Sequels That Outshine the Original Films

Many people argue that the original film is always better than its sequel. For this post, I wanted to share some movies that prove that isn't always the case. For the post, I am only featuring movies that are direct sequels, meaning no third movie or later in a series, only the direct follow-up to an original film. I am also only doing films that I find are definitively better than the original so movies that are not quite as good or on par with the original are not included. With all that said, in no particular order, here are twelve movies that are better than the original films.

Before I start, I want to share some movies that are great sequels but not necessarily better than their predecessor but are still good enough that they deserve a mention.

Honorable Mentions

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: The Lord of the Rings trilogy are all on equal levels with each other so it is difficult to put one over the other, especially as they feel like one continuous story. They are all perfect films so I don't feel that The Two Towers is a step up from The Fellowship of the Ring.

Toy Story 2: Toy Story 2 is another film that feels on an equal level with the original film. I might have a little more nostalgia for this film as it came out when I was little but I wouldn't necessarily call it better than the original.

Rocky II: Rocky II has a lot of great moments in it that do one up the original but as a whole, I think the original Rocky is just a bit better. The second film feels like a repeat of the first film at times which doesn't make it bad but just means it can't be better than the original. 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: The Temple of Doom is a part of the greatest adventure trilogy of all time. However, when the original film is widely regarded as the greatest adventure film of all time, it is hard to top that. That doesn't diminish this movie. If the the other two Indiana Jones movies didn't exist The Temple of Doom would be the greatest of all time.

Spider-Man 2: Spider-Man 2 is a movie that a lot of people regard as one of the greatest superhero movies ever. I am not on that boat. I think it is good, but still prefer the original film. I have never been big on Peter losing his powers because he is bummed out but I still think it is a great movie. 

The Godfather Part 2: The Godfather Part 2 is another film on par with the original. Both this film and the original are regarded as masterpieces of cinema. I have only seen them once so it is difficult to weigh one over the other without a rewatch.

1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back is an example of a sequel done right. It takes everything the people love about the original film and builds on it. We get to explore several new worlds in Hoth, Dagobah, and Bespin as well as be introduced to several new characters with Lando and Yoda. This movie also challenges the idea of what a sequel can be. The first movie gives us a happy ending but this film turns that on its head and gives the rebels huge losses, separates the heroes, and ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers in movie history. The battles in this movie are also so much fun. The huge Hoth battle is just so cool to see and the space chase with the Millennium Falcon is just so exciting. This movie also gives a good hero's journey for Luke as this film is essentially his origin story to becoming a Jedi. Additionally, the score in this movie is just so good. All of the John Williams scores are great but this one is just next level. Finally, this movie has one of the greatest plot twists of all time and really sets the precedent on how to do a mind-blowing twist. In the end, this is a perfect movie and an amazing sequel. It is not only a great Star Wars movie but it is also one of the greatest sequels of all time.

2. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek 2 is probably the biggest improvement over the original film. The film follows Star Trek: The Motion Picture (or as some people call it Star Trek: The Slow Motion Picture) and while it does carry on some ideas from the original film, it is mainly a follow-up to the Khan episode of the original series. This movie shows the consequences of Kirk's actions after how he handled Khan years ago and requires the crew to make extreme sacrifices to stop the Wrath of Khan. Star Trek 2 also does a great job of showing the original cast in a different phase of their life after they have all moved on from being the primary crew of the enterprise. The movie also has an incredible space battle showdown between Kirk and Khan and packs such an emotional punch to the final moments of the film. In the end, this is better in every way than the original film and is probably the best film in the Star Trek franchise. 

3. The Dark Knight

 The Dark Knight is one of the greatest superhero films of all time. This film is masterfully written and directed and does a great job with its pacing. The film is just so exciting and suspenseful throughout and it never really lets up until the end. Each sequence is somehow more suspenseful than the last to the point where the movie feels like it has 3 different climaxes. I like that this movie focuses on the theme of chaos and how some people just don't have a reason for what they are doing. This ties into Batman and causes him to question his efforts. Heath Ledger as the Joker gives a legendary performance and is probably one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Harvey Dent is another great addition to the story with his arc being so fascinating and tragic. It is just so compelling to see him start as this great figure only to fall into tragedy and madness at the end. His whole story is just very well done. Finally, I like how this film is all about the idea of limits. Batman has to figure out how far he is willing to go to stop the Joker without losing his humanity. This is just a very different type of superhero movie but yet is one of the best ones out there. Overall, this is a fantastic film and one of the few that I consider an absolute masterpiece.

4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

 Terminator 2: Judgement Day is the greatest of James Cameron's films and is arguably one of the greatest sequels of all time. The action in this film is so great. It is non-stop excitement as the story moves from place to place. The action is also really well done as it entails a lot of gun fights and car/bike chases. As with the original Terminator film, Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to play the role of the Terminator. However, there is the added dynamic of him being a bit of a father figure/ older brother to John Conner which makes this movie special. The interaction between the two characters is a lot of fun to watch and adds a different perspective to the Terminator character as it shows him slowly learning what it is to be human. The character of Sarah is also very well done. She has quite a strong arc throughout the film as she is learning how to recover from the events of the previous film while also trying to be a mother. Throughout this film, Sarah has to learn how to regain her humanity and not turn into a mindless assassin as she fought so hard to destroy in the last film. Overall, this is a slam dunk by James Cameron and a great example of how a sequel should be.

5. Aliens

 Aliens is James Cameron's take on Alien by making it bigger, more exciting, and with more explosions. In my opinion, Aliens is the greatest of the Alien franchise. The action in this film is so well done. It has a lot of exciting moments and a whole lot of marine vs alien action. The pacing in this movie is good too. The movie is basically non-stop action from beginning to end and really keeps you entertained the entire film. The effects in this film are also really well done. Even though this film was made in the 80s, it still holds up for the most part. James Cameron doesn't overuse the Aliens to the point that they look cheesy, but just enough that they still come across as scary and have a presence in the film. Aside from the action and effect, the characters are also super memorable in this film. They have unique traits that make them stand out in the film and are all fun to watch. Ripley, Hicks, and Newt really create a sort of family bond towards the end of the film that gives hope for the characters when everyone else is getting killed. The dynamic between Newt and Ripely is also very well done. Ripley comes across as motherly to Newt while still able to be a strong female figure in the film. This is just a great classic film that still holds after 40 years.

6. National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation

 A lot of people don't realize that Christmas Vacation is a sequel but it does follow up National Lampoons Vacation and continues the story of the Griswald family. Not only do I like it better than the original, but I watch a lot more too. This film is truly hilarious and is probably one of the funniest films I watch every Christmas. There is so much humor and so many jokes in this film that the audience is laughing nonstop. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold delivers a fantastic performance, going over the top with everything he does. What makes this movie so good, is that it goes all in with the stupidity and jokes which makes it such a fun and ridiculous time. The movie also manages to balance the humor throughout the film. Most comedies have the issue of being super top-heavy, with a lot of jokes at the beginning and not so much at the end. This movie does not fall into that trap and maintains the jokes throughout. Aside from the humor, the story is also really solid. The entire movie, while episodic, is all about Clark trying to create the perfect family Christmas and conveys that narrative very well. Overall, this movie is a lot of fun and is one I will never get tired of watching.

7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

  While I do enjoy Captain America: The First Avenger, I find The Winder Soldier to be significant;t better. This film was able to show how cool Captain America could really be. This movie has one of the best stories in the MCU as well as one of the greatest plot twists. The action in this film is amazing specifically with the elevator sequence. This film also includes the introduction to the Falcon who has become a standout in the MCU. I also like how the film builds out some of the more supporting characters like Black Widow and Nick Fury. The vibe of the movie is also really fun, taking on more of a political spy thriller, it can be exciting and fun without being so serious that it doesn't feel like an MCU film. Just a great film that makes Captain America an even better character. In the end, this is not just a great sequel but it is a top-tier superhero film and sets the gold standard for the MCU. 

8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes what worked about Rise of the Planet of the Apes and doubles down on it. This movie makes the wise decision of focusing more on Caesar and his family and pushes the human characters to a less consuming sub-plot. This movie does a great job of expanding the world and the character of Caesar. Caesar is given a family and a character arc that makes him a compelling character. This movie also has one of the better villains of the franchise in Koba, giving him a compelling motivation and fleshing out his reasons for hating humans as well as tying in from the previous film. One of the best things about this movie is how it manages to take things that seem ridiculous and make them feel serious within the context of the story. This movie manages to make something as silly as apes on horseback dual-wielding machine guns come across as serious and make sense in the story. In the end, this is a great sequel to the rebooted film and proof that the Planet of the Apes movies have gotten better with time. 

9. Paddington 2

Paddington 2 is not just a great Paddington movie but it is also just a great movie in general. This movie takes everything that works about the first Paddington movie and cranks it up to eleven. There is more sweetness, more emotion, a more over-the-top villain, and more Paddington shenanigans. This movie blends multiple genres perfectly as it manages to be both a treasure-hunting movie and a prison break movie. The prison portion of the movie is just so much fun. We get to see Paddington use his kindness to infect all of the prisoners and get to meet a bunch of new characters. Hugh Grant is fun as the villain. He just goes all in for the role and embraces the goofiness. The ending of the movie is so fantastic. The train sequence is exciting where every character gets their own little moment. The ending of the movie is so emotional that you think Paddington might not make it then finally reach the final scene for a truly satisfying final moment. In the end, this is such a perfect movie and it will be one of my go-to recommendations for both kids and adults.

10. Top Gun: Maverick

 Top Gun: Maverick is the most crowd-pleasing film on this list.  The movie is very exciting with action and flight sequences throughout. It was cool how the movie opted to use practical effects instead of CGI. The movie also manages to deliver the nostalgia of the original film while still creating a fresh new story. All of the characters are very compelling and they all get to experience growth throughout the story. Tom Cruise is great in the movie as well, managing to keep up with the younger actors during the more physically tiring scenes. The story itself is well done. It is never slow and delivers a fantastic finale that pays off a bunch of moments set up earlier in the film. Overall, this movie achieves exactly what it is going for, delivers a crowd-pleasing feel-good story, and is a perfect example of a legacy sequel.

11. X2: X-Men United

  X2: X-Men United is the best of the original run of X-Men movies. This movie takes everything about the original film and builds on it to make it better. This movie brings a much more cohesive story than the original X-Men movie as well as brings a stronger villain and conflict. This movie introduces a villain that is a threat to all mutants and we get to see both sides of the mutant world having to work together to defeat him. I enjoyed seeing Magneto, Mystique, and the X-Men having to work together as you see a lot of their conflicting ideologies. The movie also does a great job of diving a little deeper into Wolverine's past as it gives us a basic idea of where he came from. I thought Stryker was a great villain for this story as he has a personal connection to Wolverine and solid justification for doing what he is doing. This movie also takes a lot of inspiration from another great sequel, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. The only hold-up I have is that I wasn't a fan of how they sidelined Cyclopes and Professor X. Other than that, I found this to be a very good sequel.

12. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Mad Max: The Road Warrior is easily the best of the original three films. It takes the best part of the franchise, the dystopian action sequences, and goes all in on them. We get to see Max shine as more of an action hero and get an epic car chase scene at the end of the film. The movie also does a great job of embracing the dystopian world with lots of ruined cities, more animalistic people, and cool-looking cars and buildings with random spikes on them. This film also has some of the more memorable characters of the original trilogy with The Feral Kid, Humungus, and The Gyro King. I also found this film to have the easiest-to-follow plot of the original films. It doesn't get bogged down by too much drama or get confusing about what is going on like the other films do. I don't take much issue with this film, it is just a solid dystopian action film. Overall, this is a great action film and the best of the trilogy and sets the stage for the other Mad Max movies to come.