In the movie world, it’s very difficult for a sequel to actually be better than the original. Best you can hope for is it’s still good, and even more difficult to be on par. But being better is a miracle, that I don’t believe many sequels have achieved. So here are some movie sequels I believe are better than the original.
8. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Generally, T2 is a classic example of a sequel better than the original. While the first was interesting and unique, it’s feels basic, or almost bare bones compared to the sequel.
The first is more a sci-fi suspense/horror film, T2 is straight up action.
What’s great is it takes the familiar premise, but flips it on its head. Having Arnold Schwarzenegger, the original villain, come back as the hero to protect John and Sarah Connor – who he was originally trying to kill – was brilliant.
The T-1000 was a different cyborg, one far more imposing than the standard T-800. And this dynamic is what elevates the movie far higher than its predecessor. The action scenes are great, better, varied, and well-paced. A great blend of practical effects with some CGI that pushed the industry during its release.
Plus, the friendly Terminator becoming a father like figure to John creates a different family-type bond. And this allows for some humour, but when the T-1000 shows up, it’s all tense and serious.
The setting of the future, the reason for the world and terminators, and Skynet, are much better explained here, and fleshed out. Seeing how the creator of Skynet, Miles Dyson, comes to rationally understand the creation, and help destroy it, was well done.
And surprisingly, for a Sci-fi film, there’s very Sci-fi elements, just the terminators. It’s not a futuristic world like Star Wars, Blade Runner. It feels grounded, and allow those Sci-fi elements to stand out.
While the original is still good, the sequel is just much better.
7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
An interesting sequel, as it doesn’t follow the first film, but an episode from the T.V. show. With the crew of the Enterprise facing off against Khan, coming back from exile to exact revenge against Kirk and the Federation, it’s a great Sci-fi adventure film.
A good amount of action, the effects are pretty good, and just being memorable and interesting, something the first film failed at completely.
It has the memorable line/delivery of “Khan” and the introduction of Genesis. And the sacrifice of Spock definitely left me teary eyed. It actually kickstarted a trilogy of interconnected film, with The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home. Plus, seeing Kirk meet his son was well handled.
It’s interesting how Khan and Kirk never meet in person, only through computer screens, but the tension is great, the acting well done, and the final fight in space was awesome!
It played to the shows strengths, by feeling like a long television episode, and overall, is my favorite of the original film series.
6. Back to the Future Part 2
I love the original Back to the Future. So creative and inventive with its story, premise, and characters. But the second takes the franchise to new heights.
I love how it’s split time travel into going into the future and the past.
The first part of the future was new and different, and lots of fun seeing what was interpreted as a possible future for 2015. And while some didn’t exactly come true, they weren’t entirely far-fetched.
Going to the present time of 1985, but seeing it change because of Biff’s future-self going back in time to change the present, was also unique. You basically get three different timelines, yet it was never confusing. You were engaged the entire time.
But the best part was going back to 1955, where the original movie took place. This could’ve easily been a lazy retread, but they mix it up, by showing a different perspective of Marty’s encounter with 1955, especially his parents and Biff.
Having to avoid his past self, to not tamper with the time continuum, was a lot of fun, and the moments from the first movie weren’t the focus. By taking a back seat, it didn’t feel like a retread.
Plus, it was grounded breaking for visual effects. In addition to digital compositing, ILM used the Vista Glide motion control camera system, allowing an actor to portray multiple characters simultaneously on-screen without sacrificing camera movement.
Overall, a unique take on time travel that wasn’t a retread of the first, being creative while respecting its original. And the three timelines just elevated this over the original, by going bolder and paying off.
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The first Captain America was a solid superhero origin movie set in WW2. The second really heightened the prestige of the character, series, and MCU overall.
Going for a more spy thriller espionage take, Winter Soldier is a big character change for Cap. The first movie he’s in a world that’s clear black and white. Who’s good and who’s bad. But in this modern age, there’s a greyer area, and seeing Cap go through it, and changing in the sequel Civil War, felt like the perfect arc for him. Easily the best trilogy for a character in the MCU.
This brought grittier action, tension, and stakes than the first. A villain that’s more personal to Cap than before. A sense of realism and plausibility, similar to The Dark Knight. Being more serious, while retaining a sense of humour sprinkled throughout.
Seeing Cap on the run and figuring out who betrayed him, who’s really good and bad, was an absolute joy to watch, and it actually is my favorite MCU film overall, because it strips the superhero tropes to an absolute minimum.
By being more mature and thought provoking, Winter Soldier stands out not just for the Captain America trilogy, but the MCU as a whole.
4. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
So far, the original movies have been good, ones I do enjoy.
The first Puss in Boots, not the case. Actually, I haven’t even seen it. But fortunately, I didn’t need to for the sequel.
Positive word of mouth got me interested in it, and wow.
The best animated film I’ve seen in a very long time. Brought me right back to my childhood.
The art style looks like a fairy-tale, makes sense given the setting. But looks so different and unique compared to other animated films. Especially in the action scenes.
The sense of adventure, fun, action, is all nailed to a tee. Great dialogue and characters, very well written, and handling serious issues like panic attacks, death, and mortality in a way adults and kids can understand was perfect.
The premise of going through a magical forest in search of a wishing star is fresh take on the fairy-tale genre, playing into it, but being creative.
And despite having three villains, it doesn’t feel overstuffed. Goldilocks and the Three Bears are more of an antagonist than villains. Death – or The Wolf – is a villain, but for different, more personal reasons for Puss. ‘Big’ Jack Horner is the villain, and he fully embraces it. So funny!
Using the humour of fairy-tale tropes that the original Shrek movies were known for worked so well here. But the film still allowed more emotional moments for characters, such as Goldie coming to see Mamma, Pappa, and Baby Bear as her family. Puss accepting his mortality, Kitty Softpaws reconciling with our favorite, fearless, hero.
I haven’t experienced an animated like this in so long, I’m thrilled it did well. An energy that is unmatched in many animated film. Glad to see DreamWorks still has it.
3. Thor Ragnarök
It’s very rare for a third film, the last in a trilogy to be the best.
Thor Ragnarök is easily the best. The first two were boring snooze fests, with the second being seen as the weakest MCU film at that point.
But Ragnarök was injected with a sense of fun, humour, bright colors, and overall life that revitalized the character. I don’t even bother watching the first two Thor movies, because they’re nothing like Ragnarök.
It was the film that got me interested in the MCU. My friends showed me this film, and it was a great night! Poutine, snakes, sweets, and a hilarious movie that had us laughing pretty much the entire time.
All characters are memorable, the jokes pretty much all land, and for the most part, serious, dramatic, emotional moments have their time and space. It actually had an enjoyable storyline, with Thor needing to save Asgard.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Thor and his brother Loki, and both character arcs into the gods/person they want to be. Hela was an awesome villain, something the MCU struggles with. But for a funny villain, the Grandmaster was amazing, just Jeff Goldblum being himself, and it was hilarious! Korg became one of my favorite side characters. And the action was fun, unique, and memorable. Plus, we got a character arc in The Hulk/Bruce Banner.
Overall, Ragnarök is one of my Top 5 favorite MCU films, as it basically a superhero comedy film, and really shed any similarities of the first two, allowing it the rare feat of a third fil standing on its own, and higher, than the two before it.
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Wish I saw this in theatres.
Just seeing a random trailer of it got me interested, and so I borrowed it from a cousin. I watched it, loved it, watched it with my parents, then my sister, then a friend. All in a month!
That’s how much I love Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
The first one with Robin Williams is very enjoyable, but not as memorable as this one. The second film I thought would’ve been a shameless cash grab, but it has heart, and passion, and creativity all the way through.
I love the idea of teenagers being sucked into a Jumanji video game, and the avatars are not who they are in real life. And the actors playing them are mostly cast against type. The Rock as a nerdy scared, skinny kid. Jack Black as a hot teenage blonde who’s now trapped as an “overweight middle-aged man.” Karen Gillan as a girl next door avatar, but played by an awkward teenager. It all works so well.
The chemistry and performances of all four leads, especially Kevin Hart, are great, and lead to hilarious moments. Like Kevin Hart’s avatar losing a life if he eats cake.
The movie does a good job at poking fun at video game stereotypes, like NPCs having only certain dialogue options, bringing up certain character’s strengths and weaknesses. And explaining cutscenes. It does a good job at balancing being a movie and adding video game elements.
It’s just filled with so much humor – that still makes me laugh – and plenty of action, adventure, and some nice character development. It’s a great ride the entire time.
And I almost always check this one out over the first Jumanji.
A great legacy sequel that respects the legacy of its predecessor, while being its own movie.
1. The Dark Knight
Batman Begins is a great movie, so topping it was very difficult, but The Dark Knight did it, and then some.
Going for a crime drama thriller angle, The Dark Knight further sheds its superhero skin to be as grounded as possible.
It does everything better than the first movie. Better action, memorable dialogue, performances; everything was cranked up 100 per cent.
Yes, everyone always talks about Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker. And of course he steals the show. A performance that rightfully won an Oscar, and other actors have tried a similar villain style. I love seeing his rise as a criminal, something you usually don’t see in the crime genre, or movies in general. Usually, the villain is at the top of their game, but this beautifully switches it up.
The love triangle between Bruce, Rachel, and Harvey Dent was there, but more subtle, and not corny, or cheesy. It was handled very maturely.
Seeing Harvey Dent’s fall was intelligent, you understood and almost sympathize with him.
The scenarios The Joker puts Batman, and Gotham through keep escalating. The tension is real, especially with the two ferries. My palms were sweating watching it the first time.
Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Commissioner Gordon doesn’t get enough credit. A man who’s constantly stressed, carrying the weight of the law and police on his shoulders. Always a step behind the Joker.
Believing victory is at hand, only to soon realize it’s defeat. It all shows in his performance, and it’s very realistic for someone in his position.
The Dark Knight handles the superhero genre in a way never done before. Looking at escalation, mirroring our own world that we live in, and questioning us on justice, what it is, corruption, criminals, vigilantism, how far we can fall as a society.
A great balance of action – with mostly practical effects – and suspense, drama, some humour, and overall maturity that raised the superhero genre to new heights hardly any other film in its genre could get even close to.
Whenever I want to revisit this trilogy, I always go to The Dark Knight first. Just elevates and improves everything from the original. And is definitely one of the greatest sequels ever.
So there you have it, movie sequels I believe are better than the original. What are some of yours? Comment below!
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