seriously, but it engages the audience with more of a goofy tone that has no deeper meaning beyond making the audience laugh and scream. Cap it all off with the coolest hero in horror history, and it’s the definition of beautiful carnage. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been savedPowered by Expand Collapse 4 ‘The Dark Knight’ Directed by Christopher Nolan Batman has gained an unlikely new ally in his war against crime – newly elected district attorney Harvey Dent . The new alliance between the two and police commissioner Jim Gordon seems unstoppable – but a mysterious new mastermind calling himself The Joker is determined not just to give the city a better class of criminal, but to push Gotham’s dark and white knights to the absolute limit. Batman Begins helped bring Batman into the real world, but The Dark Knight puts the mere idea of heroism under a microscope and asks its audience what exactly these heroes are fighting for and if their goals can truly remain pure. After all, The Joker, even if he tries to deny any sense of a greater plan, seems to operate by his own sense of logic and morality. In the end, The Dark Knight draws no clear answer for its audience, but it still dares to go further with its questions than any other superhero sequel. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved The Dark Knight PG-13 Drama Action Crime Thriller Superhero 10/10 Release Date July 16, 2008 Runtime 152 minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 3 ‘The Godfather Part II’ Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Making a sequel to what was already considered one of the greatest movies of all time is no simple feat, and yet The Godfather Part II makes it look easy. Part II splits its story into two narratives – the first continues the story of the first, showing Michael Corleone settling into his new role as head of the Corleone crime family. The other shows his father Vito’s rise from a lowly immigrant to one of the most powerful men in New York. The Godfather Part II shows the complexities and ultimately doomed aspirations of the Corleones, showing both their strong beginning, with Vito’s rise to power, to the tragic ending, with Michael keeping it but losing everything else. Both father and son are seen succumbing in their own ways to the darkness of power and organized crime as they try to manage their personal agendas, and the film’s bleak conclusion asks what it all costs. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been savedPowered by Expand Collapse 2 ‘Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’ Directed by Irvin Kershner Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , and Princess Leia destroyed the Death Star, but their story didn’t end there. Indeed, their victories have only made the empire more determined to crush the rebellion once and for all. While Luke goes to the Dagobah system to train under the Jedi master Yoda , the rest of the heroes of the rebel alliance head to Cloud City – only to find themselves in a deadly trap. The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most parodied sequels of all time for a reason – it’s just that good. The heroes are on the run for almost the entire run time, and with treacherous characters, new alien creatures, and disturbing revelations, the few moments where they are safe are never long. Throw in all that with one of the most shocking plot twists in cinematic history, and The Empire Strikes Back is the peak of the entire Star Wars saga. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back PG Adventure Action Science Fiction Release Date May 20, 1980 Runtime 124 minutes Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse 1 ‘Paddington 2’ Directed by Paul King A few years after settling into 32 Windsor Gardens, London, Paddington Bear decides to send a gift to his beloved Aunt Lucy – a pop-up book containing various London landmarks. But when the book is stolen, Paddington is framed for the crime and is sent to prison. While he adjusts to life in jail , his adoptive family discovers the book may lead to a hidden treasure – one that egotistical actor Phoenix Buchanan is more than giddy to get his hands on. The highest-rated sequel of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, Paddington 2 is a perfect sequel to reignite faith in humanity even in the most cynical of viewers. The production design is beautifully charming, the tone is sweet but not too saccharine, the new characters help flesh out the world, and the film’s underlying yet not overt political tone makes this a family classic for the modern age. Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Your comment has not been saved Paddington 2 PG Comedy Animation Adventure Release Date January 12, 2018 Runtime 104 Minutes Cast See All
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
5 Horror Movie Endings That Were Ignored by SequelsFrom promised new antagonists to a mutating rat, these are the final scenes in horror movies that were pushed aside for more of the same.
Read more »
These Are the Best Movie Sequels Ever According to Rotten TomatoesComic Book Movies, News, & Digital Comic Books
Read more »
10 Movie Sequels That Are Awful From Start to FinishLiam Gaughan is a writer at Collider with a passion for classic films and the work of Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
Read more »
This Bloody Underrated Comic Book Movie Movie With 29% Rotten Tomatoes Rating Is Streaming for FreePunisher: War Zone Ray Stevenson firing a gun
Read more »
10 Movie Sequels That Hated the FansJames Fisher-Clegg is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Washington. He graduated from Eastern Washington University where he earned a degree in Film. In high school, he discovered his love of filmmaking as a member of his school&039;s video news team, and he still writes, directs and acts in short films to this day.
Read more »
18 Movie Sequels You Might Not Know ExistSome of these truly epitomize the phrase, 'Some things are better left alone.'
Read more »