Top Ten: Best Sequels
I couldn’t choose just ten and there’s also two cases of more than one film of a particular series, so our Top Ten will count down from eleven this time!
11. Dawn of the Dead
I was originally going to come up with a list of ten sequels that were better than the original but had a hard time coming up with ten brilliant sequels that topped the first one (there’a handful of just pretty good sequels out there that top a mediocre first film, though). Anyway, this one is better than the original, it’s got more bite and and more style. Like the first one it’s still poorly acted but you can’t have everything.
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10. The Road Warrior
Some of the most awesome car chases ever put on film are here. Yes, it’s silly and cheesy, but in a way that’s charming and cool. And it’s totally badass!
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9. Toy Story 3
Only a slight step down from part two and still a little bit better than part one. The scene in the garbage burner is both a real nail-biter and deeply moving, one of the best scenes of the past decade or so.
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Unlike many people, I prefer the original this time. But this one’s still pretty awesome. A powerful, epic tale of crime and corruption.
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This one’s really only slightly lesser than the previous two. And I don’t hate the Ewoks. What’s not to like? It contains some of the best action scenes of the Star Wars series, some of the coolest creatures, one shocking revelation, the death of Yoda, Princess Lea in a bikini etc. etc. etc.
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I actually prefer this one to the original. Martin Scorsese brought a lot of energy and power to this tale and made a film that simply oozes of brilliant filmmaking in every frame. Paul Newman is also great and Tom Cruise actually ain’t bad. It also features neat supporting turns from Forest Whitaker and John Turturro.
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5. Gremlins 2
This one’s actually considerably better than the original, as that one was merely “pretty good”. This one on the other hand is just inspired. It goes a lot further with the concept and is absolutely hilarious, making lots of fun of the illogic of the original film. This sequel proudly breaks all the rules and goes all the way in being nutty and bizarre. It’s also a great satire of 80′s capitalism and has a supporting cast that includes Christopher Lee, Hulk Hogan and Leonard Maltin. A meta masterpiece!
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4. Aliens
A sequel that takes the idea of the original and expands from it, a different kind of movie altogether that yet stays true to the spirit of the original and does it no shame. It’s a relentless thrill ride that also has heart and soul, memorable characters and awesome dialogue. One of the best popcorn films ever.
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3. Toy Story 2
This one actually manages to improve on the first, believe it or not. The first one was great fun as well as quite moving but this one-ups it by being even greater fun and more moving. It’s real roller coaster ride and absolutely hilarious. A blurb whore’s dream!
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Before Sunrise didn’t really seem like a film that needed a sequel but what do you know? This film manages to add something to the previous story, notably maturity, and also keeps things simple by happening pretty much in real time. It’s full of truth and beauty. Richard Linklater is a genius and a third film would not be unwelcome.
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Of course this is number one! It’s hard to top this sequel which is nicely summed up in Clerks: “It ends on such a down note. I mean, that’s what life is, a series of down endings.” But there’s also hope, like Luke learning to use the force and finding out who his father is. And of course the best dialogue exchange ever: “I love you.” – “I know.” Add Yoda, Boba Fett and Lando Calrissian to the mix and we have a masterpiece.
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Other worthy sequels: Spider-Man 2, The Dark Knight, Batman Returns, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, Lethal Weapon 2, Die Hard 2-4, several James Bond movies, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Terminator 2.
Any disagreements? Tell us what you think!
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I find your lack of ‘The Last Crusade’ disturbing
I know it’s in the honorable mentions, but I think it deserves a place in the upper echelon.
Well, not if you think Temple of Doom is better than Crusade…
Not to generalize, but I’ve literally never heard a single person say that.
temple of doom is far better than crusade . best opening, its really dark, and its a hell of a lot of fun. crusade was boring
Whichever you may like better, both Jones sequels are pretty weak compared to the first film. That probably hurts them the most in any “top sequels” consideration.
Which James Bond movies?
From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Are you serious about Toy Story 2? One of the worst Pixar films (which is granted not that bad but still not great). Disney forced the making of it and Lasseter & Co. had one weekend to fix the script the best they could. Toy Story 3 is so much better.
Of course I’m serious about Toy Story 2! It’s awesome! I know I’m not alone with this opinion as it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. When the result is such a clever, funny and beautiful movie who cares if Disney forced the making of it?
That must have been one hell of a productive weekend for Lasseter & Co.
I’m gonna go as far as to say it’s Pixar’s best movie! IMHO.
The Color of Money better then The Hustler????? Blasphemy!!! And The Dark Knight, T2 and X-Men 2 should obviously be on the list as well … but I’ll forgive a lot for having Before Sunset up there …
Good list. As for myself, I’d also nominate Evil Dead II and Back to the Future II.
What about the Evil Dead 2: Death by Dawn?
Sorry, not a fan of the Evil Dead films (except maybe Army of Darkness).
[...] Filmophilia lists the Top Ten Best Sequels [...]
Wow, no Wrath of Khan or Superman II?
I like but don’t love ‘em. My favourite Star Trek is The Voyage Home, actually! My real fave though is the new J.J. Abrams flick but that’s really a different series, I would say.
It’d be a good list if there was at least one of the Lord of the Rings on there and Dark Knight not just in honorable mention to boot!
The Lord of the Rings series leaves me cold, sorry!
The Dark Knight is mostly awesome but it has some big flaws in my opinion, like Maggie Gyllenhaal (both her performance and the character just bore me) and Batman’s voice and several other small things that bug me.
Wow, LOTR leaves you cold! I guess the list is just one person’s opinion but I certainly have never heard that response to those movies.
I can see the Dark Knight issues, but man those are so very small for such a great movie. Although I’d have to agree with most of your list so it’s just an opinion thing as always for a few of the spots (Gremlins 2, while decent wouldn’t even be in my top 100 sequels and Toy Story 3 was very good but I couldn’t imagine putting that in a top sequel list over the above I mentioned or many others out there).
No matter what, it’s always fun to debate so keep up the good work!
How is Return of the Jedi there, Toy Story 2 or Gremlins 2, but there isnt The Dark Knight, Terminator 2, The Last Crusade or The Good the Bad and The Ugly?… Saying there are in the Honrable Mentions list is like saying they were deliverately left out.
Deliberately left out? There’s only room for ten films on a top ten list and there’s so *many* good sequels out there.
I simply forgot to put The Good the Bad and the Ugly (you always forget something…) possibly because it’s not a typical sequel, you could even question if it is a sequel. But it deserves to be in the top 10. I love the other three but they all have their flaws and I simply love the other 11 a little bit more.
And what is it with people who don’t like Toy Story 2? What exactly is wrong with that movie? I recently rewatched it and still found it to be near-perfect, hardly a false note to be found. It even manages to make the old “I am your father” gag work!
Have you even *seen* Gremlins 2? It’s absolutely hilarious and batshit nuts! It’s sad that it flopped but also understandable, it’s probably a little too weird for mainstream crowds but just perfect for my sense of humor (“Welcome to the men’s room!”).
[...] Filmophilia lists the Top Ten Best Sequels [...]
[...] reason for the vast number of sequels within the horror category. Filmophilia has already done a Top Ten: Best Sequels which was somewhat controversial, but now we will restrict ourselves to the thrilling genre of [...]