Ten Movie Sequels As Good As Or Better Than The Original
The Dark Knight
Look, I know it’s the hip thing now to hate on The Dark Knight and The Joker, but this movie was about as good as a crime movie can be. Batman Begins was a character piece, and The Dark Knight, using the foundation created by its predecessor, gave audiences a city terrorized by a madman and defended by three men (Batman, Dent, and Gordon) with differing philosophies as to how to keep the city safe. I actually don’t think The Dark Knight is THAT much better than Batman Begins, by the way. In Batman Begins, Nolan shows us a man who dresses up as a bat to fight crime, yet somehow makes it not only believable but logical by thoroughly exploring the man’s past.
Evil Dead 2
Evil Dead 2 is the type of movie that defies description. It’s entertaining and funny as hell, and just when you think it can’t get any more ridiculous, a flying eyeball lands in a screaming girl’s mouth. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell must have had a lot of fun making this movie.
2 Fast 2 Furious
By no means am I suggesting that 2 Fast 2 Furious is a good movie, but it’s a lot of fun and definitely superior to the original:
1. Tyrese > Vin Diesel
2. It takes place in Miami
3. Cole Hauser is an awesome bad guy
4. “Ejecto seato, cuz!!!!”
5. Paul Walker says “bro” a lot more than he did in the first one
Aliens
Like Sam Raimi, James Cameron has two of his movies on this list, the second being Aliens. And just like with Terminator 2, Cameron expanded the first film’s mythology while remaining true to the source material. Even better, instead of a commercial space towing crew interacting with one alien, we see a group of bad ass Space Marines fighting literally hundereds of aliens – alongside Ripley, of course. Ridley Scott’s Alien was terrifying and featured some of the coolest set designs to ever grace the big screen, but Cameron’s Aliens ups the action and tension to such a degree that it’s hard to say that it’s not at least as good as the original.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
The Road Warrior belongs in this article if only because of its tremendous influence on how post-apocalyptic stories are presented. From Tupac videos to Neil Marshall’s Doomsday, the impact of The Road Warrior is constantly seen in various media, a trend that does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Also, bonus points for Lord Humungus.
Any sequels that I missed? Comment and let me know. Be sure to insult my parents and pepper your comment with obscenities!
Dude! Wrath of Khan!!
Sorry, was a bit shouty there. But yeah, Star Trek 2 was significantly better than 1. I guess you could also count Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as a sequel that’s vastly superior to both previous films.
Anyone who hates on The Dark Knight is a tool. And the Joker was awesome.
I’ve had this list going on in my head for way too long.
Beverly Hills Cop 2
Batman Returns (it was just as good, anyway)
Addams Family Values (if you liked the 1st, you liked the 2nd)
Ghostbusters 2
Toy Story 2
The Bourne Supremacy
Diehard 2
Diehard 2??? :)))))
my ears bleed when paul walker says bro 🙁
Since 2 Fast 2 Furious made the list, I figure I can mention Rush Hour 2. That, too, was a lot of mindless fun.
Toy Story 2
Rush Hour 2
LOTR: Two Towers
Naked Gun 2 1/2
Most of these I would agree with. There are a couple exceptions. First off, every ‘Fast and/or Furious’ film is absolutely terrible so you can’t really have a winner there. Secondly, ‘Aliens’ was good, but it was really not even comparable to its unarguably superior predecessor.
2 fast 2 furious does not deserve any mention here and neither does the two towers the fellowship was clearly better
2 Fast 2 Furious sucked. Tyrese is no way better than Vin. If anything he was one of the main reasons the movie sucked so much. The first Godfather movie was such a bore I haven’t even bothered with part 2.
Superman II (the theatrical release, not the Donner remix) should be included IMO.
Anyone who can suggest that the theatrical release of Superman II is anything less than radically inferior to the Donner cut has earned my lifelong ire.
wayne’s world 2, maybe not quite as good as the first but its pretty damn close.
Your list was doing good until you put 2 Fast 2 Furious on it.
boobface:
Wayne’s World II is a good call, it being very close but not quite.
David:
I think one of the main reasons the movie sucked so much is that is was the sequel to a sucky movie. Gone in 61 Seconds would blow ass, too. I’ll ignore the Godfather comment, as you are obviously only allowed to use blunt scissors at school before you go home early on the short yellow “rocket ship”.
Kered:
You sure have, because Die Hard 2 is in no way better than 1, and seriously, Ghosbusters fucking 2? Did you see that movie? Did you see Ghostbusters?
Good list. I would have added LOTR, and maybe even Ghostbusters.
@ president
Ghostbusters? You can’t be serious. The first movie is a comedy classic, the second one it average at best.
Hot Shots! Part Deux
Bride of Frankenstein
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Silence of the Lambs (Manhunter was released 5 years earlier)
28 weeks later
There is no way Aliens is better than Alien! Definitely agree with Levi’s choice of 28 Weeks Later. Dead Alive 2 is of course a given.
Some of the movies are so crappy to begin with, it really wasn’t hard to improve upon…but I still wouldn’t call it an improvement.
Can ANYONE think of a third sequel that is better?? Had a pub discussion last night… No one could think of one??!! Prove me wrong!! Oh….. Child’s play two!! And I was massive fan of gremlins too! Sad..true…
mortal kombat annihilation, highlander 2, meet the fockers, matrix reloaded, predator 2, men in black 2
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Aliens and Terminator 2 are the main reasons why I am so excited for Avatar 2. Much like The Dark Knight, everyone was raving about how good it was and now it’s become the cool thing to hate on it, but James Cameron is the undisputed master of sequels.