When studios have a hugely successful movie on their hands, making asequelusually seems like the obvious next step. However, as we’ve learned time and time again, sequels rarely match up to the quality of their originals. That said, every once in a while, we get a sequel film that doesn’t just equal its predecessor, it exceeds it, proving that lightning can, in fact, strike twice.
The best sequels build on the themes and style of their predecessors, pushing the narrative to new heights. That’s not an easy task, especially when the original film is a beloved classic, but when done right, the experience can be something truly exhilarating. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the greatest movie sequels that are way better than the original, including both legendary classics and more modern hits.
1‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Loosely adapted from the landmark 1969 novelThe GodfatherbyMario Puzo,The Godfather Part IIis the 1974 sequel toFrancis Ford Coppola’s gangster epicThe Godfather. Co-written by Puzo and Coppola, the film serves as both a sequel and a prequel, with parallel stories that followAl Pacino’s Michael Corleone as the new Don of the Corleone family and his father, Vito Corleone (played byRobert De Niro), through his childhood and rise to power. Besides Pacino and De Niro, the film’s ensemble cast also includesRobert Duvall,Diane Keaton,Talia Shire, and more.
The Godfatheris widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, butThe Godfather Part IIis an epic crime drama that rivals the original. In terms of narrative and acting, the film is even better than the first one, with Al Pacino delivering acareer-best performancein his iconic role. The movie was both critically and commercially successful, earning nearly $93 million worldwide and winning six Academy Awards out of 11 nominations, becoming the first sequel to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
The Godfather Part II
2‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
A 1989 action-adventure movie,Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeis the third film in theIndiana Jonesfranchise and a sequel to 1981’sRaiders of the Lost Ark. Set in 1938, the film followsHarrison Ford’s Indiana Jones as he seeks to rescue his estranged father (Sean Connery), who has been kidnapped by Nazi forces hunting for the fabled Holy Grail. Besides Ford and Connery, the movie also featuresAlison Doody,Denholm Elliott,Julian Glover,River Phoenix, andJohn Rhys-Davies.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadepremiered to favorable reviews and an impressive box office haul, becoming the highest-grossing movie of the year and revitalizing interest in the series. The film is easily the best installment in the series, thanks to its great humor,thrilling action, and the snappy chemistry between Ford and Connery. The movie received three Academy Award nominations, winning the award for Best Sound Effects Editing, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest adventure films of all time.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
3‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
A sequel toChristopher Nolan’s 2005 movieBatman Begins,The Dark Knightwas co-written by Nolan and his brother,Jonathan Nolan.Christian Balereprises his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, leading an ensemble cast that includesMichael Caine,Heath Ledger,Gary Oldman,Aaron Eckhart,Maggie Gyllenhaal, andMorgan Freeman. In the film, Batman allies with police lieutenant James Gordon (Oldman) and district attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) to end organized crime in Gotham City once and for all, but their plans go horribly wrong when the mob turns to a chaotic mastermind called the Joker (Ledger) for help.
Widely regarded as thegreatest Batman movie of all timeand one of the best films ever made,The Dark Knightwas universally acclaimed at the time of its premiere and broke several box office records. WhileBatman Beginsrevolutionized superhero movies by introducing a grounded, realistic narrative style,The Dark Knightperfects this approach, delivering a mature, layered story that elevates the film beyond the limits of its genre. Particularly notable for Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker (his final film role),The Dark Knighthas won several awards and inspired numerous subsequent films and shows that have tried to capture its gritty realism.
The Dark Knight
4‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Directed by Irvin Kershner
The second movie inGeorge Lucas’sStar Warsfranchise,Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Backis the 1980 sequel to 1977’sStar Wars(retroactively retitledStar Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope). Set three years after the original movie, the film explores the continued conflict between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, following Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda to master the Force so he can finally face the evil Darth Vader. Besides Hamill, the film also features Harrison Ford,Carrie Fisher,Billy Dee Williams,Anthony Daniels,James Earl Jones,Frank Oz, and more in key roles.
Unlike its blockbuster predecessor,The Empire Strikes Backhad a very mixed critical reception at the time of its premiere, but it still became the highest-grossing film of the year and was subsequently re-evaluated by critics. Now considered the best film in the franchise, it’s a trulytimeless sci-fi filmwith a darker, more mature story and one of the most shocking plot twists in cinematic history. The film received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, and in 2010, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
5‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
The ninth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a sequel to the 2011 filmCaptain America: The First Avenger,Captain America: The Winter SoldierstarsChris Evansas Steve Rogers / Captain America, an enhanced super-soldier from World War II revived in the present day by the international spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. The film follows Steve’s mission to uncover a conspiracy within the agency with the help of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) while being hunted by a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Written byChristopher MarkusandStephen McFeely, the movie also featuresCobie Smulders,Frank Grillo,Emily VanCamp,Robert Redford,Samuel L. Jackson, and more as part of its ensemble cast.
Arguably one of theMCU’s best films,Captain America: The Winter Soldieris a gritty spy thriller that feels more like a classic conspiracy movie than a superhero flick. The film premiered in 2014 to highly positive reviews and commercial success, grossing $714 million worldwide and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. With gripping performances, tons of great practical effects, and a genuinely well-crafted story,The Winter Soldieris hands down the best movie in the original Captain America trilogy, better by far than both the original and the 2016 threequel,Captain America: Civil War.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
6‘Logan’ (2017)
Directed by James Mangold
The third and final movie in theWolverinetrilogy and the tenth film in theX-Menfilm series,Loganis a genre-defying superhero film that starsHugh Jackmanas the titular mutant hero. Set in the near future, the movie follows an aging Logan and a terminally ill Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) as they attempt to protect a young mutant named Laura (Dafne Keen) and get her to a rumored mutant haven on the US-Canada border. The film also featuresRichard E. Grant,Boyd Holbrook,Stephen Merchant, and more in key roles.
A heartbreakingly beautiful film about mortality, legacy, and redemption,Loganpremiered at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival to critical acclaim, receiving praise for its story, performances, action, and emotional depth. The movie was also highly successful at the box office, becoming the third-highest-grossing R-rated film at the time of its release. Action-packed yet thoughtful, bleak yet ultimately hopeful,Loganis easily one of thebest superhero movies ever madeand a true cinematic masterpiece. The film earned several accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and was named one of the top 10 movies of 2017 by the National Board of Review.
7‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
Directed by Joel Crawford
A sequel to 2011’sPuss in Boots,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis an animated adventure comedy that’s the sixth film in theShrekfranchise.Antonio BanderasandSalma Hayeklead the stacked voice cast, reprising their roles as Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws, withHarvey Guillén,Florence Pugh,Olivia Colman,Ray Winstone,John Mulaney,Wagner Moura,Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and more voicing supporting characters. After using up eight of his nine lives, the film follows Puss as he teams up with Kitty and a naive dog called Perrito (Guillén) on a desperate quest to find a mystical Wishing Star that can restore his lost lives.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishpremiered in November 2022 to highly favorable reviews and became an unexpected box office hit, grossing over $484 million globally. Featuring spectacular animation, a surprisingly mature story, and plenty of laugh-out-loud humor,Puss in Boots: The Last Wishis arguably one of thebest animated movies of 2022and the best movie of the franchise. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe, a British Academy Film Award, and multiple Annie Awards.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
8‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
A sequel to the iconic 1986 filmTop Gun,Top Gun: Maverickis a 2022 action drama starringTom Cruiseas the titular naval aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Set more than 30 years after the original movie, the film follows Maverick as he confronts his past choices while training a new generation of Top Gun graduates, including the son of his late best friend, for a dangerous and potentially deadly mission. Besides Cruise, the film’s ensemble cast also includesMiles Teller,Jennifer Connelly,Jon Hamm,Glen Powell,Monica Barbaro,Lewis Pullman, andEd Harris, as well as the lateVal Kilmerin his final film role.
The originalTop Gunwas one of the most popular movies of the 1980s and arguably Cruise’s most iconic film. So when we say thatTop Gun: Maverickis even better than the original, that really means something. With mindblowing stuntwork, an engaging story, genuine emotional depth, and technical brilliance, the film is easily one of the greatest sequels ever made, and arguably thebest movie of Cruise’s career. The movie received highly positive reviews at the time of its premiere and grossed $1.496 billion worldwide.Top Gun: Maverickalso earned several accolades, including six Academy Award nominations, and was named one of the top 10 movies of 2022 by the American Film Institute.
